Returning Customer Advice Needed

[dalyew]

I'm moving in with my elderly father to take care of him & moving his tv service from Uverse to D* as ATT is offering us a good bundled promo to do so.

I had a Genie setup when I was last with D* a couple years ago so I'm familiar with the setup with the Genie & the minis. Although we currently have no 4k tvs, just 1080p, I have plans to purchase a 4k HDR tv sometime next year to replace our current living room tv. We currently only need a 2 tv D* setup, although we do have 4 tvs in the house, the other 2 will have a Fire TV & Roku hooked up to them. However, we may need to watch D* in one of the other rooms while we upgrade my Dad's room over the next few months. In other words, he will temporarily need D* in that guest room till his room is ready, but we won't necessarily need it in there after, especially since we will be trying to save paying the extra rental fee. We are going for the no HD / DVR Fees & 2 TVS included promo.

The questions I have are:
1. Should I have the tech install the Genie in the living room considering that I maybe upgrading this to a 4k tv next year & I hear the Genie is not capable of doing 4k?
2. Should I just get a regular mini & upgrade it later when I get the 4k TV?
3. Can 4k minis be used on 1080p tvs?
4. Should I insist on getting an HR54 installed? The last time I had D* I had an HR44 & had no problems, but I have alot of interest in the new TV Anywhere feature so I'm not sure if that works better on the HR54?
5. Are there better lighted remotes that I can request for the installation? Didn't particular like the regular small remotes.
6. Are there wireless 4k or wireless regular minis? And if so, how are there performance compared to the wired ones?
7. Probably the most important one.....can a Genie be moved to another room after it is installed?

I guess I'm looking for advice on the perfect D* setup for us in our typical Florida single family dwelling. The Genie's 5 tuner is sufficient for our needs & I actually like the minis.

Looking forward to hearing from you guys as you always offer the best suggestions.

 

[Drucifer]

.. . . .

The questions I have are:
1. Should I have the tech install the Genie in the living room considering that I maybe upgrading this to a 4k tv next year & I hear the Genie is not capable of doing 4k?
2. Should I just get a regular mini & upgrade it later when I get the 4k TV?
3. Can 4k minis be used on 1080p tvs?
4. Should I insist on getting an HR54 installed? The last time I had D* I had an HR44 & had no problems, but I have alot of interest in the new TV Anywhere feature so I'm not sure if that works better on the HR54?
5. Are there better lighted remotes that I can request for the installation? Didn't particular like the regular small remotes.
6. Are there wireless 4k or wireless regular minis? And if so, how are there performance compared to the wired ones?
7. Probably the most important one.....can a Genie be moved to another room after it is installed?

DirecTV requires a 4K TV for a setup 4K.

By the time you get a 4K TV, DirecTV could have a better 4K setup. So don't put the cart in front of the horse.

Yes, everything can be moved when you know what you are doing.

Years ago, DirecTV had a large number lite remote. Don't know if it still available.

 

[Zashel]

1. Should I have the tech install the Genie in the living room considering that I maybe upgrading this to a 4k tv next year & I hear the Genie is not capable of doing 4k?
2. Should I just get a regular mini & upgrade it later when I get the 4k TV?
3. Can 4k minis be used on 1080p tvs?
4. Should I insist on getting an HR54 installed? The last time I had D* I had an HR44 & had no problems, but I have alot of interest in the new TV Anywhere feature so I'm not sure if that works better on the HR54?
5. Are there better lighted remotes that I can request for the installation? Didn't particular like the regular small remotes.
6. Are there wireless 4k or wireless regular minis? And if so, how are there performance compared to the wired ones?
7. Probably the most important one.....can a Genie be moved to another room after it is installed?

1. you can certainly plan on that. but without a 4k TV you wont get a 4k client

2. if you upgrade before the end of you 2 year contract they will charge you for the client, ~$100, plus if you need to upgrade to the 54, another $300

3. can the client display 1080, yes, but if the TV cant display 4k, again the tech wont install it

4 the 54 and 44 use the same internals, for this particular question its a draw. so long as its not a 34 you're good to go

5. you can still use the old remotes, they just wont be RF, and you have to know how to program them yourself

6. yes, there are wireless clients, no wireless 4k clients. the performance is fine, but its not as fast as the genie. probably more of an issue for your than your father i would gather lol. if your not flying around on the remote you'll be fine

7. if you have the installer run another line and cap it, then yes it should easily be able to be moved. however the installer may charge you for doing this. 2 ways around that: run the line yourself, or sign up for 3 TV's (put 3rd one where genie will be moved to) and just cancel it a week later. shouldn't be any penalty for that.

NOW, one way to get around this whole 4k thing is if you have an RVU capable TV (not necessarily a 4k RVU), and ask if the installer can put in a HR54. if you can get both of those things, then you can simply install a 4k RVU capable TV when the time comes, call D*, and you should be on your merry 4K way.

...or simply borrow a 4k TV from someone for a day lol.

 

[dalyew]

Thanks guys, both very good advice, especially yours Zashel. I actually will consider "borrowing" a 4k tv for the installation but Drucifer makes a good point that maybe D* will have a better 4k solution by the time I get my 4k tv.

Another question I have is about the new built in TV Everywhere feature, how is it? Is it still in beta stage or is it a pretty reliable feature, especially when you're trying to watch stuff from your dvr away from home?

Thanks again guys for your very appreciated input.

 

[Drucifer]

Thanks guys, both very good advice, especially yours Zashel. I actually will consider "borrowing" a 4k tv for the installation but Drucifer makes a good point that maybe D* will have a better 4k solution by the time I get my 4k tv.

Another question I have is about the new built in TV Everywhere feature, how is it? Is it still in beta stage or is it a pretty reliable feature, especially when you're trying to watch stuff from your dvr away from home?

Thanks again guys for your very appreciated input.

Since then I read a post of a rumor Genie with a 4K HDMI is in the works.

 

[Jimbo]

Since then I read a post of a rumor Genie with a 4K HDMI is in the works.

I've been waiting to hear of a device like that.
Then they can do away with the cobbled up mess they have now in order to watch Live 4k TV.

 

[Drucifer]

I've been waiting to hear of a device like that.
Then they can do away with the cobbled up mess they have now in order to watch Live 4k TV.

The post only mention the HDMI, but I suspect that would be out by now. Unless there is more stuff being added to this new series of STBs