Questions on DirecTV Genies and Mini Genies

[Savage1701]

Am thinking of going to DirecTV Genie/Mini Genie system.

Wondering a bunch of things:

1. Do minis have the AV Output on them that is functional for getting component video/RCA audio out?

2. Are there IR codes for the Minis? I have a USB-UIRT I use now with my Dish tuner.

3. Or am I better off putting the main Genie HDPVR on my Sage system?

4. If I need to keep the main Genie to feed Sage, is it best to use the http tuning, or are their IR codes?

Thanks for any info. I really want to be sure before I make a 2-year commitment.

[bialio]

HTTP tuning is super easy and seems to be pretty solid. So i'd use that regardless of which box ends up feeding Sage.

The Genie has component video / rca audio out. The genie-mini has to use a special cable to get these same outputs, but it works.

You don't have to use the main genie box to feed Sage, that just depends on on your personal preference. I use the main genie because I don't fully trust the genie-mini to maintain it's connection over the MOCA network to the main genie. YMMV

btl.

[Savage1701]

Thanks !

I'll keep that in mind about main vs. mini and maintaining a connection.

I'm not planning on using the wireless Minis; do the wireds run over coax? I ran RG-6 quad shield when we built.

[jchiso]

The mini genie uses the same IR codeset as the HR- STBs, but if you need to place it in proximity to an IR-configured STB you can opt for RF control. The latest (4K-capable) version of the mini Genie does not support analog video out. It is HDMI only, so you'd have to use the main DVR box for your Sage server ...

[Fuzzy]

Is the genie setup really worth it to feed sagetv instead of just using standard old boxes that each do their own tuning?

[Savage1701]

Originally Posted by jchiso

The mini genie uses the same IR codeset as the HR- STBs, but if you need to place it in proximity to an IR-configured STB you can opt for RF control. The latest (4K-capable) version of the mini Genie does not support analog video out. It is HDMI only, so you'd have to use the main DVR box for your Sage server ...

Thanks; good to know.

[Savage1701]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Is the genie setup really worth it to feed sagetv instead of just using standard old boxes that each do their own tuning?

Fuzzy, I don't know. If I went to DirecTV, it would be on a promotional plan. My current Dish HD box that feeds Sage is from late 2010, and it works fine. That's why I don't want to make this change unless I know things will work.

But if I can, I would like to, as ATT finally has gotten out to us with U-Verse voice and internet, and DirecTV.

I wish they had U-Verse cable, but we are obviously at the edge of a repeater, because the internet is only 12Mb/s down. That's ok though, because it will be used for backup internet if my Charter goes down.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

Fuzzy, I don't know. If I went to DirecTV, it would be on a promotional plan. My current Dish HD box that feeds Sage is from late 2010, and it works fine. That's why I don't want to make this change unless I know things will work.

But if I can, I would like to, as ATT finally has gotten out to us with U-Verse voice and internet, and DirecTV.

I wish they had U-Verse cable, but we are obviously at the edge of a repeater, because the internet is only 12Mb/s down. That's ok though, because it will be used for backup internet if my Charter goes down.

What are you looking to get from DirecTV that isn't carried by charter's cable? because CableCard + Charter is a pretty good solution.

[Savage1701]

DirecTV and Dish beat Charter in our area by a huge amount. Way more channels and more of those in HD. Also, Charter in our area has made ZERO progress on whole-home DVR, let alone DVR.

Charter is fine for internet, but that's about all in our area.

If Charter had same channel lineup & HD content, I'd immediately go for a Cable Card setup.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Savage1701

DirecTV and Dish beat Charter in our area by a huge amount. Way more channels and more of those in HD. Also, Charter in our area has made ZERO progress on whole-home DVR, let alone DVR.

Charter is fine for internet, but that's about all in our area.

If Charter had same channel lineup & HD content, I'd immediately go for a Cable Card setup.

I was more asking about what particular channel - because, at least in my area, I can't think of any channels that Dish or DirecTV have that Charter doesn't - THAT I'D CARE TO WATCH. Additionally, I can't imagine why you'd care about their whole-home DVR offerings, when all you're looking for would be a CableCard and probably one HD STB to record from Premiums.