DirecTv Genie System

[Kingsrule]

Originally Posted by netroamer

No Toslink, but it does have a coax digital audio out.

Too bad
Toslink eliminates alot of hum issues especially when running the audio over CAT 5..

[-E-]

The new units don't even utilize the ethernet port due to the DECA system.

[netroamer]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

The new units don't even utilize the ethernet port due to the DECA system.

Yes...I learned that the hard way. I setup the DVR in the equipment cabinet while the installer was working on the dish. I had read the user manual, online, before the installation, and it made several references to the need for the ethernet cable to be attached. I saw no caveat not to connect it with the whole-home system.

When the installer came to finish work on the DVR, he did not notice the cable attached. With the cable attached, and the whole-home system installed, the network was connecting to both the DVR and the whole-home network interface causing all type of hiccups.

A service call by a second tech discovered the cable and since, the system has been working quite well.

However, to my disappointment, the conversations with the DirecTv tech support people resulted in a plethora of misinformation that made a bad situation, a frustrating mess. That kind of misinformation was the reason I left them 6 years ago. I came back, due to the nickel and dime increases, almost monthly, from Comcast.

I've come to the sad realization that all one can do is tolerate the least bad provider.

[Dom_P]

In my setup I plug the ethernet cable into the HR34 which allows all the other set top boxes to get to the ethernet. No Cinema Connection Kit (CCK) required.

[Kingsrule]

Just had a HR34 installed
I'm sure the old HR23/700 that it replaced looked crisper.

Anyone experience this or have any thoughts?

[Dom_P]

Are you sure the resolution is set correctly? Mine's notorious for ending up on 480p every so often. I finally just removed that from the list of supported resolutions on the setup screen.

[jfray]

We are thinking about going to this system because the box we have now is terrible! But I don't want more of the same....

[Kingsrule]

Originally Posted by Dom_P

Are you sure the resolution is set correctly? Mine's notorious for ending up on 480p every so often. I finally just removed that from the list of supported resolutions on the setup screen.

The HR34 is set exactly like the HR23/700 was....
I removed all the DECA crap the tech installed (as I don't have multiple sets, the DTV techs are pretty weak), plugged the network into the HR34 directly, and it looks a bit better

However, I still think the HR23 looked better.....

[o0OBillO0o]

This is for the TV addicts, like my wife. 800hrs of recording time X5 shows at once.

Still I want to be able to take my TV shows with me on my iPad or iPhone (or back up to a Hard Drive) and I feel like I am forced to sit in my livingroom to watch all this.

(Really, I should just not watch TV)

[Dom_P]

Originally Posted by g997

The HR34 is set exactly like the HR23/700 was....
I removed all the DECA crap the tech installed (as I don't have multiple sets, the DTV techs are pretty weak), plugged the network into the HR34 directly, and it looks a bit better

However, I still think the HR23 looked better.....

I removed the DECA as well. I had an HR22 prior to this.

I don't see any discernible difference in the picture quality. I do find the HR34 is certainly much more responsive.

One thing to note is that my RPTV is setup at pretty low contrast levels for darkened room movie viewing. So my picture is a bit "softer" to begin with.