HR54 with multiple Gemini

Hello, aceman21! That's a great question you have there. Yes, you can definitely run HR54 with more than two Genies. HR54 is a high-definition receiver/server that comes with built-in Wi-Fi. It can support up to 8 registered clients and can also handle up to 3 active streams simultaneously, just like the HR44. Mohammad, DIRECTV Community Specialist

Ok appreciate that I’m looking to hear from someone who is actually doing it. 

I'm happy to assist. Feel free to reach out whenever you need help in the future. Thanks. Mohammad, DIRECTV Community Specialist

Remember, regardless if Mini Genie, Gemini, or RVU/DirecTV Ready TV the regular Genie (HR54 is 3rd generation) can only support up to 3 Clients at one time (even though it can pair with more). So getting 5 Geminis is beyond full usable limit.

Also, HR54 only supports a single 4K Client using a 4K channel at a time.

As for pairing with up to 8 Clients, if you are on the new account system it only allows a total of 7 devices, unlike the legacy system which has no cap.

Just a few things to be aware of that are relevant to the kind of setup you are looking at.

Personally I don't like having all TVs (Clients) dependent on a single box (main Genie) to work, which is why I prefer dedicated HDDVRs with my Genie. But we each have our own preferred setup.

I suspect that many Geminis is going to be a bit rare at this point. Since they are still Clients then that many should still work within the same restrictions as Mini Genies. The big factor is being streaming devices as well is how both your internet and router can handle the additional devices (like having multiple Rokus, Firesticks, etc.).

Hi Juniper. Thank you for providing valuable information regarding the number of clients supported by HR54. @aceman21, indeed, for HR54 to operate efficiently, it is capable of supporting a maximum of 3 Gemini, Genie Mini, or Wireless Genie Mini clients. Jona, DIRECTV Community Specialist

So, the question was can his server support more than 2 Gemini, which would be 3.

The answer seems to be yes, BUT only one of them can be running 4k at a time...

Perhaps this might be the issue.

Ok I understand only three can be active at once but if I can hook up 5 Gemini and it would work that is the question I have. Again I want to hear from people who have done it not hear from folks saying what should work. Are we saying you can only hook up 3 Gemini as stated above ? For sure? Seems like a lot of conflicting info going on. 

There hasn't been conflicting info. Regular Genie (like your HR54) can pair with up to 8 Clients. It does not matter if it is the oldest Mini Genie (C31), an RVU/DirecTV Ready TV, or Gemini (C71KW, notice the same model numbering as Mini Genies as is still a Client just with added options).

So pair up to 8 (though new account system has 7 device limit total on account).

With regular Genie only 3 can be in use at one time.

Genie-2 (HS17) isn't a traditional receiver, so can use up to 7 Clients at the same time (since it has 7 tuners and each Client uses 1, though anything recording takes 1 as normal). If you only want Clients then this would be a better option, since the Genie-2 forbids receivers/HDDVRs beyond itself.

Why do think a Client doesn't work as designed?

Ok because people have reported having issues pairing multiple Gemini with It. We were getting too many active locations error but after rebooting genie and having every client turned on they started acting properly. Properly meaning it will say these 3 locations are active turn one off to use current one etc. 

That problem may have been caused by a bug in the new software as people with the same system for years started getting it.

this error 

ok, lets stop talking about the hardware he does not have, to avoid confusion

HR54 can pair with 8 clients

DTV accounting can only hand 7

Only 3 can be active at one time

Only 1 can have 4k

Is that a distillation of all the known facts?

(in regards to the last picture, does the error go away if you turn off all but 2 of the clients (i'm assuming the HR54 acts as a client also)

Greg

No, the HR54 doesn't act like a client.

Ok the error is happening recently after adding Gemini to system co located with HR54 the error comes and goes. Sometimes the clients think there are too many active which there isn’t. The proper message should tell you which location are in use. I just think DTV needs to test and HR54 system with a mix of different clients to try to update software to stop this messsge. Reboot genie helps to get rid of message but it’s kind of annoying. 

I agree with you, it should identify the "refused" client, and also be able to produce a list of "authorized" clients.

I think the updating/inventory of "who's connected" is also not done often enough, and it also does not seem that you can "force" a "re-inventory" or "scan".

I read all the posts on this forum, your issue is definitely not unique, and it seems to get WAY worse if you are at the "theoretical" limit of number of clients.

Greg