Standalone HD boxes

Be aware if an agent changed name on account, that may cause issues later. That is supposed to be for minor typos as account remains tied to the SSN that opened the account which is why they have not had a transfer of billing responsibility (DirecTV) other than a surviving spouse taking over.

The last HD non-DVR is the H25 which like all Genies is SWM-only. Regular HDDVRs aren't made anymore (last was the HR24) and are either out of stock or only available as warranty replacements.

DirecTV was greatly pushed to a Client-only setup with the Genie-2 (HS17) which only allows Clients. Really do hope now that AT&T is separating that the remaining owner will return to dedicated boxes, but nothing has been said so far regarding equipment direction.

You are very fortunate to still have the R22. Many agents (even legacy ones) aren't familiar with the capability of it being MPEG-4/HD capable and compatible with a Genie setup.

HR54s haven't been made since the HS17 Genie2 came out a few years ago.

I had to sign up for DIRECTV with my SSN so everything is in my name entirely. Totally new account. The HR54 has a date on the bottom from last summer but the access card I am guessing is the "O" version because it has the AT&T symbol on front and the card is from 2016. The agent activated the R22 with no issues and even has an Access card from 2006. I just don't have a remote for it to which I have ordered. 

That sticker maybe when it was refurbished

So they transferred the equipment to your account? That must have taken some finagling on their side, but as long as in the end it doesn't count as non-return equipment for your friend then you really lucked out. Especially with the R22 as boxes haven't been allowed to be reactivated for some time now. I would take that box over any Client.

Date on the HR54 is expected to be the refurbished date, as that is the last dedicated box before the Genie-2 fiasco. (well unless you count the revised model HR54R1 that removed the eSATA port). Until new verifiable information comes out, stick with the HR54 and R22 as that is a really good setup. I might consider an external eSATA hard drive for the R22 as HD takes up more space than SD so fills up the internal a bit quickly. External would have a hard cap of 2TB, as opposed to the Genies which have no known cap.

So I believe it is an HR54R1 because on my portal under equipment it says "genie gen3" and has the model number that matches that. Instead of worrying about transferring anything, I just signed up in my name and was able to get new fresh install because AT&T apparently did not check my credit and it passed through DTV's site. Here is the Receiver. I also found the R-22 at a Goodwill. Someone had ordered an extra and never took the plastic off of it. It had an old school DTV logo on it with the number for activation. I paid $10 for it and as soon as i got my hands on a power inserter, was able to activate it on my account. Just waiting on the remote. So I have a brand new dish, Swm 21  tuner 4k lnb and the newest HR54. That is a new logo too on this receiver. I just agreed to pay the ETF, final bill etc on my friends account. I just am so happy that DIRECTV is getting back to its roots and hoping they start making standalone boxes again and potentially a Genie 3 would amazing. They should ditch the sim card slot on the genie 2 and go back to access cards lol Well I was going to show you a picture of the reciever sticker. Date on it is 7/23/2024 with the new directv logo on the front. no sata port either. 

I also kept the Dish from the friends account i was using and have that as a backup. I have an AIM 1.0 incase I need to realign. 

I suspect with AT&T parting ways with DirecTV that you lucked out with someone going against policy. Allowing the transfer of the Genie and reactivation of R22 (labeled as SDDVR, the HD/MPEG-4 portion not advertised) was very fortunate.

The revised version (R1) removes the eSATA port and has a cheaper casing, but otherwise should be the same as the original version of the HR54. They made a similar change with the Genie-2 as only the first run had the eSATA port, though they didn't label it R1 with the revised version.

Standalone boxes need to return in my opinion. Nothing said so far, but there are a lot of moving parts with AT&T's sale of their share of DirecTV (which the transaction has to finish later this year as I understand). DirecTV did try to acquire Dish, which would have the potential to address equipment innovation as they are both work on similar tech. If they try again and succeed, who knows. But for now, you have a flexible and reliable setup.

Acquiring 500GB hard drives to refurbish old receivers may cost to much.

Well i had to get a new genie but I found the R22 and activated it on my freshly new account. They said I did not need to send back the old HR54 I had from before. I may send it back and keep the power supply, remote etc for backup. If i cannot activate that other HR54 on my account, of no use to me lol. I really hope they do start making standalone boxes again. I know My portal for my new sat account has changed completely. It give me the option to switch packages to Xtra or Select "all included." I saw they made the H26 for commercial accounts, maybe they will make just one HD standalone for the ones who do not want a client setup.

DTV only allows one Genie on the account.   The H26 was needed to provide 4K to the commercial accounts.

I would still see about returning the old HR54 to be safe. You can only have one main Genie on the account so if they can recycle for you, or perhaps refurbish it (it is the last regular Genie) for future warranty replacement then that works out.

The H26K is special as commercial accounts were in need of a 4K option. Since they are forbidden from DVR, a 3rd gen Genie (HR54) or Genie-2 (HS17) with 4K Clients would not be allowed on the account. So dedicated boxes in the future are certainly not out of the realm of possibility for residential accounts, but it may be a while until we hear anything with the separating from AT&T that is in-progress (also curious if they attempt again to acquire Dish).

The return kit only says the gemini needs to be sent back. I guess I could send the genie back. Not like I will have a use for a box made in 2016 lol. I think aquiring dish would result in way better equipment. Echostar makes top notch recievers. I just think they could do way better with the receiving equipment. That is why I prefer DIRECTV. The dithering bolts prevent storms from really impacting much if the dish is done correctly. 

Doubt DTV will change what companies build their receivers/clients but may add to them.

At the very least, hold onto the HR54 for a couple months so you aren't surprised with a non-return free. Previously you could take boxes to a participating FedEx/The UPS Store location, with the account number the box is attached to (be sure if your friends or your new one), for the free return. But that was because it was AT&T's agreement with the shippers, so unclear if that is still an option.

If they ever become successful acquiring Dish, I see much better potential as they already understand the tech and service from a similar viewpoint. Concern is any differences in business/billing model since they come from being direct competitors. I lean towards it being better than AT&T, which came from a completely different world including heavily forcing their reps to dumbly follow scripts and to never trust the customer or game over (hmm, wonder what their training videos are like).

Changing or adding to the manufacturing companies, that's a good question. Sounds like that would be a lot of internal moving parts with negotiations between them. Glad I don't work for DirecTV or Dish as sounds like quite a headache to organize all that.