Upgrade from SD to HD without DVR

Yes, the H25 is your best bet. The H24 would work too if by chance the technician does not have an H25 on their truck.

It is questionable on whether or not DIRECTV will even have an H25 or H24 in stock to install for you at the time of swapping the SD receiver for the HD Receiver. If DIRECTV claims they are out of stock, you can threaten to cancel if worse comes to worst. 

If DIRECTV still doesn't budge, you can purchase the H24 or H25 from Solid Signal, a reputable third party DIRECTV dealer, and still call directv to have a tech come out and replace the dish.

As a note, the SD to HD upgrade is known as a SWAP and it does not extend your contract, and it is FREE of charge. When calling DIRECTV to ask about the avaiablity of the H25/H24 receiver, ensure you say that you want an SD TO HD SWAP. If you say upgrade the agent may think you mean another receiver or otherwise place the order incorrectly so that your contract does extend. Just thought I'd put it out there for you

Good luck on your swap. I hope you can get the standalone HD Receiver that you had wanted.

Hi @JCPA, thank you for informing us about the upcoming upgrade from SD to HD. We understand that you prefer not to use a DVR and we would like to inform you that the H20, H21, H23, H24, H25, and H44 boxes are compatible with HD and do not require a DVR. A technician installation is necessary for this. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance. DIRECTV is always here to help you. Gabriela, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@DIRECTVhelp 

If the OP gets the H44 they must pay the Whole Home DVR fee since the H44 is considered a Genie Lite. The WHDVR fee is an additional $3/month.

The best receiver to get is either an H24 or H25.

Have  2 HDs (H25-100 and HR24-500) and 2 SD(D12-100). Poorly, formatted letter from Directv informed that some of my  equipment (SD) needs to be replaced with a no-cost installation otherwise I will no longer be able to view some of my favorite local programming, including but not limited to:ABC,CBS,FOX,NBC and PBS. Need to schedule HD upgrade so I thought that meant the 2 SD boxes. Chating with Directv, was told that my only choice is to change to an all Genie system even though I have 2 HD receivers and 2 SD receivers. Was told I could not swap the SD boxes with the H24 or H25 boxes by a rep and then a supervisor. Supervisor originally stated that I would have to pay for installation and wanted see a copy of the Directv letter. Never got clarification on continuing to use only my HD boxes  when SD is gone. Even though the letter stated that there would be no additional cost to me.(bill credits will offset equipment cost and INCREMENTAL charges for HD ), ATT always seems to add fees, additions,etc when changes are made saying that I was misinformed or that the chat transcript was wrong. Do not trust them. Afterall , how many times do they increase the monthly fees???? Nov 5 is the next one.

AT&T sold off 30% of DTV the new partner is handling the day to day operations, DTV has always had the HD fee that you are already paying that covers all HD receivers on the account so there is no additional fee.  If you have a slimline dish then your H25/HR24 will continue to work. 

Thanks, Already knew that ...just to emphasize that ATT/Directv,etc quite often tell you one thing and implement in another way. Especially when it comes to monthly charges and service agreements and answering technical questions. It is interesting that they have the DIRECTV® HD Receiver and HD DVR listed as receivers which can be purchased, but not offered as as option to replace a SD box. "Swap" was not used in the Directv letter so the service agreement could be in play. 

AFAIK DTV went to lease only in 2006 so you can't purchase any DTV receivers now, that may be the up front lease fee when you don't have a free upgrade and since DTV has few if any H/HR24  and below in stock doubtful if that is true.  

If H24/H25 is no longer available for the swap and I get Genie and Mini Genie only to replace the D12 boxes, I would have 2 DVRs (HR24-500 and the HR44 or HR54) ?

Already have

                     Advanced Receiver Service - DVR $0.00

                              $10 off until next equipment upgrade

                    Advanced Receiver Service - HD $10.00

                    Whole-Home DVR Service $0.00

                              $3 off until next equipment upgrade

Or I could just return the SD boxes (saving me $14 a month) while I look into finding an alternative to directv.

DTV doesn't want the SD receivers back. Getting a Genie and Mini requires you to pay the $3 Whole Home Fee.

There shouldn't be a Whole Home fee unless they got it to watch the HR24 playlist on the H25s.

Thanks all for the input.

From reading the info I have received it appears as though,If I do nothing, my HD boxes will still work and the SD boxes will lose channels. Is that correct?

If I swap genie and mini genie for the SD boxes, will I need an installation and can use both HD an Genie on my current HD satellite and swm?

Either way monthly bill does not go up? No installation cost, No contract.

Does the swap MPEG offer expire and how will I know when my time is up to swap SD boxes? After all I have HD,Whole Home DVR, DVR and promotions on the DVR.

Thanks. "Swap will need tech install." ....swm,etc? HD boxes still work standalone with my HD dish and HD DVR/ whole house works via swm?

Will I have 2 DVRs the Genie and the HDDVR? If yes how do the 2 DVRs work with the HD and the mini genie?

"swap vs upgrade" check  order confirmation? Isn't that too late....I want to see the order in writing before I agree to anything.....Over the years ATT (directv) quite often makes promises via verbal and via chat that later are reneged by other agents or the system. Not trust worthy. How can I get order in writing before I agree to anything. Why don't they send a proposal that we can read and question prior to OK?

"Swap D12s or use them until you can no longer." So that is what will happen if I do nothing......my HDs will continue to work for ever and SDs will eventually not work?

No, that is why DTV sends you the email to check if it is correct, if not you call to change it before the tech comes out to install it and until you sign the work order you are not bound by the terms.

Thanks for all the info.....

Is the Genie a DVR? If so, will I then have 2 DVRs,,my current HDDVR( HR24-500) and the Genie?

Directv is Satellite. Must Genies be connected to internet and are Genie's connected to each other via wifi.....my home wifi , genie's own wifi? Will the Genie be using my home wifi data?

Yes Genies are DVRs,  DTV works without internet but you will not be able to pay for PPV using the remote, get On Demand or use start from the beginning.  While there is a WiFi option to connect the Genie to the Mini clients using their own WiFi network not your home network, you should use the coax that you already have.