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Co-located Gemini Apparent Network Instability
We've had our Genie (HR44-700) for several years on a wired ethernet connection without a lick of connection trouble. The location of our Genie has always been in a less-than-good wifi location in our house so wired has always been the way to go.
I got a Gemini (C71KW-400) earlier this year as part of a promotional deal; I finally decided last week to try it out. I connected it via the co-locate instructions in the box, flipped over to a wifi connection, and crossed my fingers. Everything seemed to work fine at first. Connection was solid, and Speed Test achieved the fastest speeds available. However, now that I am forced to Wifi, I am seeing some occasional connection issues. I ran through the Wifi set up for my SSID, and things connected well via speed test and such.
The first thing we noticed was that sometimes, we'll be watching something on Netflix on the Gemini and the connection will drop after about 5 minutes or so. We flip over to the Netflix app on our smart TV or Roku, and Netflix works 100% fine there all the time.
Sometimes when I run speed test, it looks to re-configure the connection as if it's not even configured. Other times when I run a Speed Test, it says I have an internet connection, but cannot run a Speed Check right now. Other times, the Speed Test comes back just fine at the max available. All three of these scenarios happen seemingly randomly without any re-entering of network details on my part. The connectivity icon at the top left flips from network to no network during these times as well.
Being an IT geek by trade for over 25 years, i started looking at things on the network level.
I see that my Genie and Gemini both have their own connection to my Wifi mesh network with their own IP addresses. If I run pings against both of those addresses from my router, roughly half of the packets get dropped, and performance is not the best. Perhaps that is expected from pings to these devices, I do not know.
I then tried a full factory reset of the Gemini to clear out any possible mistakes I had made in its initial setup. Got it back up on its feet, connected to my network, and fired up Netflix.
When streaming on Netflix, the playback stopped for about 10 seconds roughly every 10-15 minutes. One time, it stopped completely, and I had to quit Netflix and reconfigure the Gemini's network to get going again. During this time, my router was showing a very strong connection to the Gemini (ranging between -45 dBm and -50 dBm), and the connection timer on the router is not resetting. In addition, Netflix was unable to advance to the next episode without reporting a full network failure, necessitating a restart of Netflix and needing to reset my Gemini's network configs.
So, I'm at a loss at this point. I love the Gemini's "one stop shopping" for all my entertainment needs in this room. However, if I cannot stabilize the Wifi, I may as well go back to just the HR44 Genie on a hard line.
Does anyone know of a way to use a wired ethernet connection with a co-located Gemini? Or have any other ideas as to what might be causing my issues?
Bill
DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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255.5K Messages
21 days ago
Hey, @dbqandersons. We have a technical team on standby, ready to help. Sending you a DM. Rhyan, DIRECTV Community Team
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goldw1800
ACE - Professor
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2K Messages
20 days ago
However, If you did not call D*TV to properly set up that is your Issue.
There’s a trick, though. In order for you to colocate your Gemini, it needs to be set up in DIRECTV’s systems properly.
was your hr44 wire internet or wireless connected?
This video shows a co-located wired connection.
Co-locate your Gemini device with your main box | DIRECTV Support
(edited)
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.3K Messages
20 days ago
The Genie (HR44) is meant to provide the internet connection to all boxes. The Gemini was originally for the streaming-only service, which is why it has WiFi even though it is a Client on the satellite service (different firmware).
The co-locate option is very new and intended for the 3rd generation Genie (HR54). The HR54 was too far into production when the requirements for their 4K changed so only works through a Client connection. That meant a single TV home paid as if they had a 2nd TV by having the 4K Mini Genie (C61K) or Gemini (C71KW). Co-locate allows the Client to be the interface for the brain-box (Genie).
Since you have the 2nd generation Genie (HR44) instead of the 3rd (HR54), that may be a factor in the problems. The co-locate option wasn't made for your Genie but the one after it. All the Gemini does for you is avoiding switching inputs like with a dedicated streaming box (Roku, Firestick, etc.).
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dbqandersons
New Member
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7 Messages
19 days ago
@Juniper , I agree that all the Gemini gets me is the "one stop shopping" to avoid switching between devices for apps and such. That's why I'm not too afraid of ditching it if I can't get it working the way I want it to. Good info on the HR44 vs HR54.
@goldw1800 , I was on a wired connection to my HR44. The only way I can find in the docs to keep that wired connection with a co-located Gemini is to have a wireless video bridge, which I DID have when I had three wireless mini-Genies until a few years ago when we ditched those for the DTV app on our Rokus, which work really well for our TVs around the house.
I'm on hold with support right now at the number they gave me in the DM. Who knows, maybe there's something I'm missing, but I'm not holding my breath. Will report back.
Cheers.
(edited)
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goldw1800
ACE - Professor
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2K Messages
18 days ago
Hope you get it resolved
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dbqandersons
New Member
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7 Messages
18 days ago
UPDATE: Just spent a half hour talking to Joel with DirecTV tech support. Nice guy. Knew his stuff. He was happy I had so thoroughly troubleshooted (especially that I've already tried a Gemini factory reset). The only thing on his list I hadn't tried was a different cable between the HR-44 and the Gemini. Since I used the brand new cable that came with the Gemini (as recommended in the install instructions), I highly doubt that's it. Getting a new Gemini receiver shipped out to me (I decided the shipping charge was worth trying another unit). We'll see if it does anything different. To be honest, I'm not holding my breath, but ya never know.
Will report back.
Cheers.
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dbqandersons
New Member
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7 Messages
10 days ago
FINAL UPDATE: Well, the new Gemini had the same behavior as the first one. Color me shocked. However, I did figure out a workaround for the issue I was having.
First, a little background on my network setup. I have an ASUS AI Mesh network with smart-switching between 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.
I set up a separate 5 GHz virtual wireless network (similar to my guest and IoT networks) and bound it to a single access point. I bound the Gemini/HR44 to that network, and it's been working fine ever since. I did find out that when I moved that network from one access point to another, the Gemini/HR44 completely dropped connection for about five minutes.
I'm going on the assumption that the Gemini/HR44 doesn't handle wifi access point/network switching very well (either between access points or from 2.4 GHz to 5GHz bands), and that was the source of my ills.
With things locked into a single SSID on a single access point/router, things seem to be working very well so far. Liking not having to switch to the Roku to get to streaming services.
Cheers!
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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255.5K Messages
10 days ago
That's good to know. Thanks for the update!🥂 Kenneth, DIRECTV Community Team
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.3K Messages
10 days ago
Ahh yes, I think you hit the nail on the hand. DirecTV boxes are prioritized for satellite so their internet connectivity options are minimal.
It was hoped when AT&T acquired them that their internet expertise would innovate better boxes to unify the secondary On Demand/streaming options into satellite boxes. Unfortunately, Gemini is the furthest that went. And that was intended for streaming-only and was much later it got adapted for satellite use. And now AT&T left the TV world (guessing too big for their mouth to chew).
Dedicated WiFi access on a singular band is definitely the way to go. Though as normal, wired preferred if you can manage.
Curious how the new owner will innovate boxes in the future. We shall see.
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