Using an IR Kit for my DirecTV

We recently switched from using an RF kit to control the DirecTV Genie Mini box with a universal remote to an IR kit due to problems occuring with the RF kit.

We tried everything: swapping emitters, emitter locations, different codesets on the universal remote, learned codes, swapping Genie Mini box models. As soon as we tape on the emitter onto the Genie, there is no control whatsoever from the DirecTV remote or the universal, but as soon as its removed, it works perfectly.

Has there been a recent change that causes issues with IR kits? Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Thanks for any assistance.