Comparison between u-verse tv and Directv Stream

This is the directv community forums so I suggest if you want to know more about U-verse that you consult helpful members on the AT&T Community Forums under the TV category. (forums.att.com)

If I recall correctly, U-verse TV is no longer accepting new customers. Once you cancel, that’s it..

After researching, as I stated earlier, U-verse is no longer accepting new customers. Once you cancel, you are completely unable to resign up as they are gearing all customers toward DIRECTV STREAM. So, I suppose that invalidates your original question as you are now stuck with just directv stream as an option. 

I understand this is a DTV forum but please bear with me. I am currently a u-verse customer but all my promos have expired. So now I am face with a huge increase. Before I talk to DTV I would like your opinion on just DTV streaming as compared to DTV with a genie box. I tried DTV streaming and I was not satisfied with it when compared to u-verse. Is the Genie box better?

Thank you for any replies

The Genie box is great. It works and feels very much like the old uverse remote. I have a kitchen TV with a streaming stick behind it with its remote and the DTV streaming app and I miss the little Genie box there. My Genie box and remote are on my main LR TV and it’s a much more organic experience. There are also a lot of apps you can control right through that box/remote. DTV also starts much quicker than the streaming app and can be configured to turn the TV on and off. It’s a good deal if you still get the box for free. 

DTV has 2 different streaming options: DirecTV via Internet and DirecTV Stream.

The "via Internet" option is what they show on the directv.com homepage.  It offers Gemini devices (not Genie - those are satellite only), but have charges per device and other fees, and requires a 2 year contract commitment.

The "Stream" option is shown on https://streamtv.directv.com/.  It offers (last time I checked) the same channel packages as "via Internet", with somewhat different pricing, no fees, no contract commitment, but no Gemini devices.  However, you can purchase (used) Gemini devices on eBay (not sure about Gemini Air dongles - those are new enough that they might not be showing up there yet). 

It is possible that DTV has service differences between "via Internet" and "Stream" (that is, offering things through "via Internet" that they don't offer through "Stream") though that wasn't the case last time I looked into it.  However, they definitely offer some features/content (pay per view, etc.) though Gemini devices that they don't offer through the DirecTV app on other devices.

I recommend you check both options to see which would better fit your needs.

Thank you so much for your replies. Def have better info to help make my decision. Appreciate you guys taking the time to enlighten me. 

BTW- my reply earlier in this thread referred to "Gemini" boxes/remote, not "Genie". Sorry about any confusion. The Gemini box in my experience is a good one, pretty much mimicking what I used to get with U-Verse as far as capabilities and convenience. 

OK guys, I bit the bullet and signed up with DTV with Gemini box. My next question is ha anyone used DTV with the Harmony Universal Remote? I am currently using it with my U-Verse and Alexa and it works great especially with Alexa routines. Anyway interested to see if it will work with DTV. Thank you all for your replies

If you want to use channel numbers, then you will need to use the DTV remote. The Gemini box only supports selection of channel numbers with the DTV remote.

I would think that’s not true. The availability of channel numbers is an attribute of the device, not the remote. Any remote that would work with a Gemini would have to be emulating a DTV remote, so would allow channel numbers. It likely would be limited to IR, so probably wouldn’t work with the Gemini Air (dongle) unit, just the original (“box”) Gemini. It also would not provide access to the voice control feature. 

BTW - did you look at Stream vs the “via Internet” offering?  If so, I would be interested in knowing why you chose “via Internet. 

Jrandomuser, Thanks for the reply. I tried Stream about 2 years ago and I found it too slow and too difficult to use. I talked to an AT&T tech and he advised the Gemini box cause it was more like using u-verse which I was used to already. I have a Roku TLC and I am used to moving from the Roku stream to the uverse box for my local channels etc. so I am hoping that the Gemini will be similar to the uverse box. 

I like the universal remote cause I am able to create Alexa routines to turn the TV on and off at different times of the day using Harmony. Sorry for long explanation. Thank s again everyone.

Probably my last question. Is DTV compatible with Alexa or this skill no longer available? Thanks again for your replies.