Direct TV Genie

[TN Bill]

Is anyone using the new DTV Genie in their RV? I would like to go to that system and would like to know something about it. Like how hard is it to set up and find the satellite. Right know I have a standard box and only have to find 1 satellite so it is fairly easy yo set up. Can anyone help

[InfinityJim]

Yes, been installing the genie since it came out last year. It works just fine in an rv, the wiring is pretty much the same, coax from sat to main receiver splitter input, other receivers (client boxes) hook to the splitter. Now this is only SWM (single wire multi-switch) so your SAT must be an SWM. You didn't say what your SAT is, pretty much need a new swm dish, either from winegard or RF, regardless it must be SWM.

[TN Bill]

Thanks for the quick reply. I am now using a plain old 18" round/oval dish so I guess I would have to upgrade that. Could I just use the Genie and run the bedroom off the switch box like I do now?

[docj]

I believe you may be able to keep your 18 inch dish but you would have to add an SWM8 switch and a PI29 power inserter. You would still only get SD not HD, of course.

Inside your RV you could do away with the switch box and use the new wireless Mini Genie to provide completely independent access to DirecTV programming and to programs recorded on the Genie. In other words it's like having another DTV receiver in the bedroom that can access the Genie all without any cables being required. I gather this is a relatively new product and we haven't yet tried it. You do, of course, have to pay an extra receiver fee.

[rhusak]

Originally Posted by InfinityJim

Yes, been installing the genie since it came out last year. It works just fine in an rv, the wiring is pretty much the same, coax from sat to main receiver splitter input, other receivers (client boxes) hook to the splitter. Now this is only SWM (single wire multi-switch) so your SAT must be an SWM. You didn't say what your SAT is, pretty much need a new swm dish, either from winegard or RF, regardless it must be SWM.

InfinityJim..
You say you have been installing Genies since they came out.. Where are you? I have been looking for an installer for a good bit.. My new Trav'ler was delivered this afternoon.. I have talked with Directv and It looks like wireless clients are in my future as well.. Can';t wait to go around the spaghetti factory wiring I have..
Ron

[G-Man51]

I am currently running the genie system in my coach. I have the new traveler SWM dish and two clients. One in the bedroom and one to run the outside TV and the front TV. So far everything works fine. I tried to get the wireless versions but were not available. Should be coming soon. Will really help with the wiring.

[al.m]

Originally Posted by InfinityJim

Yes, been installing the genie since it came out last year. It works just fine in an rv, the wiring is pretty much the same, coax from sat to main receiver splitter input, other receivers (client boxes) hook to the splitter. Now this is only SWM (single wire multi-switch) so your SAT must be an SWM. You didn't say what your SAT is, pretty much need a new swm dish, either from winegard or RF, regardless it must be SWM.

I would like to install a DirecTv HR44 and Genie Mini Client in my motorhome. Probably a wireless mini but still pondering that. I have two Satellite configurations that I would like to use.
1. When parked for the winter in Florida I would like to connect it to a SL-3 SWM LNB. This would provide full HD service.
2. When travelling I would like to use my KVH L3 dome. I understand that this is a SD only configuration. It appears that I should be able to connect the dual LNB KVH L3 system to a SWM8 with power inserter to create the SWM input to the Genie. Has anyone done this? What am I missing?

Al

[docj]

Your KVH probably has two coax outputs; connect them to the 18V and 13V inputs of the SWM8 and add the PI-29 and you should be OK. This is what you would do if you were connecting a Round 18" dish which essentially is what your dome is.

When you connect to the SL-3 SWM in the winter you will need a PI-21 power inserter. The PI-29 will not work.

[al.m]

Originally Posted by docj

Your KVH probably has two coax outputs; connect them to the 18V and 13V inputs of the SWM8 and add the PI-29 and you should be OK. This is what you would do if you were connecting a Round 18" dish which essentially is what your dome is.

When you connect to the SL-3 SWM in the winter you will need a PI-21 power inserter. The PI-29 will not work.

Yes, the KVH L3 has dual LNB.
I do have the SL-3 SWM and a Power inserter. I have checked it out with a HD receiver from my house and everything works well. Just have to solve the conversion of the KVH L3 to SWM along with some RG6 cabling / switching.

Thanks, Al

[jimj]

I am also going to put a Geni in the MH with a KVH sf 3 dish. My concern is that the KVH dome will find the Sat. with this config.
I also am concerned that the PI 29 will be the proper voltage for the KVH.
I have a SWM8 switch.
Anyone have any answers?
I know it will not be HD but just want the Sat dome to lock on when I push the button. If it takes a few tries that will be OK.
Thanks
JimJ

[docj]

When you use the SWM8 the 29 volts goes to it. Your KVH will be connected to the 13V and 18V ports on the SWM8 so it sees the same voltage it always did. As for finding the satellite I doubt that the KVH gets feedback from the receiver about the satellite signal. My Trav'ler gets its pointing information through its control cable; I would guess the KVH does also.

[al.m]

Originally Posted by al.m

I would like to install a DirecTv HR44 and Genie Mini Client in my motorhome. Probably a wireless mini but still pondering that. I have two Satellite configurations that I would like to use.
1. When parked for the winter in Florida I would like to connect it to a SL-3 SWM LNB. This would provide full HD service.
2. When travelling I would like to use my KVH L3 dome. I understand that this is a SD only configuration. It appears that I should be able to connect the dual LNB KVH L3 system to a SWM8 with power inserter to create the SWM input to the Genie. Has anyone done this? What am I missing?

Al

I have completed the installation of a SWM8 switch and PI29 power inserter. It is connected to my KVH L3 dual LNB in-motion dish and is working fine with a DTV R22 DVR (With HD) receiver for SD programming. This is for use while travelling.

When parked for the winter I have a DTV Slimline dish with an AU9-SL3 SWM LNB (a SL5 SWM LNB would work as well is 110 & 119 satellite access is rquired) with a PI-21 power inserter. Switching the R22 SWM input connection from the SWM8 source to the to the SL3 SWM dish source gives HD & SD (assuming that your DTV plan includes HD provisioning).

When I return to Florida this month my plan is to upgrade to a Genie and Genie mini. I plan to install a coax switch to simplify the switching between the SWM8 and SL3 SWM connections but have not done that yet.

Al

[DavidWSnow]

I just bough a 2001 Monaco with a Sat Antenna. My house has a DirectTV Genie and mini-Geni. What extra hardware would I need to use the mini-Genie in the RV? Where would I purchase it? Does anyone have a wiring diagram? Most of the posts talk about SD rather than HD. I could live with that, but can't you get HD in an RV.

[TVforMyRV]

David,

To use the Genie in you RV with your existing sat antenna, you would need a SWM-8, appropriate power inserter and splitter. Winegard has a kit put together for that called the SWM-840 with all the parts you need to connect your Genie to your existing antenna. Keep in mind though, if you antenna is a "dome" or a 18" round antenna, you will be limited to the SD channels on Sat 101.

If you want to take full of the Genie and the HD channels, then you would need to either manually setup a full size AU9-SL3 or SL5 antenna on a tripod, or use a Winegard SK-SWM3 fully automatic antenna.

There is a Blog article here which talks more about using a Genie in your RV.

Feel free to call me or message me if you have more questions.

Thanks,
Don