Summary of Turn an Old DirecTV Receiver into a Hard Drive
The DirecTV Genie DVR offers advanced features for average viewers, hackers, and salvagers, distinguishing itself among six DirecTV receiver tiers. It includes parental controls, SD and 1080p HD recording, and other high-end capabilities shared with some other models. The Genie provides both everyday conveniences and opportunities for repurposing its hardware or harvesting parts.
Parts used in the Genie project:
- Genie DVR receiver unit (whole device)
- Internal hard drive
- Power supply
- Cooling fan or heatsink
- Motherboard
- Tuner modules
- External connectors (HDMI, RCA, Ethernet)
- Front panel controls and remote receiver
- Casing and mounting hardware
- Internal cables and connectors
With DVR becoming increasingly common over the last few years, DirecTV has sought to distinguish its offerings on that front with multiple levels of service. At the top of the DirecTV DVR receiver options, the Genie offers a huge array of features on a powerful piece of hardware. You can get the newest Genie by signing up for DirecTV using www.SaveonTVDirect.com.
For the average user, this means a better viewing experience; for the advanced user, this means the opportunity for interesting hacks; for the enterprising salvager, this means useful parts to collect from an unused or broken unit.
So let’s talk about all the uses you can get out of a Genie, whatever your experience level or goals.
Intact Value—What You’re Playing With or Tearing Apart
The Genie offers a ton of features; some of them are exclusive, others available through other DirecTV receivers—let’s go it all.
Control What Your Children Can Watch: Basic parental controls built into the receiver for convenience, this feature is shared by all six levels of DirecTV receivers: the Standard, HD, DVR, TiVo, HD DVR, and Genie receivers.
Record Shows in Standard Definition: Basic DVR feature shared by the DVR, TiVo, HD DVR, and Genie receivers. Useful if you’re in a hurry or your internet is wonky and HD is taking too long.
Record Shows in HD: 1080p recording comes on the Genie, HD DVR, and TiVo units—you can also watch HD with a standard non-DVR HD receiver.
For more detail: Turn an Old DirecTV Receiver into a Hard Drive
- What parental control features does the Genie offer?
Basic parental controls are built into the Genie receiver, a feature shared by all six DirecTV receiver tiers. - Can the Genie record shows in standard definition?
Yes, the Genie can record shows in standard definition, a DVR feature shared with other DVR-capable DirecTV receivers. - Can the Genie record shows in high definition?
Yes, the Genie records in 1080p HD, a feature it shares with HD DVR and TiVo units. - Is HD viewing available on non-DVR receivers?
Yes, HD viewing is available on a standard non-DVR HD DirecTV receiver. - Are the Genie features unique among DirecTV receivers?
Some features are exclusive to the Genie while others are shared among DirecTV receiver models. - Who might benefit from salvaging a Genie unit?
Advanced users and enterprising salvagers can repurpose hardware or harvest useful parts from unused or broken Genie units. - Where can you get the newest Genie receiver?
The newest Genie can be obtained by signing up for DirecTV through www.SaveonTVDirect.com, according to the article.
