My boss wants me to help configure his vacation home with DirecTV. I could use suggestions regarding what gear to order.
Some questions:
Thank you in advance,
Rex
- The home is 3-story, 8000 sq ft.
- 12 TVs. Most are SD, and those will be converted to HD over time.
- Of the 12 TVs, he could envision 8 being used a time.
- The TVs can be classified into 3 tiers: (a) 4 are used all the time, (b) 4 more are usually used, (c) 4 others are used infrequently.
- There is a single RG6 home run from the wiring closet to ea TV.
- The home previously had DirecTV and the dish is still on the roof (although it may be outdated).
- The basement is finished, the home's drywall is textured, the exterior is Stucco.
- DirecTV Sales suggested (2) Genie HD34's, each with (5) mini Genies.
- As a new account, (1) Genie and (2) (I think) mini's are no cost. The other Genie's total ~$800. I'm unsure what the ancillary gear (SWM-16, etc) costs.
- DirecTV Sales said one can suspend the DTV acnt when not vacationing there. This reduces the perceived costs (but also lengthens the 2-yr contact period)
- My boss has dish elsewhere and loves their RF remote, so the C41 mini Genies should be considered.
- The home has Charter cable broadband. I'm unsure if DECA is useful here.
- We might use Charter for the infrequently used TVs if it costs less.
- Boss is frugal and will not open the checkbook for the project. He'll spend within (justified) reason.
Some questions:
- Do you think (2) Genie's can be one one DTV acnt?
- Do you think the Genie product line is now stable and Boss/reputation-worthy?
- Home about the H44 and the C41? Are they released and stable?
- Some TVs really don't need DVR capability. Is whole-house DVR still the way to go?
- Would it make sense to use SD receivers on some TVs to save $?
- With lots of TVs, do you ever recommend some sort of video switch or splitter to save $?
Thank you in advance,
Rex