There was an Android Update to Sony 2015 XBR tv’s yesterday (December 15, 2015) that finally brings DirecTV Ready to be true.
It’s alive!
If you have a Genie HD DVR, you have it hooked up to your home network via ethernet … connect your tv to the same ethernet network, hit up the DirecTVReady app … and you are in business!
Caveat: If you have 2 Genie-Mini’s you won’t be able to “add a new location” you will have to call DirecTV.
In my case we already have 2 Mini-Genies, I don’t like [really can’t stand] calling companies to get things done, so my option was to wait until my husband returns from his business trip, or choose the “replace location” option. I chose to replace my office location with Sony RVU. When you do that the “new” setup it uses the “old location” name. Don’t forget to go into Whole Home then Manage Clients and change the name of your device location if you wish to.
It’s a very straightforward setup: On Genie HD DVR go to Menu, Settings, Whole Home, Manage Clients, then choose “Add New Client” a 4-number Pin will appear. Write it down or memorize it, go to the RVU TV, start the app, once your Genie is found select it and you’ll be presented with the input pin screen, then there will be a Moca test, when it finishes you can add a new location or replace a location. Setup continues and soon thereafter you have DirecTV without a box at the TV, and no coax either.
Every time you want to watch TV you’ll see a Looking for Server screen for a bit then the last channel watched will load. It’s really not so different in time from waking a Genie of any sort. It feels kind of flaky, I wish it was just connecting to TV immediately, it is what it is though.
Use the DirecTV remote or your Sony Bravia remote. I like the Sony remote, it can do most things, just need to learn which buttons do what. I especially like the Action Menu button, which while watching RVU will give you a nice drop-down list instantly of DirecTV usefullness.
The INPUT button on DirecTV’s remote is the ENTER button, hold it down to switch your tv’s inputs. I have tried to use it with RVU but all it does it bring up a one line Directv GUIDE at the bottom of the screen. That really makes keeping the Sony remote on hand absolutely necessary (to get to other parts of your TV’s interface!)
Do you need a DECA by the TV? No, with a Genie HD DVR on your network, it has DECA built in, and just a pure ethernet cable connection to your network with the TV will work. That’s awesome for everyone (no cables for DirecTV to run if you don’t have any there, and if you don’t have an ethernet line there already, Powerline adapter is a good choice. The Android TV section needs internet, a wired solution is the best, it’ll give you great Android TV streaming as well as DirecTV RVU all from one ethernet cable.
If you can’t get ethernet by the television for any reason you can use a DECA (purchased separately or installed via a service call) there with DirectTV coax hooked into your networked Genie setup, and then the ethernet cable will hook the DECA to your TV, giving you internet and DirecTV.
Have fun with RVU, which gives us another open HDMI input! Nice! I love this TV. Some folks don’t like Android TV, but I sure do. It has room for improvement, but that’s what Android is, always evolving.
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