I've been with DirecTV for over 18 years but I think the equipment is now getting to me.

About a year ago my mini-genie C41 was losing connection to the main genie. Nothing had changed for at least 8 years. I lived with it, but recently finally tried swapping it out for a replacement mini-genie C51. It took a lot of time to convince the person on the phone not to charge me for it.

Nothing changed. In fact, it might have gotten worse. We did all the resets. The person on the phone did everything they could from their end. In the end, she recommended that I either pay to have someone come and check it out, or sign up for the equipment protection package, and have someone come and check it out.

I started with DirecTV when you could own your own equipment. And if that was still the case, I could understand why I have to pay for a service to check out and replace. Since DirecTV takes my money to rent this equipment, I see this as a they problem, and I'm not sure the service is any better than FIOS, which already provides me with my internet.

If I add a wireless video bridge, WVBRO-01, or WVB2ROBP-34, which I can get on eBay for about $25, would that solve my weak video issue? The mini-genie is sometimes green, mostly amber. I don't know if I want to deal with the headache of scheduling someone to come over to check the equipment and tell me that I have to move my TV, or rewire my home, and then stick me with a bill... Is the WVB product viable with my HR44, or are the genies too modern for the old tech?