Where to buy home automation stuff

Zigbee

 Leviton online store, look at clearance stuff: https://store.leviton.com/ found plug in Zigbee dimmers $15

Third Reality Zigbee Button - https://geni.us/YPAbzG

SONOFF Zigbee Temperature Humidity Sensor - https://geni.us/njwAMuh

Aquara Zigbee LED light strips - https://geni.us/dkIYcF

Third Reality Zigbee Vibration Sensor - https://amzn.to/4eZyYUa

Hive Zigbee Motion Sensor - https://geni.us/UWBy

Hive Zigbee Contact Sensor - https://geni.us/ZuNRuh

Hive Zigbee LED Bulb - https://amzn.to/3WkbNwp

SONOFF Zigbee plug - https://geni.us/w5qaf

Zigbee Power Bar - https://geni.us/OvBXa

Zwave

https://www.thesmartesthouse.com/

good prices on zwave

X10

https://www.x10.com/

Sofabaton - universal remote

Activities:

dtv

dtv startup settings

• lg power on
• denon power on
• lg  input hdmi 2
• denon source cbl/sat
• directv (do not switch input)
• gemini power on

dtv shutdown settings

lg shutrdown

denon shut down

directv shut down

demini shut down

when cloning the IR commands for the DTV remote, you need to reset the remote to IR:

factory reset:

• pres and hold mute and exit at same time, until red led turns on
• enter 981 (should see 4 flashes)

Satellite info & signal levels

First, you need to know some basic stuff about satellites:

Most of the satellites are over Texas.

some have wide angle "beams", and some have "spot beams" for local channels.

103° (cr) has all zeros

Ignore 99s and 103s, these are spotbeams carrying locals to different cities so some will be low or even zero depending on where you live.

post back with your 101 and the other 99/103

Signal levels:

settings - satellite dish setup - view signal strength

You want to see high 80's to 90s on 101, 99ca, 99cb, 103ca, and 103cb.  Some transponders will be low or zero, but that's OK.  

Satellite transponders (32 total at 101º)
[Most of your standard definition channels are beamed from 101ºW]
1-8 x x x x x x x x
9-16 x x x x x x x x
17-24 x x x x x x x x
25-32 x x x x x x x x

Satellite transponders (11 total at 119º)
[Not present with Slimline 3 dish. Local SD channels for some cities, Spanish package]
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA x x x
25-32 x x x x x x x x

Satellite transponders (11 total at 99º(ca))
[National HD channels]
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9-16 x x x x x x x x
17-24 x x x x x x x x

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(cb))
[National HD channels]
1-8 x x x x x x x x
9-16 x x x x x x NA NA

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(ca))
[National HD channels]
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9-16 x x x x x x x x
17-24 x x x x x x x x

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(cb))
[National HD channels]
1-8 x x x x x x x x
9-16 x x x x x x NA NA
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Types of dishes and how to power

I have a SL3 LNB dish

The switch type is SWM LNB

it is 8 channel, made by MTI

map page:

https://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/directv-transponder-map-data-3-13-2024.402660/

DTV (DirecTV) Menus & My Configuration

 I've listed information here, highlighting what I think is important/interesting. I document the settings for my 4 hardware items first (Genie 2 server, Gemini client, Genie Mini client, and Wireless Video Bridge - WVB)

After that I document settings that are common to the whole system, which are most likely in the Genie 2 server or the WVB, but can be accessed from any Client.

Note the menus are different for the Gemini client and the Genie Mini client. Gemini used to be called Osprey...

Note: after yet another "dustup" with an uppity moderator on the DirecTV forum, I'm no longer there. It's 90% bad information, and be careful of the data given there. The only data worse than the "experts" is the actual DTV customer service people who either give an answer that solves nothing, is not relevant, or ask you to take the issue to a DM to hide the fact that your problem cannot be solved.

Note how they are ranked in customer service: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/directv.com

News:

I've started a groups.io group: https://groups.io/g/DirecTV/topics everyone welcome! Set up with topics and none of that baloney found on the "official" help site.

Menus from Client/player: “GEMINI” - C71KWBPX-400C (in family room)

This client has android TV (v11) and apps, can be sideloaded, quad core 1.6 GHz, 16 GB

This is in a cupboard in the family room, with all the rest of the components

Settings menu (press home on remote)

over time this menu has expanded. It now has 4 sub menus:

1. Preferences
2. Device Management
3. Setup & configuration
4. help

I won't detail all the menus, just the ones that I think most important

1. Preferences sub menu

1. Accessibility
2. add/edit my teams
3. apps
4. audio
5. favorite channels
6. parental controls
7. signalsaver

2. Device Management sub menu

1. display
2. google settings
3. info and test - SEE details on section 2c below

----------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------

screen from 2c “info & test” from main menu-settings

(no header)

Client: DIRECTV C71KW-400 (Gemini client)

Client location Name: FAMILY ROOM

Client MAC Address: 78:67:0e:9c:f6:37 (have not located this mac address on my network)

Client software: release-r-wnc-0x1B65-6

Server Receiver ID: 0224-4686-7008 (id of Genie 2)

Server Access Card: 0046-0106-0942 (card in Genie 2)

There are several 4 sub menus to the right:

• Run system test
• This device settings
• This device info
• Genie 2 info

all listed below IN ORDER

--------------------------------------------------------------------

“Run System Test” Menu

Takes you to a screen that warns you it takes several minutes and interrupts recordings.

press - (dash) to continue, back to cancel

 need more description of results

-----------------------------------------------------------------

“This Device Settings” Menu (note: some of these items can be changed)

opens a menu on the right side, with information under "About", some items will open if you hit enter as you scroll to them, the item will be highlighted in lighter gray.

all of this should refer to the Gemini

Note: entering some of the menus results in the small video in the upper left corner and rest of screen black, reset the Gemini, nothing gets broken

Says : "About" at the top of the opening screen

Device name: FAMILY ROOM (this can be changed here)

Status:  (select to expand, nothing can be changed on this menu)

IP Address:

• fe80::b22a:eb7:8a55:4774 (ipv6 clearly)
• 192.168.10.23 (ip address on local network, 2.4 GHz WiFi in this case)
• 169.254.128.95 (ip address on DECA system, i.e. the network for the 5 gig wireless bridge, this may change every so often)

Device MAC address:

• 78:67:0E:9C:F6:37 (still cannot find this mac address on my network, perhaps the DECA?)

Bluetooth address:

• 78:67:0e:9c:f6:38

Serial Number:

• X71VH3AE002449

Up time: hh:mm:ss (good to look at to see when last reboot)

Model: DIRECTV (doh!)

Android TV OS Version: 11

Android TV OS security patch level: August 5, 2024 (was June 5, 2024, December 5, 2023, July 5, 2023, May 5, 2023)

Kernel version:

• 4.9.333-1-27-abrelease-r-wnc-0x1B65-6 #1 Thu Oct 17 21:34:49 UTC 2024
• (was 4.9.333-1-27-abrelease-r-wnc-0x1AFE-7 #1 Thu Jul 18 01:41:11 UTC 2024
• (was 4.9.333-1-27-abrelease-r-wnc-0x1A35-6 #1 Fri Jan 26 00:41:47 UTC 2024
• (was 4.9.333-1-27-abrelease-r-wnc-0x1966-8 #1 Wed Aug 30 18:19:46 UTC 2023
• (was 4.9.333-1-27-abrelease-r-wnc-0x1966-7 #1 Tue Aug 1 21:41:18 UTC 2023

Android TV OS build:

• RTT4.220824.001 release-r-wnc-0x1B65-5
• was RTT4.220824.001.release-r-wnc-0x1AFE-7 (not sure what the RTT part means)
• was RTT4.220824.001.release-r-wnc-0x1A35-6
• was RTT4.220824.001.release-r-wnc-0x1966-8
• was RTT4.220824.001.release-r-wnc-0x1966-7

Accounts

google: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Active remote

Name: mouse
Model: VRC82-22
Firmware: 7038.08.09
Battery: 70% (nice to know, you can check every so often)

Broadband

Not connected

Video status

Unknown

Network

Mode: Wi-Fi

Location ZIP code

Unknown

Billing ZIP code

Unknown

Local channel determination

Unknown

Release

unknown

DIRECTV version

• 30.8.5.12
• was 30.8.1.12

BSL version

2.2.7.1

BSU version

3.16

BFW version

4.2.5

Android TV Legal (hit enter)

• open source licenses - shows a list of links to the open source
• google legal - apparently goes to the internet, or tries, so far have gotten endless circular progress "spinner"
• system webview licenses - has chromium, apache, etc licenses.
• wallpapers - shows credits for the wallpapers "satelite imagery" [sic]
• ads - you can reset or turn off personalized ads here

 Open settings: a whole lot of Android stuff

Network & Internet DIRECTV_WVB_4116bbf3 (shows ssid of WVB network)

Available networks

wifi on/off

lists all available Wi-Fi networks, 2.4 and 5 gig including the WVB

I'm still experimenting here, previously I could connect to my 5 GHz wifi, now it says it is saved, and when I went to connect to it, it connected briefly, but then went back to the WVB. Did a forget on my AP, and then tried to reconnect, and no way to enter letters, it asks to use the keyboard from my mobile device!!

bears further investigation, right now it seems that the Gemini can only wifi connect to one thing, and it wants the wvb...

Other Options

Add new network

Scanning always available on/off READ this, lets other apps and location services work even if WiFi is off !!!

Ethernet - must mean wired connection

not connected (mine is not connected, but assume settings here)

Proxy settings (you can set an HTTP proxy for the browser)

IP settings

can set DHCP or static here

Accounts & sign-in

shows your google account, can add other accounts

Apps

recently opened apps (list of apps at top)

typical android list of apps, and you can uninstall and force stop (important) an app, disable, etc. protect yourself!

Permissions

app premissions

Special app access

Security & restrictions

Device Preferences

typical list of android TV stuff, where you can setup a keyboard,

Remote & Devices

shows paired remotes, and you can name them, also see battery percentage

you can add new DTV BT remotes, or other BT devices

“This Device Info” menu (this menu has scroll bar on left)

(no header)

Client: Directv C71KW-400

Client location Name: FAMILY ROOM

Client software: release-r-wnc-0x1AFE-7 24/07/17 18:43:20

Client Internal Temp: 147.0 F (used to run at about 143 until I put a laptop cooler under it, good to check)

Remote Type: Bluetooth

Client Video Network

Connection type: Wireless

Connection status: Connected

AP MAC address: 78:67:0E:9C:F6:37 (this is Gemini WiFi MAC, note: referred to as an Access Point)

AP Signal Strength Excellent (this and below don’t mean a lot, because it may be receiving from multiple devices)

AP Historical RSSI Min Excellent

AP Historical RSSI Max Excellent

AP Historical RSSI Average Excellent

Disconnections: 1 (good thing to monitor)

Client Parental Controls

Not worth detailing here, cannot change anything here

Client Ratings

I had some blocked here, went into settings, all green (allowed) now

Client Favorites

Lists any favorites and number of channels in them

Client Display Preferences

I have always hidden the SD duplicates

Client Captioning

Lots of settings here but you cannot change here

Client HDTV

Here is a good place to see what the Gemini thinks your tv can do… you should check often, the dang thing will change it..

Also “HDMI Control” show up here (CEC) you cannot change anything here

Native: off

Screen Format: Original Format

Bar Color: Dark Gray

TV Ratio: widescreen 16:9

TV Resolution: 4Kp60 (this is what you want to see if you have a 4k TV)

HDMI control is set to “on” - and you CANNOT TURN IT OFF!!

Client Audio

Again, you can check to see if dolby audio is on, a common issue that causes random audio cutout

Menu from any client: Server: HS17R1 – 500 - DirecTV Genie 2 (in family room)

(Tower) wireless server

Genie 2^TM Info

(this info from the “Genie 2^TM Info" menu from the Genie 2 Info screen from the settings menu on ANY client)

(no header)

Server: HS17R1/500

Server Receiver ID: 0224-4686-7008

Server access card: 0046-0106-0942

DVR Status: DVR Mode (what other modes are possible?)

Server Software

Software: 0x1b14, Tue 8/20, 12:34a (date and time here is when installed) (2024)

• was 0x1ab8, Tue 7/2 4:28a
• was 0x1ab7, Wed 5/29, 12:35a
• was 0x19e9, Wed 1/17, 2:23a
• was 0x19e8, Wed 12/6, 2:49a  (2023)
• was 0x1987, Wed 9/20, 2:56a
• was 0x1986, 8/21 3:02a
• was 0x1983, Wed 8/16 3:32a
• was 0x1981, Tues 8/8 2:02a

Scheduled Upgrade: Not Scheduled (does this ever show?)

Status: 0x1ab7, Service 2, Wed 5/29, 12:25a (I believe this is the time of release or attempt to update)

Satellite Setup

Dish Type: SL3 LNB (helpful information on your dish and switch below)

Switch Type: SWM LNB

RB/INTL: None Selected (what is this?)

SWM Channel Count: 8 (are there different ones?)

Manufacturer: MTI

WM Serial No.: FFFFFFFF

SWM Firmware version: 2.0.0.24 (is there any relevance here?)

SWM Library version: 2.0.0.24

(section not labelled)

Completion Code: 9181 (??)

Server Internal Temp: 113 F (good to check)

Zip Code: 00000 (clearly worthless)

Clock

Daylight (DST) : Auto (Yes)

Time Zone: Auto (Pacific)

Date/Time:  (note the time is when you entered this menu)

Over-the_air (OTA) Antenna

Nothing connected, but there should be a device coming

Server Network

IP Address: 192.168.10.26 (IP address on your home network)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway: 192.168.10.1

DNS: 192.168.10.225 (my windows domain controller and DNS server)

STB Services  Port: N/A(818) (has an orange triangle with an exclamation mark)

Status: - [blank] (from STB port?)

Audio Services Port – [blank] (ditto)

Wireless: Connected

Ethernet: Not connected (I don’t have my Genie 2 hardwired)

MoCA Network: Coax Connected (very telling it is streaming via coax and MoCA)

Wireless Network Name: (SSID of my 2.4 network)  (Note: the idiot Genie 2 does not have 5 gig Wi-Fi !!)

Wireless Signal strength: Excellent (Note it does not tell WHICH wireless network, the DECA one or to the home Wi-Fi)

Internet: Wireless Connected (I do not have my Geni 2 hardwired)

QoS: Disabled (would probably only be enabled if they added phone or similar)

Wireless Video Bridge (very interesting stuff here, tells a lot about DTV networking)

the 2 entries below have gone missing

Video Bridge 1

MAC Address: a4:43:8c:95:76:60 (seems to be MAC of external WVB)

Status: Active

Video Bridge 2

MAC Address: c6:fc:d0:63:27:32 (also needs checking)

Status: Active

Client Locations

Family Room

Device: DIRECTV C71KW-400 (Gemini)

MAC Address: 78:67:0E:9C:F6:37 (this is the Wi-Fi MAC for the Gemini)

Status: Wireless (wonder if it would change if more things hardwired, or through MoCA)

RSSI: Excellent (be sure to check this)

Average RSSI: Excellent (be sure to check this too)

Connection Speed: 1 Mbps (I think this may be a running speed check, have seen 0)

Disconnection: 0 in last 7 days (another thing worth checking)

Garage

Device: DIRECTV C41W-500 (this unit has wireless)

MAC Address: 40:3d:ec:52:53:4c (need to check which mac)

Status: Wireless (over internal interface or via wireless video bridge?)

RSSI: Excellent

Average RSSI: Excellent

Connection Speed: 600 Mbps (again may be current speed)

Disconnection [] in last seven days (never seen a number in the braces)

Features

Tuner – shows 15 tuners, all are SAT, tuners some have "record" in addition

Scheduler

Upcoming recordings - shows number of item in queue

History - I think how many were scheduled

Purchases -

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Misc Genie 2 Notes: (stuff from older menus now long gone)

s/n: D55LK2NW110630

mac: D0:FC:D0:63:27:31

Can watch/record 7 programs at a time, 2 of them 4k

450 hours of hd content (2 TB hd)

DVR to every tv

Built in wireless video bridge

Bridge 2 mac: c6:fc:d0:63:27:32

dish: sl3 lnb, swm lnb

android ver 11

patch april 5, 2023

bsl ver 2.2.7.1

bsu ver 3.16

bfw ver 4.2.5

old stuff from old gemini this device settings:

Notes:

You can see list of wifi SSIDs and turn off wifi!, Ethernet status, proxy settings, and where to set static or dhcp (man is this buried deep!)

Also android app settings and permissions, you will be surprised at all the apps that have phone access!

The dang thing is like a wide open phone!

There are also listings for remotes that are paired and keyboards, you can unpair remotes, rename,  and even see battery level

Other Notes:

 Server Receiver ID: 0224-4686-7008 (id of Genie 2)

Server Access Card: 0046-0106-0942 (card in Genie 2)

Menus from Client/player: "Genie Mini" -C41W-500C-R (in garage)

wireless client – advanced whole home client

located in garage, where I distribute the video in several ways, coax ch 3 and mpeg streamer

“System info & test” - (menu button on remote, then settings, then Info & Test)

(1^st screen, no header)

Client: Directv C41W-500

Client Location Name: GARAGE

Client MAC: 40:3D:EC:52:53:4C (this is WiFi MAC)

Client Software: 0x1abc (not complete info, and no date)

Server Receiver ID: 0224-4686-7008 (the genie 2)

Server Access Card: 0046-0106-0942 (the genie 2)

sub menu: “This Location Info”

(no category header)

Client: DIRECTV C41W-500

Client Location Name: GARAGE

Client Software:0x1abc 2024/05/01 22:59:35

• was 0x198c 2023/05/26 22.52:42
• was 0x1929 2023/04/01 00:22:44

Client Internal Temp: 145 F (good to check)

Remote Type: RF (IR always works)

Client Video Network menu

Connection type: Wireless

Connection Status: Connected

AP MAC Address:  40:3D:EC:52:53:4C (this is Genie Mini wifi MAC, but apparently functions as an AP)

AP Signal Strength Excellent (this and below don’t mean a lot, because it may be receiving from multiple devices)

AP Historical RSSI Min Excellent

AP Historical RSSI Max Excellent

AP Historical RSSI Average Excellent

Disconnections: 0 (good thing to monitor)

Client Parental Controls

Not worth detailing here - you cannot change anything

Client Ratings

I had some blocked here, will investigate where to set

Client Favorites

Lists any favorites and number of channels in them

Client Display Preferences

I have always hidden the SD duplicates
see the banner display timeout here

Client Captioning

Lots of settings here but you cannot change here

Client HDTV

Here is a good place to see what the Gemini thinks your tv can do… you should check often, the dang thing will change it..

Also “HDMI Control” shows up here (CEC) but you cannot change it !!!

Native: off

TV Resolution: 1080i

My HDMI control is set to “on”

Client Audio

Again, you can check to see if dolby audio is on

 “Internet Setup” - (from main menu setup from any client)

(I believe this refers to the server)

Run Speed test

just gives you horizontal segmented bar with indicators for HD, HD1080p and 4k, no specifics

Reconfigure Connection

Admonishes you to use a wired network

You can set up wired or wireless

Wireless is only 2.4 Gig

Repeat Internet Setup

Advanced setup

in general you can set static or DNS

Under wired, I was able to do a speed test, but there is NO wired connection, that is very strange.It is indeed wireless, but maybe it is interpreting the WVB as wired... which is also strange.

Whole home settings (from main menu setup on any client)

(several items but the Video Bridge is the interesting one)

Video Bridge

Video Bridge Status

Network Name (SSID): DIRECTV_WVB_4116BBF3

Wireless Video Bridge 1: GARAGEWVB

Status: active

MAC: a4:43:8c:95:76:60 (mac address of the external box I guess)

IP Address: 169.254.7.211

WiFi Channel: 132 (this is 5 GHz Wi-Fi channel)

software version: 00.06.65

connected Clients: 1

Client 1: GARAGE

Signal Quality: excellent (has a little wireless “fan” icon)

MAC address: 40:3D:EC:52:53:4C (this is MAC address of Genie Mini, the client)

Wireless Video Bridge (internal) 2:

Status: active

MAC address: c6:fc:d0:63:27:32

Ip address: 169.254.6.92

wifi channel 132

software version: 0.01.065

connected Clients: 1

Client 1: FAMILY ROOM

signal quality: excellent (has a little wireless “fan” icon)

MAC Address: 78:67:0E:9C:F6:37 (this is the Wi-Fi MAC for the Gemini)

s/n: D35HW5RN912163

id: 022446867008