Do You Have to Have a Gemini Air for Every TV with DIRECTV via Internet?
DIRECTV via internet is a fantastic way to receive top cable channels without a satellite dish, thanks in large part to the power of the Gemini Air.
DIRECTV via internet is a very easy way to watch favorite cable channels without a satellite dish. You can have DIRECTV via Internet service delivered through your home directly through your broadband connection.
But does DIRECTV via internet require extra equipment? What is DIRECTV’s Gemini Air device? Do you need one of these boxes for every TV that you want to watch DIRECTV via internet on? We’ll answer each of these and more common questions about the Gemini Air streaming player below!
What Are the Biggest Questions About the Gemini Air?
What is the Gemini Air?
The Gemini Air is the set-top streaming dongle needed to stream DIRECTV via internet. It’s used to deliver all the channels that come with your DIRECTV via Internet package to your home, and it’s incredibly easy to install yourself without the help of a technician. Just connect it to an available HDMI port and follow the on-screen instructions to get started.
Because the Gemini Air is able to stream content in Ultra-High-Definition 4K, anyone with a compatible TV set can watch 4K titles found either on DIRECTV via internet’s 4K channels, or with on-demand streaming services that carry 4K content.
Does the Gemini Air Support Netflix, Prime Video, and Other Streaming Services?
Speaking of on-demand streamers, the Gemini Air will allow you to watch Netflix, Max, Prime Video, and other big-name streaming services (separate subscriptions to those services are required) from the same device that you watch your DIRECTV channels on. The Gemini Air also comes with a voice remote to make searches a breeze.
There’s a long list of third-party apps that work with Gemini Air, but customers must be subscribed to those services separately in order to access them with the device.
Do You Need a Gemini Air for Every TV with DIRECTV via Internet?
Yes, the Gemini Air does need to be attached to every TV set you want to watch DIRECTV via Internet channels. Having one Gemini Air will not allow you to watch on multiple sets in your household.
The Gemini Air connects to any TV with an HDMI port, so it’s a snap to connect once you’ve got enough devices for all the sets you want. You can easily order one, two, or more Gemini Airs when signing up for DIRECTV via Internet packages with 24-month agreements.
How Much Does the Gemini Air Cost?
The first Gemini Air device comes free with a 24-month contract to the DIRECTV via internet package of your choice. Each additional Gemini Air costs $7 per month on top of your package’s base price, as well as taxes and fees.
The Advanced Receiver Service (ARS) fee of $15 per month that comes with a DIRECTV via Internet package is to pay for access to features that come with your package such as Google Assistant searches, and support of third-party apps.
For the Gemini, that ARS fee also allows viewers to use the instant-on feature to immediately recall what they were watching when they last watched their set. This fee recurs every month, but it helps ensure customer access to many of the innovative features on the Gemini Air device.
Does the Gemini Air Device Work with DIRECTV STREAM?
This one is a question many DIRECTV-curious customers may have since both services can resemble each other at times. DIRECTV via internet requires the Gemini Air device to deliver your channel package to you, but it isn’t necessarily intended to work with DIRECTV STREAM.
The key difference is that DIRECTV STREAM delivers channels entirely through a broadband connection, making it a true virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD) – also called a live TV streaming service. If you want to use a streaming device to watch DIRECTV channels alongside on-demand streaming subscriptions you may also have, you’ll have to supply one yourself with DIRECTV STREAM and download the DIRECTV app.
The good news is, the DIRECTV app is available on a wide range of streaming devices, including many models of Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV devices, and Samsung smart TVs. For a list of DIRECTV-supporting devices, click here.
If you have a Gemini Air device already, you can still use it to watch the DIRECTV app and your DIRECTV STREAM subscription.
Does the DIRECTV Gemini Air Support Add-Ons like Max, More?
Yes, it does! The Gemini Air is a great way to watch add-ons that come free to new DIRECT via Internet subscribers, such as Max. You can use the same device to watch your package’s cable channels, and then effortlessly switch to Max and watch the latest on-demand titles from HBO like “The Penguin,” “House of the Dragon” and more.
You can also watch Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, Cinemax, MGM+, and STARZ with your DIRECTV via Internet subscription, and for three months new customers with a 24-month agreement and the associated fees get to do it on DIRECTV’s dime. The Gemini Air gives you the convenience of having all these subscriptions available on the same easy-to-use device.
Other third-party apps can be found on the Gemini Air as well, and its highly accessible user interface makes it very easy to browse for them.
Can You Pause and Rewind Live TV with the Gemini Air?
If you need to step away from your set and don’t want to miss your favorite show or sports team, the Gemini Air remote will empower you to watch your channels your way. You can easily pause and rewind live content with the Gemini Air, and catch back up to live as well, so long as your internet connection is fast enough to support fast-forward, pause, and rewind features.
The remote also makes it easy to browse through other apps on the Gemini Air device, access DVR recordings, switch inputs, and even adjust the volume. It’s a truly user-friendly benefit of a DIRECTV via Internet subscription, and it’s part of why having a Gemini is such a plus.
How Do You Get a Gemini Air Device?
It’s easy to get a Gemini Air device; simply sign up for a DIRECTV via internet package starting at $75 per month (with 24-month agreement, not including ARS fee, other fees or applicable taxes). During the sign-up process, you’ll be asked how many Gemini Air players you want for your household. You can choose up to six Gemini Air devices per account.
The first Gemini Air device comes with your DIRECTV via Internet subscription at no extra charge. All additional devices after that first will cost another $7 per month on top of your base package.
DIRECTV Via Internet
DIRECTV via Internet is a live TV streaming service and is the equivalent version of the DIRECTV service without the satellite on your home. All packages include local channels and at least 31 of the top 35 cable channels. New subscribers can get a free Gemini streaming device from the company which acts like the satellite or cable box you may be used to. It differs slightly from the DIRECTV STREAM service in that it protects from price hikes, includes more channels, and has an elevated customer service experience.