Technology - Blue Stream Getting Ready - Updated 11/23/2025
ATTIC Work: The attic work started at the north end of the complex and is working its way southward. In this first stage of the install, they have been burying cable all over the property and then run fiber through the attic to the units, the same way that AT&T did 10 years ago. This was a little messy, you will definitely want to vacuum your unit after this work is completed. Some people had minor damage, like the bathroom fans being pushed down when workers crawled around in the short hot attic. Several people with a 2/2 A unit had the bathroom wall pierced by screws from the furnace closet. At the end of the attic work you will have a Blue Stream terminal in your furnace closet just like the AT&T terminal.
SETTING UP ACCOUNTS
DIRECTV Account
Blue Stream Fiber Account
Google Account (Optional, but strongly suggested)
YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL YOUR BUILDING IS ELIGIBLE BEFORE YOU SET UP YOUR DIRECTV AND BLUESTREAM ACCOUNTS.
Once your building is ready for installation you will be informed of a townhall meeting where you get information on what you need to do next. Once your building is ready, Blue Stream sets up your address as eligible for Blue Stream DirecTV. After that you should receive an email from the Vista Royale office with links for the signup process. BlueStream also have in-person signups at the Royal Oak Clubhouse. Please note that DirecTV is very finicky about which browser you use to complete the registration. For example, DirecTV will not accept applications submitted from the Firefox browser.
DIRECTV Account
Blue Stream Fiber Account
Google Account (Optional, but strongly suggested)
YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL YOUR BUILDING IS ELIGIBLE BEFORE YOU SET UP YOUR DIRECTV AND BLUESTREAM ACCOUNTS.
Once your building is ready for installation you will be informed of a townhall meeting where you get information on what you need to do next. Once your building is ready, Blue Stream sets up your address as eligible for Blue Stream DirecTV. After that you should receive an email from the Vista Royale office with links for the signup process. BlueStream also have in-person signups at the Royal Oak Clubhouse. Please note that DirecTV is very finicky about which browser you use to complete the registration. For example, DirecTV will not accept applications submitted from the Firefox browser.
Step 1. Set up your DirecTV account and order your streaming boxes from DirecTV. You are eligible for 3 DirecTV set-top boxes.
Once your have ordered your boxes, your account is immediately eligible to stream. You can sign into the DirecTV app on any smart device and begin streaming.
False Rumor: There was a crazy rumor among my friends that had attended the early meetings about the different providers that if you had a Samsung TV, you couldn't access BlueStream DirecTV at all. That made no sense at all since streaming is delivered through an external streaming device. I was able to attend the zoom presentation last summer, and that question was asked again. We were told that the a special streaming app was required that was not available on Samsung TV's nor Rokus. When U-verse had a streaming app, it was only available on FireStick streaming devices, so it seemed somewhat reasonable that our bundled DirecTV might need a special BlueStream app instead of the standard DirecTV app. As much as I don't like FireSticks I bought a new one just so that I could compare the app to the functioning against the DirecTV box. That was a waste of money. I can tell you that my DirecTV credentials on my new account work with the standard DirecTV app. I have tested it on a Roku, on a Samsung Smart TV, on a Firestick, on my Android Tablet, and my iPad, and on my iPhone and everything works.
WARNING: Your DirecTV devices are linked to your account and will automatically sign into your account with your username and password once they are connected to the internet. So it is important when you get your boxes, log in to your DirecTV account and scroll down to Manage My Account and click on Account Overview and then Manage My Devices. Check the serial numbers against the serial numbers on the boxes. Then check the serial number on the bottom of the device with that listed on the box. This morning all of our scheduled recordings were missing, the favorite channels had changed and there was a new profile called LOL. What! My immediate thought is that my brand new login had been compromised. I had installed two of my boxes, but the third one is waiting for the installer because it isn't an easy access. Upon investigation I found that the serial number on the device on the unopened box was a different from the serial number printed on the device! Someone else plugged in the new box associated with my account and it logged them into my DirecTV account. I will let you know how to resolve this, if I EVER get it resolved myself.
Q: If my Smart TV has a built in Directv app do I still want to attach a DirecTV gemini box? YES! There are several advantages to using the DirecTV box. The biggest is that the DirecTV remote has a numeric key pad to change channels, where the DirecTV apps on any other smart device require you to scroll through the list of channels. Hmm type in a 2, 3 or 4 digit number or press the up or down arrow an average of 65 times to change channels. I'll take the numeric keyboard option every time! The DirecTV box guide also lets you scroll a page at a time, by using the channel up and down buttons. The DirecTV box has access to PayPerView content. The DirecTV box also allows voice control. There are many reasons but the ease of changing channels is a huge reason to use the box.
Once your have ordered your boxes, your account is immediately eligible to stream. You can sign into the DirecTV app on any smart device and begin streaming.
False Rumor: There was a crazy rumor among my friends that had attended the early meetings about the different providers that if you had a Samsung TV, you couldn't access BlueStream DirecTV at all. That made no sense at all since streaming is delivered through an external streaming device. I was able to attend the zoom presentation last summer, and that question was asked again. We were told that the a special streaming app was required that was not available on Samsung TV's nor Rokus. When U-verse had a streaming app, it was only available on FireStick streaming devices, so it seemed somewhat reasonable that our bundled DirecTV might need a special BlueStream app instead of the standard DirecTV app. As much as I don't like FireSticks I bought a new one just so that I could compare the app to the functioning against the DirecTV box. That was a waste of money. I can tell you that my DirecTV credentials on my new account work with the standard DirecTV app. I have tested it on a Roku, on a Samsung Smart TV, on a Firestick, on my Android Tablet, and my iPad, and on my iPhone and everything works.
WARNING: Your DirecTV devices are linked to your account and will automatically sign into your account with your username and password once they are connected to the internet. So it is important when you get your boxes, log in to your DirecTV account and scroll down to Manage My Account and click on Account Overview and then Manage My Devices. Check the serial numbers against the serial numbers on the boxes. Then check the serial number on the bottom of the device with that listed on the box. This morning all of our scheduled recordings were missing, the favorite channels had changed and there was a new profile called LOL. What! My immediate thought is that my brand new login had been compromised. I had installed two of my boxes, but the third one is waiting for the installer because it isn't an easy access. Upon investigation I found that the serial number on the device on the unopened box was a different from the serial number printed on the device! Someone else plugged in the new box associated with my account and it logged them into my DirecTV account. I will let you know how to resolve this, if I EVER get it resolved myself.
Q: If my Smart TV has a built in Directv app do I still want to attach a DirecTV gemini box? YES! There are several advantages to using the DirecTV box. The biggest is that the DirecTV remote has a numeric key pad to change channels, where the DirecTV apps on any other smart device require you to scroll through the list of channels. Hmm type in a 2, 3 or 4 digit number or press the up or down arrow an average of 65 times to change channels. I'll take the numeric keyboard option every time! The DirecTV box guide also lets you scroll a page at a time, by using the channel up and down buttons. The DirecTV box has access to PayPerView content. The DirecTV box also allows voice control. There are many reasons but the ease of changing channels is a huge reason to use the box.
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The DirecTV Gemini Remote is a Bluetooth remote. That means that it does not need to be able to see the set top box in order to operate it. So your set top box can be hidden away in a cabinet, or behind the TV.
The DirecTV remote can control the volume, power and input selection of your TV, via an infrared signal. So you still need to point your remote to control those functions. I am rather surprised that there is no smartphone app to control the DirecTV box over your home network. The box itself has no controls. If you are prone to losing your remote, like I am, this is going to force me to pay more attention to what I am doing. 
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Q: Is my TV compatible with this new DirecTV equipment? Unlike your old U-verse boxes, which supported legacy connections, the new streaming boxes only support an HDMI connection and also an optical audio output for a direct connection to your sound system if you have one. While most flat screen TV's have an HDMI port, some of the older smaller TVs don't. If you are still rocking a tube TV, it most certainly doesn't have an HDMI port. If your TV doesn't have an HDMI port, there are inexpensive HDMI to AV converters available, that can dumb down the signal to use the Yellow, White and Red connectors. There are HDMI to RGB adapters too, but if your only connection on the back of the TV is the Coax cable connection, it is best to bite the bullet and buy a new TV, because the HDMI to Coax converters get quite expensive.
Q: What about recording? Your DirecTV account comes with a cloud based DVR that includes 20 hours of recording storage, not 50 hours as was printed in the brochure. Depending on the amount of recording you do, 20 hours might not be enough. We like to record a certain news show and then speed watch it. Our News show has 1 episode marked NEW each day day. We set up a record series with the NEW episodes only option. DirecTV ignored the NEW episode request and records the show 4 times everyday. Twenty hours of space disappears quickly when you have a one hour show taking up 4 hours of recording space. Unlimited Cloud DVR hours can be added to your account at a cost of $10 per month.
Q: What about recording? Your DirecTV account comes with a cloud based DVR that includes 20 hours of recording storage, not 50 hours as was printed in the brochure. Depending on the amount of recording you do, 20 hours might not be enough. We like to record a certain news show and then speed watch it. Our News show has 1 episode marked NEW each day day. We set up a record series with the NEW episodes only option. DirecTV ignored the NEW episode request and records the show 4 times everyday. Twenty hours of space disappears quickly when you have a one hour show taking up 4 hours of recording space. Unlimited Cloud DVR hours can be added to your account at a cost of $10 per month.
Step 2. Your Vista Royale TV package now includes fast Blue Stream internet. Set up a blue stream account and get an appointment to get your BlueStream internet hooked up. You will need your drivers license to complete this request. You will want to schedule this appointment to be AFTER your DirecTV boxes are supposed to arrive. Installing and setting up the DirecTV boxes yourself is easy enough to do, unless the back of your TV is physically difficult to access.
Many people have said they will not use BlueStream internet based on bad reviews. While you don't need to take advantage of the included internet, and can continue to pay your current provider, it would be foolish to not have the service installed based on some unhappy reviewers. In my experience all reviews for ISPs and TV providers tend to be negative. People that are happy don't feel it necessary to post a review.
BlueStream is installing a MESH system with one ONT modem and a WiFi Plume. It is unclear whether there will be one or two Plumes, the early information and the brochure from the townhall meeting have conflicting information.
The very first installs are due to start on November 19th. I am scheduled for that date. It will be interesting to see how a Mesh system behaves in my unit, as I live in a very hostile WiFi environment.
Prep for this appointment.
1. If you have a custom SSID (WiFi network name), you will need that name and password that goes with it.
2. If you are still using the ATTxxxxxx SSID think of a new network name and password.
3. If you have any equipment set up with StaticIP addresses, look up in your notes how to change those settings.
Many people have said they will not use BlueStream internet based on bad reviews. While you don't need to take advantage of the included internet, and can continue to pay your current provider, it would be foolish to not have the service installed based on some unhappy reviewers. In my experience all reviews for ISPs and TV providers tend to be negative. People that are happy don't feel it necessary to post a review.
BlueStream is installing a MESH system with one ONT modem and a WiFi Plume. It is unclear whether there will be one or two Plumes, the early information and the brochure from the townhall meeting have conflicting information.
The very first installs are due to start on November 19th. I am scheduled for that date. It will be interesting to see how a Mesh system behaves in my unit, as I live in a very hostile WiFi environment.
Prep for this appointment.
1. If you have a custom SSID (WiFi network name), you will need that name and password that goes with it.
2. If you are still using the ATTxxxxxx SSID think of a new network name and password.
3. If you have any equipment set up with StaticIP addresses, look up in your notes how to change those settings.
- Most home networks simply use a dynamic IP address, but some devices work best when they use a static IP address or a reserved IP address. That is particularly for things that have a job on the network like some older network printers, a NAS, Security Cameras, or a wireless bridge. If you remember setting up static IP addresses a decade ago, it is important that you have this information on hand for your installer.
Step 3. Set up a Google account if you don't already have one. (If you have gmail, you have a google account.)
If you want to use voice control or add other streaming apps to your DirecTV box, you need a Google account. I have a Google account. Long ago I made my peace with Google knowing so much about me, my problem with this particular use of my google account is that I share DirecTV with my spouse. I have always used Google on my own personal device, I am not sure I want to use my account to have Google watching everything we watch on TV and tailoring my ad experience to my husband's viewing habits. I'm sure I'll get over it.
If you want to use voice control or add other streaming apps to your DirecTV box, you need a Google account. I have a Google account. Long ago I made my peace with Google knowing so much about me, my problem with this particular use of my google account is that I share DirecTV with my spouse. I have always used Google on my own personal device, I am not sure I want to use my account to have Google watching everything we watch on TV and tailoring my ad experience to my husband's viewing habits. I'm sure I'll get over it.
Step 4. Close your AT&T U-verse account. Contrary to the rumor here, YOU MUST RETURN SOME OF YOUR EQUIPMENT. You don't need to box it up and you don't need pay for shipping. You merely take it, unwrapped, to the FedEx or UPS store and they scan the serial numbers. This scan at UPS should find your AT&T account number based on the serial number of your equipment, but they couldn't find mine. It is a best practice to have your AT&T account number with you. They will give you a receipt with your serial number and account number that says you returned the returnable equipment.
Next Topic, Blue Stream Installation