msg

Sorry for a DSS-related question here, but I didn't want to post to
the alt hierarchy...

I want to subscribe to DirecTV and employ a used receiver; it is missing
its access card. I telephoned customer service at DirecTV and described
the situtation as a used receiver without an access card; they said
that they would send a replacement card for $20.00 and would activate
my account. I proceeded to setup an account and request the access
card; I was then told that they would not send one since I was a new
account and they would only sell me new equipment (or force me to purchase
it from a retailer). I do not wish to make an annual committment for
their free equipment offer, only to try their service and retain it
at my option if programming and signal quality are satisfactory.

Unused (virgin) access cards are for sale on Ebay; if I purchase one of
these would it permit my receiver to be activated (RCA DRD203RW)?
Is there a legitimate reason why DirecTV would not activate it?

If I purchase a different used receiver which has its access card
should there be any reason that DirecTV would not activate it?

There are thousands of receivers sold daily at flea markets, rummage sales,
thrift stores, and newspaper ads to people who expect to be able to use them;
I would appreciate a clear and consistent description of what is neccesary
to be able to use "pre-owned" receivers on new DirecTV accounts.

Regards,

Michael Grigoni
Cybertheque Museum

drlev

This is not a small dish group. You would probably get a better response if you
post your question to one of the small dish NGs.

Ref:
http://www.landfield.com/usenet/control/rec/rec.video.satellite.tvro

For your newsgroups file:
rec.video.satellite.tvro "Large Dish" ("BUD") systems and technologies.


| Sorry for a DSS-related question here, but I didn't want to post to
| the alt hierarchy...
|

ric

[...snip]

Your question was answered in r.v.s.dbs.

drlev

Thanks ric

I never can remember the names of the small dish groups, that
is why I never put them in my messages

|
| Your question was answered in r.v.s.dbs.

bobafett

If you get a card that is really a virgin card that has never been used and
never married to a receiver it should work.

web williams

What you're going to run into is this- if the
access card is not "fresh and unused", and/or
"paid with no money owing on the subscription",
then DirecTV (or Dish Network) will not authorize
it.

They do this so that someone who ran up their
bill and didn't pay cannot call with a different
name to have the system turned back on without
paying their outstanding bill.

If you can find a unit that has been active, but
has been "unsubscribed" and all service was paid
for, you should have no trouble subscribing it.
How can you tell when you're at the flea market
if a system will be authorized before you take
it home? It will be brand new sealed in the box.
Anything else is a crap-shoot.

DirecTV used to allow dealers to return used
access cards for wiping, then they could sell
them with a system that had a bad/missing access
card, but I don't know if they do this any more.

-Web Williams
Ethnic Satellite Service
Myrtle Beach, SC

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