purchasing used DVR

[taterkyle]

If one was to subscribe to DirectTV and purchase a used DVR (i.e. "Craigslist"), could one just pull the card out of a standard receiver and plug into the DVR reciever and get away with it? Or is it more complicated?

[rk67]

The cards are generally mated with the receiver. You will get a error stating "wrong card" or something like that. You would need to call customer service to set up your new receiver to use your existing card.

[taterkyle]

Thanks for the reply. :)

[shadough]

Yes u can. the card is only mated w/ the recvr once it is activated. The larger issue is whether the recvr is 'available'. Some recvrs are leased and not owned and therefore cannot be activated. so u need 2b careful when buying some1 elses recvr as they may not 'own' it, in the eyes of directv. I would call directv and give them the receiver id # of the box u want 2 buy and have them run a check on it. But cards are interchangeable, until they are activated. Now additonally, u will need a P5 card, all other cards wont work.

[Jimbo68k]

Please note, there is one caveat when purchasing a used satellite receiver/DVR:

DirecTV will not allow you to activate a unit if the previous owner has defaulted on his/her account. If you want to proceed with activating the unit, DirectTV will allow you to pay the amount past due.