i'm lost - just want tivo!

[rdukes412]

i posted this in the help center folder as well - wasn't sure where to post. . . .


ok i have searched and i must be completely iliterate when it comes to this stuff cuz i can't seem to get any straight answer to my question. and from what i can tell, this is going to seem very dumb for this forum, but i have to give it a try.

i currently have directv in 2 rooms with hughes boxes from about 5 years ago. they say the model is HIRD-E1 on the back but I don't know what that means. the satellite is just as old so i don't know what it is either. i want to upgrade one of the rooms to a dvr. from what i have read a dvr with tivo is better than a regular dvr that directv has out now. so how do i go about getting one? and if i buy it from someone other than directv, what do i need to do when i call directv? i'm assuming i need to activate it. but then i'm leasing it somehow -- even though i just bought it?? i don't want to get stuck in any new contract - is there any way around that? now from expereince, through moving many times, the installation people in this area are horrible and have no clue what they are doing, so i would like to do all that myself anyway. does this affect anything i need to do with directv? now on to the most obvious question -- what receiver do i buy? from what i've read i should be looking for the r10? and does my old satellite work with any of the newer receivers?

ok since i'm rambling with tons of questions now, i'll stop and hope someone can answer them . . . . thanks!!!

[goony]

Every 2.05 days, someone posts here "Where can I get a DirecTivo (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316297)"... so look backwards for some of those posts. Basically: You can get them used/refurb/NOS, but no longer from DirecTV. DirecTV should activate these units without any leasing junk.

You need to do a 'reset all' type of function in the menu and it should take you through the guided setup in which you specify your type of dish, etc. In that screen is a spot thay says "Call 1-800-DIRECTV" to activate. You will want to say "I am deactivating receiver AAAA and activating the DVR BBBB" (have serial numbers ready) and I am using the old access card in the new box. If they try to sell you a new access card then say "goodbye", call back and you may get a CSR that will do it for you - it just depends on who you happen to get.

You will want 2 cables coming from your dish or multiswitch so that you can use the dual tuners. No, a splitter won't work to make one cable into two.

Any DVR on your DirecTV account means $5.99/mo. extra, but that will cover any number of DVRs you might end up with.

There is still the same $5/mo. "additonal receiver" charge - no difference between a DVR and a non-DVR receiver.

If you want to 'enhance (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=265929)' your DirecTivo with networked features, then don't get an R10 DirecTivo - otherwise, any Series 2 (has USB ports in back) DirecTivo of them will do. Any Series 2 can have its capacity boosted with commodity hard drives.

[rdukes412]

if i buy a receiver that comes with a card, say off ebay or somewherre, either new or used -- what do i need to do when i hook it all up? i know it has to be activated -- but what do i tell directv? will they activate it with no problems even though it didnt come from them?

[goony]

if i buy a receiver that comes with a card, say off ebay or somewherre, either new or used -- what do i need to do when i hook it all up? i know it has to be activated -- but what do i tell directv? will they activate it with no problems even though it didnt come from them?Don't count on using someone else's access card - they may have racked up a huge bill of PPVs and are now trying to dump it to avoid paying the bill. DirecTV would refuse to activate that card until you pay the outstanding bill!

You could ask the seller what the ID number is on the card, then call DirecTV and ask if that card has any charges, but it's better to use a card that has already been active on your account. DirecTV is pretty reluctant to activate an inactive card unless it has been active on your account previously, or the card is a new one from them.

If you have no card that was previously activated on your account, then prepare to buy one from DirecTV for $20.

[rdukes412]

ok thanks so far for all the info. still more dumb questions -- how would i know ahead of time if my access card would work with a newer system? they had sent me a new one in the mail about a year ago to replace our originals. and how would i know that it is the access card that is not working compared to something not hooked up right, or the machine itself? what step would not work? and when i call to activate it in the new machine and subscribe to the dvr programming, am i asking for a particular department? or just any csr? and do i just tell them i bought a used box and need to replace one of the others? and am i reading correctly that i do not necissarily have to have the box hooked up to the phone? i think i may be looking at a sd-dvr40 - does that make a difference? thanks!!!