buying a used receiver

[annoyed99]

I want to buy a used directivo series II because the 2d tuner doesn't work on mine. What do I do with the serial number of the one for sale before I buy it to make sure I can register it with Directv?

I plan to just take the (upgraded) disk out of mine and throw it in the one I get on ebay (same model number), will that work?

Thanks,
-K

[John T Smith]

What do I do with the serial number of the one for sale before I buy it to make sure I can register it with Directv?
Call DirecTv and ask

[IminMs]

you'll need the serial #, rec. ID and Model #.
They can look it up to see if it's clear.

[classicsat]

If you haven't hacked your system with the superpatch, you will need to do a C&DE to marry the drive to the new system. If you have, run the 51 killer script.

[wolflord11]

You will need the Model, Serial Number, ID Number.

Call Directv and talk to them, sometimes you can get alot done by asking!!!

[annoyed99]

Well I went to the trouble to call directv (and they said it wasn't in collections or anything) and then I ended up losing the auction. I'm not too good with ebay.

Thanks for the help everyone. I will probably try to win another one.

-K

[DonDon]

I have won 1 good and 2 bad HDVR2 auctions the last couple of weeks. The "Good" unit has been locking up every 2-3 days 8-(, the first "Bad" unit had the wrong software loaded on it and has been running fine with and HDVR2 image, and the second "Bad" unit has a very dead hard drive that I can easily replace.

I will fix the 2 "Bad" units, keep 1 and sell the other, and sell the "Good" unit as defective and get a little money out of it.

Don

[Doomster]

I want to buy a used directivo series II because the 2d tuner doesn't work on mine. What do I do with the serial number of the one for sale before I buy it to make sure I can register it with Directv?
I think you can call DTV with the S/N and see that it's not in collections or anything.

I plan to just take the (upgraded) disk out of mine and throw it in the one I get on ebay (same model number), will that work?
Unfortunately, no (I wish it was that easy).

You can take the upgraded HD out of the old one and into the new one and use it *if* you do a "clear and delete everything", which will delete all saved shows on the HD.

You can't save the shows on the HD if you want to just swap it into the new DirecTivo. The shows are encrypted and tied to a particular receiver :(

One other thing - if you can, try getting a Hughes SD-DVR40 rather than a HDVR2. The HDVR2s are notorious for having one of the tuners go out.

[yoyo_58]

I think you can call DTV with the S/N and see that it's not in collections or anything.


Unfortunately, no (I wish it was that easy).

You can take the upgraded HD out of the old one and into the new one and use it *if* you do a "clear and delete everything", which will delete all saved shows on the HD.

You can't save the shows on the HD if you want to just swap it into the new DirecTivo. The shows are encrypted and tied to a particular receiver :(

One other thing - if you can, try getting a Hughes SD-DVR40 rather than a HDVR2. The HDVR2s are notorious for having one of the tuners go out.
Okay, I need a little hand holding here. If I buy a new box and want to use my larger HD in it from my old box, I need to do a C&DE (I found the menu option to do this). Do I perform the C&DE first using my old box, install the large HD in the new box, power up the new box, and call D* to activate the new box? Are those the right steps in the right order? The large HD will marry to the new box as part of this process?

Thanks for the help.

[Doomster]

Okay, I need a little hand holding here. If I buy a new box and want to use my larger HD in it from my old box, I need to do a C&DE (I found the menu option to do this). Do I perform the C&DE first using my old box, install the large HD in the new box, power up the new box, and call D* to activate the new box? Are those the right steps in the right order? The large HD will marry to the new box as part of this process?

Thanks for the help.
My first reply might be wrong.

First, make sure the new box is the same DirecTivo (DTV) model (HDVR-2 vs SD-DVR40) and is running the same version of the SW. If the SW versions are different or you have different Tivo models, this won't work.

IF they are the same, then you can then clear/delete everything (CDE). Then install it into the new box. You will have to CDE again with the new box.

I *think* this will work. I usually don't do this - I usually "reformat" the hard drive using InstantCake, then install it into the new box.

But if you want to try it, go ahead. I'm not sure if it will work though.

[yoyo_58]

My first reply might be wrong.

First, make sure the new box is the same DirecTivo (DTV) model (HDVR-2 vs SD-DVR40) and is running the same version of the SW. If the SW versions are different or you have different Tivo models, this wonYou can then clear/delete everything (CDE). Then install it into the new box. You will have to CDE again with the new box.

I *think* this will work. I usually don't do this - I usually "reformat" the hard drive using InstantCake, then install it into the new box.

But if you want to try it, go ahead. I'm not sure if it will work though.
Thanks for the reply.

Anyone else have any insight on this?

[rminsk]

One other thing - if you can, try getting a Hughes SD-DVR40 rather than a HDVR2. The HDVR2s are notorious for having one of the tuners go out.They are the same box, made in the same factory, with a different plastic faceplate.

[yoyo_58]

bump

Will the C&DE approach described above work if I want to install a HD from one machine in another machine, or will it be necessary to do further prep work on the drive such as with IC?

Thank you.

[John T Smith]

install a HD from one machine in another machine
There is an entire forum for upgrade questions
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24

[yoyo_58]

There is an entire forum for upgrade questions
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24
Thank you.

[rock_doctor]

bump
Will the C&DE approach described above work if I want to install a HD from one machine in another machine, or will it be necessary to do further prep work on the drive such as with IC?
Thank you.

If it is the same model DVR then the clear and delete will re-marry the drive to the new recorder.

mark

[classicsat]

They are the same box, made in the same factory, with a different plastic faceplate.

They are not the same, really. The SD-DVR40 is RID, the HDVR2 is not.

They could have used the RID addition as an opportunity to "fix" the tuner also.

[dvr4me]

I was surfing the Circuit City website for an upconverting DVD player and stumbled across the Samsung SIRS4040R DIRECTV TIVO Digital Video Recorder.

Is this a mistake? It isn't available locally but is available for shipping... I was under the impression that DirecTv and TIVO parted ways and you could no longer get new DirecTv Tivo equipment...

I just registered so I cannot post the link. But I found it plain as day under TV & Video... Tivo and Digital Video Recorders.

[wolflord11]

I was surfing the Circuit City website for an upconverting DVD player and stumbled across the Samsung SIRS4040R DIRECTV TIVO Digital Video Recorder.

Is this a mistake? It isn't available locally but is available for shipping... I was under the impression that DirecTv and TIVO parted ways and you could no longer get new DirecTv Tivo equipment...

I just registered so I cannot post the link. But I found it plain as day under TV & Video... Tivo and Digital Video Recorders.

Heres the link you mention:

Samsung SIRS4040R (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-DIRECTV-TIVO-Digital-Video-Recorder-SIRS4040R/sem/rpsm/oid/89307/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

You can still purchase New Directv/Tivo units, they are just becoming harder to find.

Sometimes Circuit City has them, and sometimes you can find them on EBay.

[yoyo_58]

If it is the same model DVR then the clear and delete will re-marry the drive to the new recorder.

mark
Alas, the box I may be getting is an RCA DVR40 and my failing box is Hughes HDVR2. Looks like I will need use InstantCake or some other tool to prep the hard drive, right?

[jfk]

Looks like this is to lease the Samsung receiver. Can anyone confirm if this is lease or buy?

[wolflord11]

This would be to Buy the Receiver and have it listed on your Directv account as owned.

Directv do not lease these units anymore.

[rock_doctor]

-----responding to three different posts here - did not want to waste bandwidth making separate posts-----------

Interestingly enough I have two SD-DVR40's. One is a RID unit and one isn't...

If your HDVR2 is dieing then you loose nothing by trying to put the HD into the DVR40 and doing a clear and delete. If it does not work then you can download a copy of instant cake. I would give it a try and see how you make out. I would bet if your DVR40 does not have a RID number it is close enough to the HDVR2 that it will work just fine. Also remember you are installing an old HD it isn't going to last forever and you may decide it would be worth the money to put in a larger drive. You have to decide if you just want to get it working or upgrade to a larger drive. I would suspect that the HDVR2 drive will work just fine, if not then it will cost you $20 to make it work.

I am not aware that DTV will still list receivers bought *new* after February of 2006 as owned and since they are covering some of the cost for that new receiver from CC, I would bet it will be listed as leased w/ a commitment.

mark