Can I use a DirecTV tivo from one account on another?

[tlwizard]

I am currently subletting an apartment in another state and the place comes with DirecTV, however there is no DVR capability. I do have a DirecTV tivo back at home just sitting there (as well as one of the directv dvrs) and was wondering if I could use this in the new place I'm subletting.

If so, can I just plug it in, or put the activation card from the dvr-less receiver into the tivo? Will it cost anything extra for the person I'm subletting from?

Thanks so much.

[netringer]

If the card and receiver are active it'll just work once you hook up the lines from the dish.

The caveat is if you ever cancelled service you'll need to pay for a new card and activation and will have a 2 year commit from EvilTV.

If your new apartment is in a different area....I guess it should just work once you do guided setup again. They will know it's not in your main address.

[tlwizard]

Thanks for the reply.

So at the new place I have New Receiver and New Card and active service. At the old place I have Old Receiver/Tivo and Old Card and active service.

Are you saying if I put the New Card in the Old Receiver that it should just work right away after doing guided setup? Will they charge my landlord a DVR fee if I hook it up?

[stevel]

It depends on the model of receiver - if it's one with a Receiver ID (RID) number, you can't swap cards unless you get DirecTV to authorize it.

[JimSpence]

Don't bother with the access cards. Both units are active on your account. So both will work wherever you are. No charge to your landlord.

However, having the two units in two different locations on the same account violates your Terms of Service with DirecTV. But, I won't tell. :)

[tlwizard]

Don't bother with the access cards. Both units are active on your account. So both will work wherever you are. No charge to your landlord.

However, having the two units in two different locations on the same account violates your Terms of Service with DirecTV. But, I won't tell. :)Would switching the access cards still not cause my landlord any money and keep me from violating the TOS?

[netringer]

Would switching the access cards still not cause my landlord any money and keep me from violating the TOS?

Your landlord isn't going to be involved unless you tried to use equipment he/she provided.

As above you can't count on being to able switch access cards because they can be married to a particular receiver.

Look at it this way: the service works one-way, from a bird at 22,000 miles up over the equator SENDING the signal to you, wherever you are in the hemisphere. The bird has no way of knowing where you're picking it up. Other than some issues like spot beams for local service, it just works - LISTENING.

If you moved the receiver it would show you just what you got at home - except maybe for locals as above.

The way D* knows where you are is when you set it up and say what city's channels you want - and it CALLS them. Getting service elsewhere is a violation of TOS.

[JimSpence]

Would switching the access cards still not cause my landlord any money and keep me from violating the TOS?You will be violating the TOS no matter what you do with the access cards. As stated, your landlord isn't involved, other than providing a dish to connect to.

[magnus]

You could always get a slingobx and then you're not violating anything.

[Matt L]

Just take the box from home and hook it to the dish in the apartment and be done with it. Just don't plug the phone line in. Or just change your service address to the apartment for the itme you are there and then change it back. Do what ever is easiest.

[tlwizard]

Okay. Thanks for all the responses. I'll just have it shipped out to me and then plug it into the dish and go from there.

It looks like, however, that I won't be able to get the local network stations? Or at least they won't be programmed correctly?

There's no phone line here so I don't have to worry about it calling in I guess.

[stevel]

You'll be authorized for the locals at your "service address", and if you're outside the spot beam area for those locals you'll get nothing.

[JimSpence]

To clarify one thing. The OP isn't going to use the TiVo on a different account as his title implied. He's just going to use the dish at a different location.

[magnus]

Unless they leave the Tivo at home and get a slingbox. :D

You'll be authorized for the locals at your "service address", and if you're outside the spot beam area for those locals you'll get nothing.