[Eccles]

I just picked up a Hughes SD-DVR40 for next to nothing. I already have a single-tuner Series2 hooked up to our digital cable box, and I'm wondering what (if anything) I can use this extra box for without DirecTV service. If at all possible, I'd like to (a) network it, and (b) use it to record OTA and/or for multi-room viewing.

Is there any way to activate the TiVo side of this thing without DirecTV service, or to blow a different image onto it to discard the DirecTV side of things? I'm more than happy to pay for the TiVo service, but I'm unable to activate this ESN on TiVo's site.

 

[Gunnyman]

hack it with the zipper and you can use it as an HMO picture/music player and as an MRV viewer.
Yo won't be able to record anything. It has no encoder or tuner that can record anything besides a DTV stream.