Adding used HR20

[roadrunner1782]

I just purchased a used, owned HR20 online and was curious if anyone here has experience in how hard or easy it is to make sure it is added to my account as owned so I don't have to jump through hoops to get it corrected if it is listed wrong. I called to verify it was owned before I bought it and also made sure there was no outstanding balance on it. The lady I spoke with said it was in fact owned and had no balance but I just sent an e-mail to D* that way I can verify I was given correct information and I have it in writing if something does go awry. Assuming it actually works correctly and after I order a new access card for it what are the chances it actually gets added as owned?

[litzdog911]

The chances are good, provided the CSR knows what they're doing. Just be sure to remind them when you call to activate.

[Rich]

I just purchased a used, owned HR20 online and was curious if anyone here has experience in how hard or easy it is to make sure it is added to my account as owned so I don't have to jump through hoops to get it corrected if it is listed wrong. I called to verify it was owned before I bought it and also made sure there was no outstanding balance on it. The lady I spoke with said it was in fact owned and had no balance but I just sent an e-mail to D* that way I can verify I was given correct information and I have it in writing if something does go awry. Assuming it actually works correctly and after I order a new access card for it what are the chances it actually gets added as owned?

Call the Access Card Team. Just call D* and get a CSR and tell him/her that you want to speak to the ACT and you will be connected to the only group at D* that can tell you whether the HR is owned or leased with some degree of certainty. I just bought an "owned'' 20-700 on eBay a couple months ago and I did that and it shows up on my account as "owned". You should have ACT activate the HR for you. They will make sure it shows up as "owned".

Rich

[roadrunner1782]

I appreciate the responses. I kind of figured the Access Card Team is who I would want to talk to when activating it. I actually spoke with them already to make sure the receiver was owned, and they verified it was. I sent an e-mail to D* as well so that way I had it in writing in case there was a mix up and it got listed as leased, but the response I got in the e-mail was vague and didn't say if the receiver was owned.:nono2: I think I'll shoot them another e-mail just so I do have it in writing. Just trying to cover all my bases.:D

[Rich]

I appreciate the responses. I kind of figured the Access Card Team is who I would want to talk to when activating it. I actually spoke with them already to make sure the receiver was owned, and they verified it was. I sent an e-mail to D* as well so that way I had it in writing in case there was a mix up and it got listed as leased, but the response I got in the e-mail was vague and didn't say if the receiver was owned.:nono2: I think I'll shoot them another e-mail just so I do have it in writing. Just trying to cover all my bases.:D

The really wonderful thing about their website is that you can't tell if a receiver is owned or leased. Used to be able to, but they changed the format. You've done the right thing so far. Just call and get a random CSR and recheck to see if it's owned and if it isn't, call ACT and get them to change it. I've called a couple times and asked and always been told mine was owned. If you can get it in writing, let me know how you did it, would you please? They seem hesitant to do that.

Rich

[roadrunner1782]

I have actually sent them several e-mails through their website while I was trying find an owned HD DVR and until this last one I just sent they have always sent me e-mails back stating if the IRD was owned or not and about previous balance and everything. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned in this last e-mail that I already bought the receiver and it is being shipped to me right now. Either way I'm now going to send them a very vague e-mail with just RID # and ask if it is owned or lease and see what response I get this time.

[Rich]

I have actually sent them several e-mails through their website while I was trying find an owned HD DVR and until this last one I just sent they have always sent me e-mails back stating if the IRD was owned or not and about previous balance and everything. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned in this last e-mail that I already bought the receiver and it is being shipped to me right now. Either way I'm now going to send them a very vague e-mail with just RID # and ask if it is owned or lease and see what response I get this time.

Huh. I gotta try that. I can just imagine what my "owned" 20-700 will be called a year from now. Something in writing would be great. Thanx for the idea.

Rich

[say-what]

The really wonderful thing about their website is that you can't tell if a receiver is owned or leased. Used to be able to, but they changed the format. You can still easily tell if your recievers are listed as owned or leased on the website. Just go to the billing section and check current charges or pull up a bill. If there is a "Leased Receiver" charge, it's leased, otherwise it's owned and should be noted as "additional receiver". I think an owned receiver that is the primary receiver listed on the account will just say "Primary Receiver" instead of "Primary Leased Receiver".

[Rich]

You can still easily tell if your recievers are listed as owned or leased on the website. Just go to the billing section and check current charges or pull up a bill. If there is a "Leased Receiver" charge, it's leased, otherwise it's owned and should be noted as "additional receiver". I think an owned receiver that is the primary receiver listed on the account will just say "Primary Receiver" instead of "Primary Leased Receiver".

I hate to admit it, but I've never looked at a bill. My wife pays it and I keep my mouth shut. I'll check the website out and see if I can find it.

But, wouldn't you think that when you look at your equipment, that page would indicate owned or leased receivers? It used to, I think. Let me check the billing section...I don't see "current charges" and I can't pull up a bill because we are not enrolled in Paperless Billing.

Rich

[Rich]

You can still easily tell if your recievers are listed as owned or leased on the website. Just go to the billing section and check current charges or pull up a bill. If there is a "Leased Receiver" charge, it's leased, otherwise it's owned and should be noted as "additional receiver". I think an owned receiver that is the primary receiver listed on the account will just say "Primary Receiver" instead of "Primary Leased Receiver".

I just searched the website, I don't see anything that would distinguish between owned and leased units. I think if you use Paperless Billing you get more access.

Rich

[say-what]

I just searched the website, I don't see anything that would distinguish between owned and leased units. I think if you use Paperless Billing you get more access.

RichI pay online - not automatic though - so maybe they do things different if you're still getting a paper bill. But the paper bill will show the same charges/designations.

[Rich]

I pay online - not automatic though - so maybe they do things different if you're still getting a paper bill. But the paper bill will show the same charges/designations.

My wife's going away tomorrow, I'll go thru the bills and see if I can find one. The billing does look as if it is set up to pay online, and we don't put mail out anymore at all for pickup, so she's gotta be paying online. We still get a paper bill, do you?

Rich

[say-what]

My wife's going away tomorrow, I'll go thru the bills and see if I can find one. The billing does look as if it is set up to pay online, and we don't put mail out anymore at all for pickup, so she's gotta be paying online. We still get a paper bill, do you?

RichNo paper bill here - you may be using a third party online service, maybe through your bank or something. If you pay at DirecTV.com, you'll find your account billing info here (after you log in): https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/mydirectv/account/myAccount.jsp

[Rich]

No paper bill here - you may be using a third party online service, maybe through your bank or something. If you pay at DirecTV.com, you'll find your account billing info here (after you log in): https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/mydirectv/account/myAccount.jsp

That didn't work either. I'll try to find the paper bill... No luck. I'll check next month's bill. I did check the website and she has it set to pay by AmEx card. I guess if you get the Paperless Pay plan, you get better access.

Rich

[roadrunner1782]

I get the paper bill and cannot get hardly any info from the website about my bill, other how much I owe which is perfectly fine since I use the website to pay it.

[Rich]

I get the paper bill and cannot get hardly any info from the website about my bill, other how much I owe which is perfectly fine since I use the website to pay it.

Befuddling as the website is, the last two days have been fun. And I haven't found anything. I guess if you get the paperless thing you get more info. Think I'll start to hit the site's forum and complain a bit about this. Seems like extortion. Perhaps they'd like me to go paperless with my payments and send them pennies each month. Where would you get that many pennies? :lol:

Rich

[Rich]

No paper bill here - you may be using a third party online service, maybe through your bank or something. If you pay at DirecTV.com, you'll find your account billing info here (after you log in): https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/mydirectv/account/myAccount.jsp

Finally worked up the nerve to ask my wife for the statement and it just says "additional" receiver as opposed to "leased receiver". I'd much rather see "owned receiver", but what use is complaining about that?

Thanx for all the help in locating the list that delineates owned from leased. Still can't find anything on the website. I do get a window every month where I can view the bill on line. Wife didn't complain about the bill, fortunately.

Rich

[roadrunner1782]

Finally worked up the nerve to ask my wife for the statement and it just says "additional" receiver as opposed to "leased receiver". I'd much rather see "owned receiver", but what use is complaining about that?

Thanx for all the help in locating the list that delineates owned from leased. Still can't find anything on the website. I do get a window every month where I can view the bill on line. Wife didn't complain about the bill, fortunately.

Rich

That's always a good thing!:D

[PlainBill]

I've noticed a few HR2x DVRs for sale on Craigslist, many of them indicate the buyer will have to purchase a new access card from DirecTV. Is this an attempt to circumvent the restrictions on reactivating leased receivers?

Recently I had called about one DVR that the seller insisted he owned. DirecTV checked the RID number and initially stated I could add it to my account. When the CSR checked the card number, she then insisted it was a leased unit and could not be activated.

Any comments?

PlainBill

[carl6]

The requirement to get a new access card is policy for any acquired receiver. I think the cost is $20, so factor that into whatever you are willing to pay.

That is separate from the issue of obtaining a used leased receiver, which you won't be able to activate even with a new access card.

[Rich]

That's always a good thing!:D

Yup. Kinda surprised me, but I caught some big charges on the bill and found out that my son had talked her into letting him get some wrestling matches that were very expensive on PPV and she wasn't in a position to argue about my spending. Just did it at the right moment. Blind luck is better than no luck. :lol:

Rich

[Rich]

I've noticed a few HR2x DVRs for sale on Craigslist, many of them indicate the buyer will have to purchase a new access card from DirecTV. Is this an attempt to circumvent the restrictions on reactivating leased receivers?

Recently I had called about one DVR that the seller insisted he owned. DirecTV checked the RID number and initially stated I could add it to my account. When the CSR checked the card number, she then insisted it was a leased unit and could not be activated.

Any comments?

PlainBill

When you call D* ask for the Access Card Team (ACT). They can positively tell you if the receiver is owned or leased. Don't take the word of the sellers on Craigslist or eBay. You will have to purchase an access card and the ACT can handle that too and I would strongly recommend contacting the ACT when you are ready to activate the receiver and let them activate it. That way, it will go on your account as owned or "additional receiver" which means owned. Make sure you keep checking your bill or account to ensure that the receiver remains "owned". If something changes, contact the ACT immediately.

Rich

[PlainBill]

Thanks for the information guys. As it stands I can continue to watch Craigslist / eBay in hopes of finding an owned HD DVR; order a new HD DVR through a DirecTV CSR for 'only' $220 + tax, order a new HD DVR from DirecTV online for $200 + tax, or buy a new HR23 from Costco for $170 + tax. Big decision. :D

PlainBill

[CCarncross]

Remember that all except the Craigslist/fleabay ones-if you can truly find an owned one there, will not be owned, but leased. There is almost no advantage to owning these new models of DVR's. There are plenty of disadvantages.

[Rich]

Thanks for the information guys. As it stands I can continue to watch Craigslist / eBay in hopes of finding an owned HD DVR; order a new HD DVR through a DirecTV CSR for 'only' $220 + tax, order a new HD DVR from DirecTV online for $200 + tax, or buy a new HR23 from Costco for $170 + tax. Big decision. :D

PlainBill

If you can find a 23 at a Costco, buy it. You shouldn't be disappointed. The other best option is to find an "owned" one on eBay and pay for it with PayPal. That will give you protection in case the HR doesn't work. A lot of the people selling the 20-700s are either poorly informed, stupid or liars. Caveat emptor applies on eBay and Craigslist (I wouldn't buy on Craigslist unless I could see the HR work before purchasing it, or anything else, much safer on eBay, especially if you use PayPal to make the purchase).

A functional 20-700 purchased on eBay is not to be ignored as a good choice. Almost all the eSATAs will work with a 20-700 and if it is "owned", you can drop a large internal into it.

Rich

[Rich]

Remember that all except the Craigslist/fleabay ones-if you can truly find an owned one there, will not be owned, but leased. There is almost no advantage to owning these new models of DVR's. There are plenty of disadvantages.

I've got an "owned" 20-700 that I purchased on eBay. Cost about $200 and I'm delighted with it. And it does show up on my bill as "owned" and that allows me to make modifications such as a large internal drive.

I haven't found any great problems with my new 23 yet. The RF sensor could be more sensitive, but the same can be said for the 21-700 and I like them. I have three of them. Aside from that one thing, the 23 seems like another winner from Pace.

I got some PMs from members yesterday and today that were having problems getting 22s to recognize their eSATAs. Similar problems with Antec enclosures which I've no problem with at all. Seen enough similar posts to conclude that the 22 is the one thing that is constant in the problems. I'm hardly shocked. I'd avoid them.

Rich

[roadrunner1782]

If you can find a 23 at a Costco, buy it. You shouldn't be disappointed. The other best option is to find an "owned" one on eBay and pay for it with PayPal. That will give you protection in case the HR doesn't work. A lot of the people selling the 20-700s are either poorly informed, stupid or liars. Caveat emptor applies on eBay and Craigslist (I wouldn't buy on Craigslist unless I could see the HR work before purchasing it, or anything else, much safer on eBay, especially if you use PayPal to make the purchase).

A functional 20-700 purchased on eBay is not to be ignored as a good choice. Almost all the eSATAs will work with a 20-700 and if it is "owned", you can drop a large internal into it.

Rich

+1 the HR20-700 is the one I bought on ebay. Still don't know how good the one I'm getting is though. I think the person that sold it used the super slow shipping through USPS. It apparently left Bell, CA on june 5th and hasn't arrived nowhere since! I used paypal so I'm not too concerned other than I would much rather have the receiver instead of the money!

[Ben_jd]

I just "bought" an HR-21 from Craig's list. Owner gave me the option to take it home and try it before paying (I guess I seemed trustworthy?). Fired up the box tonight and the machine claimed that the card was bad/invalid (different error depending on which leg I was standing on when I RBR'd it). ACT is sending a new card, but the receiver was added to my account with no problem (though it doesn't accept broadcasts without a valid card).

Tried a different card from a receiver of mine that works and the error code ("Wrong card") indicated to the CSR that the machine was likely working, it was just a bad card. So, we'll see what happens when the new card shows up.

I know that my circumstance is "safer" than most as I was able to try it out before paying. I don't care if the machine shows as leased or owned, as the price was lower than if I had paid Best Buy or Costco for a leased machine.

[joshjr]

I just "bought" an HR-21 from Craig's list. Owner gave me the option to take it home and try it before paying (I guess I seemed trustworthy?). Fired up the box tonight and the machine claimed that the card was bad/invalid (different error depending on which leg I was standing on when I RBR'd it). ACT is sending a new card, but the receiver was added to my account with no problem (though it doesn't accept broadcasts without a valid card).

Tried a different card from a receiver of mine that works and the error code ("Wrong card") indicated to the CSR that the machine was likely working, it was just a bad card. So, we'll see what happens when the new card shows up.

I know that my circumstance is "safer" than most as I was able to try it out before paying. I don't care if the machine shows as leased or owned, as the price was lower than if I had paid Best Buy or Costco for a leased machine.
I was told that channel 101 was a test channel and that even without a working card you could get to it. You might try it out.

[MartyS]

I just "bought" an HR-21 from Craig's list. Owner gave me the option to take it home and try it before paying (I guess I seemed trustworthy?). Fired up the box tonight and the machine claimed that the card was bad/invalid (different error depending on which leg I was standing on when I RBR'd it). ACT is sending a new card, but the receiver was added to my account with no problem (though it doesn't accept broadcasts without a valid card).

Tried a different card from a receiver of mine that works and the error code ("Wrong card") indicated to the CSR that the machine was likely working, it was just a bad card. So, we'll see what happens when the new card shows up.

I know that my circumstance is "safer" than most as I was able to try it out before paying. I don't care if the machine shows as leased or owned, as the price was lower than if I had paid Best Buy or Costco for a leased machine.


First of all you can't use the card from one unit on another. The card ID and receiver ID are tied together.

When you get a used unit, assuming it's not leased and you can activate it, you usually need to get a new card from DirecTV in order to activate it. I don't know if you can get to channel 100 (or the "test" channels) without a valid card in the unit.

[Rich]

I just "bought" an HR-21 from Craig's list. Owner gave me the option to take it home and try it before paying (I guess I seemed trustworthy?). Fired up the box tonight and the machine claimed that the card was bad/invalid (different error depending on which leg I was standing on when I RBR'd it). ACT is sending a new card, but the receiver was added to my account with no problem (though it doesn't accept broadcasts without a valid card).

Tried a different card from a receiver of mine that works and the error code ("Wrong card") indicated to the CSR that the machine was likely working, it was just a bad card. So, we'll see what happens when the new card shows up.

I know that my circumstance is "safer" than most as I was able to try it out before paying. I don't care if the machine shows as leased or owned, as the price was lower than if I had paid Best Buy or Costco for a leased machine.

That's the only way to buy anything on Craigslist.

Rich

[Ben_jd]

I didn't use the extra card to get programming, but the CSR was able to deduce from the new error that appeared when the "functioning" card was installed (ie, the "wrong card" error) that the machine was likely functioning, it just needed a new card. Didn't try channel 101 and the unit is now packed in the corner awaiting the new card through the mail.First of all you can't use the card from one unit on another. The card ID and receiver ID are tied together.

When you get a used unit, assuming it's not leased and you can activate it, you usually need to get a new card from DirecTV in order to activate it. I don't know if you can get to channel 100 (or the "test" channels) without a valid card in the unit.

[Ben_jd]

By the way, the new card worked fine. "New" receiver on my account and working fine.
I just "bought" an HR-21 from Craig's list. Owner gave me the option to take it home and try it before paying (I guess I seemed trustworthy?). Fired up the box tonight and the machine claimed that the card was bad/invalid (different error depending on which leg I was standing on when I RBR'd it). ACT is sending a new card, but the receiver was added to my account with no problem (though it doesn't accept broadcasts without a valid card).

Tried a different card from a receiver of mine that works and the error code ("Wrong card") indicated to the CSR that the machine was likely working, it was just a bad card. So, we'll see what happens when the new card shows up.

I know that my circumstance is "safer" than most as I was able to try it out before paying. I don't care if the machine shows as leased or owned, as the price was lower than if I had paid Best Buy or Costco for a leased machine.