"New" HR24 - Order from SolidSignal or just stick with ATT

My last PP free upgrade was another HR24 to my library of receivers a couple months ago. I didn’t need a truck roll, but their systems required it and they couldn’t manipulate around it. First two visits, techs didn’t show up. After wasting 1.5 weeks of that time, the third time was a charm. Tech spent all of 5 minutes because I had everything all set to go, including power cord and remote.

It was a ‘just OK is not OK’ experience, by ATT.

 

Can't you get one without cost (absolutely nothing is "free" on D*) if you use your upgrade? Serious question, I purchased all my HRs from private owners. I have no idea how the upgrade works. No matter what you do, no matter where you buy a 24, you are gonna need to put a new external drive on it or suffer with the old, degraded HDD in it. Just a thought.

Rich

 

If AT&T wants a professional installation for a box, buying it from Solid Signal probably isn't going to change that. The blessing of buying from a third party is having some assurance of what you're going to get (new versus refurb, maybe manufacturer choice)

 

your not getting new from SS either

 

1) buying it from anywhere is a gamble as the CSR may not activate it 2) if you ask nicely, you can generally get one comped.

 

The point I was trying to make is that if you go through AT&T/DIRECTV, you'll know what you got when you unbox the unit and not a moment sooner. With third parties, there's usually some hope of the seller being able to tell you what device you're going to get. We know that DIRECTV has a relatively peculiar sense of box equivalence, and given that understanding, knowing what you're getting before the purchase is worth something if you have a preference.

Solid Signal is trying to make it look like they can still activate receivers without involvement from AT&T/DIRECTV personnel but I'm told that hasn't been the case for a while now.

 

2 years

 

If you buy from SS or Amazon or eBay, etc. its luck of the draw if a CSR will activate it. I think Amazon and eBay are definite no's nowadays.

 

I'm referring specifically to configurations where AT&T requires a truck roll.

Interesting side note: If you use the DIRECTV Find a Retailer web application to locate an authorized DIRECTV dealer near Solid Signal's business address, Solid Signal isn't among them.

 

I don't think anyone that buys a 24 is gonna get a new one. What they're gonna get is a refurb with an old HDD in it. Anybody that gets one of them and expects years of trouble-free performance is gonna be disappointed.

Rich

 

I spoke to a CSR recently and told her how I felt about the "owned" HR thing. She checked my account and said she saw three HRs that were marked as "owned". First time I heard that since the merger. I should have at least 12 HRs marked as owned but she could only find three. Next time I talk to a CSR I'm gonna get the serial or RID number from those three HRs and I'm gonna call and see if I can sell them. Worth trying.

Rich

 

Again, don't miss my point as I was making a general statement about what advantages might be derived from buying through an authorized third party (not specific to a particular receiver). Being able to choose (or avoid) based on knowing definitively what they're going to send you before you lay your money down has value.

 

Got that, my point is there aren't many "new" 24s out there. Might not be any. No matter where you buy it, lease it, it's gonna be a refurb.

Rich

 

That should be fairly obvious given that the HR24 was introduced more than ten years ago.

 

Yup, and they all have old HDDs in them. If ATT cared they'd stick new 500 GB drives in them. Here's a link to a Seagate Pipeline: https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Pipe...99757234&sprefix=seagate+pipel,aps,163&sr=8-3

~ 23 bucks new. If D* bought enough the price would be even less. The 24s could be reborn. If D*/ATT cared. Lots of luck waiting for that to happen.

Rich

 

Unless AT&T finds a dusty pallet of HR24s in a corner of a warehouse somewhere, there are no 'never used' HR24s. They haven't made them at all for at least five years, so they are not only not new they are guaranteed to be pretty long in the tooth.

 

There's a sleazeball on eBay selling refurbed HR24s marked as new for $500 .