Buying receiver - why and avoiding a hacked one.

[charlatan]

Hello all!

First, thanks to all of you for educating me on the ins and outs of Satellite usage and ownership over the years... this forum is indespensible.

So I did some searching, and found a bit of information on this... but not exactly what I was looking for.

I called Dish this morning and almost got a 625. When he was reading the standard disclaimers before the order was placed, it was mentioned that my lease would require a new 2 year contract. NO! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy dish, but I gave them my 2 year committement some time ago and I want the freedom to chose at this stage

Anyway, I have found a gent on Craigslist selling this very unit for a cheap price. This leads me to my questions;

1) How do I avoid buying a hacked one that I am going to have problems with?
2) How does activation work for the unit (I assume I need to call Dish...)
3) Am I going to have a security card problem?

Forgive my ignorance on this... couldn't find much in searching. 'Course, my wife says I can't find anything that isn't right in front of me.

Thanks!

 

[Smith P.]

"So I did some searching, and found a bit of information on this... but not exactly what I was looking for."

Try more searches for "smart card" and "eBay receiver" keywords - please read those threads first.
All your questions chewed many times and we got many more answers then you asked .

"Forgive my ignorance on this... " - well, sorry.

 

[Laddyboy]

Hello all!

First, thanks to all of you for educating me on the ins and outs of Satellite usage and ownership over the years... this forum is indespensible.

So I did some searching, and found a bit of information on this... but not exactly what I was looking for.

I called Dish this morning and almost got a 625. When he was reading the standard disclaimers before the order was placed, it was mentioned that my lease would require a new 2 year contract. NO! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy dish, but I gave them my 2 year committement some time ago and I want the freedom to chose at this stage

Anyway, I have found a gent on Craigslist selling this very unit for a cheap price. This leads me to my questions;

1) How do I avoid buying a hacked one that I am going to have problems with?

Before you buy get the receiver number and the smart card number and call E* to make sure the account is paid up and the receiver is genuine.

2) How does activation work for the unit (I assume I need to call Dish...

Call E* for activation.

3) Am I going to have a security card problem?

It it doesn't already have the new purple smart card, you will need to have E* send you one. They will start shutting off service to receivers with old cards in April iirc.

 

[skyviewmark]

When buying a receiver from a 3rd party, make sure you get the receiver number and smart card number from the seller.. Then call dish with those numbers and veryify that they are good numbers and can be activated. That takes care of the hacked receiver. Nothing in there will veryify that the receiver is in good working order.. For that you will have to trust your source... Once you get the receiver and get it installed and showing preview channels you just call Dish and give them the numbers they want and they will activate it.. But the first step is the most important. Make sure the receiver is clear before buying. And that it has a current smart scard.. Dish will know by those numbers..

Guess you got two answers now.. Posted at same time..

 

[ZandarKoad]

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't worry about getting a purple smart card. Dish sends those out for free, so don't pay extra for one.

 

[JohnH]

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't worry about getting a purple smart card. Dish sends those out for free, so don't pay extra for one.

Don't pay for a Smartcard, period. Make sure one is included in the receiver(that is make sure you get a Smartcard number).

 

[jrbdmb]

In addition to all of the above, make sure (through Dish Network) that the seller isn't trying to sell you a leased receiver.

 

[dishcomm]

Hello all!

First, thanks to all of you for educating me on the ins and outs of Satellite usage and ownership over the years... this forum is indespensible.

So I did some searching, and found a bit of information on this... but not exactly what I was looking for.

I called Dish this morning and almost got a 625. When he was reading the standard disclaimers before the order was placed, it was mentioned that my lease would require a new 2 year contract. NO! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy dish, but I gave them my 2 year committement some time ago and I want the freedom to chose at this stage

Anyway, I have found a gent on Craigslist selling this very unit for a cheap price. This leads me to my questions;

1) How do I avoid buying a hacked one that I am going to have problems with?
2) How does activation work for the unit (I assume I need to call Dish...)
3) Am I going to have a security card problem?

Forgive my ignorance on this... couldn't find much in searching. 'Course, my wife says I can't find anything that isn't right in front of me.

Thanks!

be very careful. I once did a service call for this young couple.
After I had gotten their system fixed, they asked me if I couyld install this DVR reciver in a nother room. They purchased it off ebay.
I tild themI would for a small fee. I wanted tyo make sure the reciver was ok. So I call dish and give them the numbers off the box. Sure as the sun rises the box could not be activated. It had an existing balance off a previous account. My customer got jobbed out of 50 bucks. The wife was pissed.
Do not buy used equipment from third parties unless you can either get assurances that you can activate it and it works OR you can see it working for yourself. Otherwise, just buy one from a legitimate source.
Tis better to pay the full freight an not take the risk of being ripped off. Too many crooks out there.

 

[giddy169]

Also watch your account after you call and find out if a receiver can be activated. I called one time and Dish wasn't able to tell me if it could or couldn't be activated, then a month later they called me and told me my receiver that I sold on ebay was being activated on another account and I had to remove it from mine first. I told them I never activated that receiver and it finally got straightened out.

 

[8arrett]

Buying a receiver

Hello all!

First, thanks to all of you for educating me on the ins and outs of Satellite usage and ownership over the years... this forum is indespensible.

So I did some searching, and found a bit of information on this... but not exactly what I was looking for.

I called Dish this morning and almost got a 625. When he was reading the standard disclaimers before the order was placed, it was mentioned that my lease would require a new 2 year contract. NO! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy dish, but I gave them my 2 year committement some time ago and I want the freedom to chose at this stage

Anyway, I have found a gent on Craigslist selling this very unit for a cheap price. This leads me to my questions;

1) How do I avoid buying a hacked one that I am going to have problems with?
2) How does activation work for the unit (I assume I need to call Dish...)
3) Am I going to have a security card problem?

Forgive my ignorance on this... couldn't find much in searching. 'Course, my wife says I can't find anything that isn't right in front of me.

Thanks!

For #1, buy a receiver from Dishstore.net (See top of any satelliteguys.us page)
For #2, you assumed correctly. Just call Dish or try on-line.
For #3, buy a receiver from Dishstore.net (See top of any satelliteguys.us page)

Also, dishcomm gives some really good advice in post #8.

--Grin&Barrett

Remember: DON'T BE A BONEHEAD!!

 

[charlatan]

Thanks for all the responses! I feel much more informed now, and will make the decision accordingly.

I called dish on after I got both the Purple card # and the receiver number. They confirmed that it is a valid unit, and that was all they'd tell me. I will call again to ask some of these other questions.

Thanks again

Mike

 

[Sadoun]

Hi,

You have received some good advice and I would add the following:

• Try to buy your receiver from an authorized dealer. That way you will know for sure that the receiver is an original receiver with the latest smartcard.
• Confirm with the dealer that the receiver is New or Factory refurbished and IT IS in a sealed box. Which means it has not been activated before and will not have any accounts or balances tied to it.
• If buying a used DN receiver from a private party, you run the risk of buying a defective product. Or it could have no or bad remote, old smartcard, leased receiver that really does not belong to the seller, or receiver is still listed on an open account with remaining unpaid balance.

 

[j8.]

Thanks for all the responses! I feel much more informed now, and will make the decision accordingly.

I called dish on after I got both the Purple card # and the receiver number. They confirmed that it is a valid unit, and that was all they'd tell me. I will call again to ask some of these other questions.

Thanks again

Mike

if you have done this you have no proplem ive bought over 100 used recivers threw the yrs.. long as u called dish with numbers and they oked it you be fine, if possible id go with newer vip reciver