Buying Used Equipment okay?

[FlyingSaucer]

I have a chance to pick up a used Zenith HD-SAT520 DIRECTV HDTV Receiver.

(I am interested in this because although I have two DirecTV HD receivers on two LCDs, my home theatre projector is currently for DVDs only.) For the big game and other events, it would be nice to have an HD receiver in my home theatre.

Will the OTA part of the receiver work without an access card?

I read in another thread that access cards are married to their receivers? True? So I can't put one of my cards in this used receiver?

Thanks.

 

[Jimbo]

I have a chance to pick up a used Zenith HD-SAT520 DIRECTV HDTV Receiver.

(I am interested in this because although I have two DirecTV HD receivers on two LCDs, my home theatre projector is currently for DVDs only.) For the big game and other events, it would be nice to have an HD receiver in my home theatre.

Will the OTA part of the receiver work without an access card?

I read in another thread that access cards are married to their receivers? True? So I can't put one of my cards in this used receiver?

Thanks.

You are correct, you CANNOT swap cards from one receiver to another.
As for the OTA working, it use to be that all older recievers would work, but the newer D* branded would not.
I would say that it probably would work for you. (no gaurentee on that)

Jimbo

 

[boba]

I don't know the specifics on the Zenith but a Hughes HTL-HD will work with out a connection to Directv and without an access card, I have one in my showroom set up that way. The Hughes HTL-HD was made by LG the current owner of the Zenith brand. On ebay the HTL-HD is selling for $50-75 including shipping.

 

[dishrich]

I read in another thread that access cards are married to their receivers? True? So I can't put one of my cards in this used receiver?

Actually, you CAN move one of your old cards to the used box - but you'll need to call D* to have it remarried. (I have no idea why you're being told you CAN'T - I do it all the time for clients... ) There are numurous threads around here how others have swapped cards as well.

Just move the card, call up D* & tell them your old box went bad & you want to move the card to a spare box & they should remarry it for you with NO problems.

 

[mcbeevee]

I have a chance to pick up a used Zenith HD-SAT520 DIRECTV HDTV Receiver.

(I am interested in this because although I have two DirecTV HD receivers on two LCDs, my home theatre projector is currently for DVDs only.) For the big game and other events, it would be nice to have an HD receiver in my home theatre.

Thanks.

Be aware that most of the new HD channels will be on the new MPEG4 satellites, which will not be accessible by the older receivers. All channels will eventually be in MPEG4, but that is a few years away.