HR-24 Questions

[dtaylor]

I need to preface this by saying I know pretty much nothing about satellite TV and I have never had satellite service.
Now that that's out of the way, I've got some questions.
The other day I was at a local thrift store browsing and I saw a couple DirecTV receivers sitting on the shelf. There was an older looking one with a model# of HR21 or HR23 (can't remember exactly) for $4.99 and a newer looking one with a model# of HR24-200 for $9.99. I had my smartphone with me so I did a quick google search and one of the first things I saw was an amazon listing with the box selling for $200. That piqued my interest, so I did another search to see if I could use the DVR with OTA signals and I got a result mentioning an add-on type device called an AM21. At this point I figured why not, it's only 10 bucks, I'll pick it up. I probably should have done another search or two, but it was a cheap spontaneous purchase. I brought it home and hooked it up to my tv to see if it works. It does, there are a some movies and tv shows recorded as recently as March that play fine. The hard drive has 82% of free space. There is even an Access Card still in the unit(I'm not sure what this does, but the other receiver at the thrift shop also had an Access Card).
Then I did some more searching on the internet and I think this is the end of my luck.
Is there anything I can do with this thing? My first thought was to use it as a dvr for OTA signals, but I'm not sure I can without a DirecTV subscription. I then thought about using it with free satellite signals, maybe pick up a second hand dish or something(see them for free or cheap all the time), but I soon found out that was definitely not a possibility.
Also, do I even own this box? It seems these are often leased, so I'm not sure why it was at a thrift store. Am I allowed to sell it to someone that can use it? Is there anything I can use it for other than watching the recorded content already on it?
Thank you for any help.

 

[Jimbo]

I need to preface this by saying I know pretty much nothing about satellite TV and I have never had satellite service.
Now that that's out of the way, I've got some questions.
The other day I was at a local thrift store browsing and I saw a couple DirectTV receivers sitting on the shelf. There was an older looking one with a model# of HR21 or HR23 (can't remember exactly) for $4.99 and a newer looking one with a model# of HR24-200 for $9.99. I had my smartphone with me so I did a quick google search and one of the first things I saw was a amazon listing with the box selling for $200. That piqued my interest, so I did another search to see if I could use the DVR with OTA signals and I got a result mentioning an add-on type device called an AM21. At this point I figured why not, it's only 10 bucks, I'll pick it up. I probably should have done another search or two, but it was a cheap spontaneous purchase. I brought it home and hooked it up to my tv to see if it works. It does, there are a some movies and tv shows recorded as recently as March that play fine. The hard drive has 82% of free space. There is even an Access Card still in the unit(I'm not sure what this does, but the other receiver at the thrift shop also had an Access Card).
Then I did some more searching on the internet and I think this is the end of my luck.
Is there anything I can do with this thing? My first thought was to use it as a dvr for OTA signals, but I'm not sure I can without a DirectTV subscription. I then thought about using it with free satellite signals, maybe pick up a second hand dish or something(see them for free or cheap all the time), but I soon found out that was definitely not a possibility.
Also, do I even own this box? It seems these are often leased, so I'm not sure why it was at a thrift store. Am I allowed to sell it to someone that can use it? Is there anything I can use it for other than watching the recorded content already on it?
Thank you for any help.

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Welcome to the Site !

Chances are you Bought a Leased Box that someone thought they could get some money for ... IF thats the case, they will be getting a bill eventually for not returning it ... that said, there are times when D* says don't bother returning as they don't want it as it's too old to worry about, but the HR24 you mentioned is one they would want back I would think.

Do you have a D* dish set up, without that, it's not much good for you.
IF it turns out that it's Not Leased, and you decide to get a D* sub, you can Activate that recvr as a 2nd or 3rd recvr, they won't turn that recvr on as the Main recvr on the account.

I'm very surprised that you could hook it up to a TV and watch the DVR'd programming.

 

[satinstallerguy]

First off, Directv does not sell receivers anymore, they are leased even though you may see them for sale from a Retailer/Dealer online. This unit you have is still on somebodies account and you will not be allowed to activate it even if you get a subscription. The box not being turned in by its previous owner will get charged for the unit for not turning it in. There is really nothing you can do with it. Be thankful you only lost $10 instead of $100. I would actually call Directv and see if they will send you boxes to return it. In case it was stolen the customer won't be charged full price for the unit.

SIG

 

[Jimbo]

First off, Directv does not sell receivers anymore, they are leased even though you may see them for sale from a Retailer/Dealer online. This unit you have is still on somebodies account and you will not be allowed to activate it even if you get a subscription. The box not being turned in by its previous owner will get charged for the unit for not turning it in. There is really nothing you can do with it. Be thankful you only lost $10 instead of $100. I would actually call Directv and see if they will send you boxes to return it. In case it was stolen the customer won't be charged full price for the unit.

SIG

However, not LIKELY, this Could be a Owned box if it was a D* employees.

 

[Mr Tony]

First off, Directv does not sell receivers anymore,

sure they do. There are owned receivers out there....dare i say it even new models

I wouldnt call D*....just more harm than good in my opinion

 

[satinstallerguy]

However, not LIKELY, this Could be a Owned box if it was a D* employees.

As I understand it Directv employees do not own the primary receiver only the additional receivers on the account........ Most of the time the DVR is the primary receiver on the account.

SIG

 

[Jimbo]

As I understand it Directv employees do not own the primary receiver only the additional receivers on the account........ Most of the time the DVR is the primary receiver on the account.

SIG

Thats not whats been mentioned here of late.

 

[Hutch1814]

As I understand it Directv employees do not own the primary receiver only the additional receivers on the account........ Most of the time the DVR is the primary receiver on the account.

SIG

My primary is an HR24. I have 2 of them with and HR22, all owned. Employees receivers are all owned regardless if its primary or a secondary. That's pretty much the only way you'll get an OWNED receiver these days unless its an HR21P then it could be purchased by anybody and their dad through Directv

 

[dtaylor]

Thanks for the quick replies. I was expecting these sort of answers, but I figured I should check in with a good community first, just in case.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

The fact that you can watch what's on the HDD now means that the box hasn't been updated to receive 721 codes (meaning channel or service not paid for) or an inactive code. If you call in your gonna lose the DVR access.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[dtaylor]

The fact that you can watch what's on the HDD now means that the box hasn't been updated to receive 721 codes (meaning channel or service not paid for) or an inactive code. If you call in your gonna lose the DVR access.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

How would they be able to do anything to it if it's not connected to a dish or the internet?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jimbo]

How would they be able to do anything to it if it's not connected to a dish or the internet?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

It may shut down over an amount of time once it sees a lack of Sat Signal.

Most people can't watch thier recordings once the Power has been disconnected (without the Sat signal attached).

If I take a recvr from one room to another and don't hook the SAat signal up,. I cannot get to the Playlist to watch anything iirc.