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I don't blame you if you want all new hardware. Then again I don't blame DIRECTV for refurbishing receivers and sending them out again. The average receiver can be used in an average scenario for 10-15 years but a lot of receivers are returned after only two, either because a contract has come up or because the customer upgrades it. If DIRECTV didn't have a refurbishing program, costs for receivers would be sky-high, and remember that most DIRECTV hardware goes out to customers at low or no cost.

Unfortunately, paying full price to get a DIRECTV box doesn't guarantee it won't be a refurb. In some cases, there is nothing out there but refurbished hardware, and in some cases there is just so much refurbished hardware out there that it's not likely you'll get something "new." DIRECTV doesn't even distinguish between new and refurbished hardware in inventory, which makes it hard for Solid Signal to be sure of what you'll get, short of looking at the actual manufacturing stickers on the receivers themselves.

Getting a new receiver or client

As of this writing, in September 2017, these are the only DIRECTV receivers and clients that are going out new at all (and there is still a chance of getting a refurbished one)

HS17 "Genie 2" Home Server DVR
HR54 "Genie" DVR
Gemini Internet-enabled Genie Client

For commercial customers, there's also the H44 Commercial Receiver, which is available as new stock even though many of them were manufactured several years ago.

I'm not saying you WILL get a new receiver if you choose one of those parts, only that if you choose any other receiver you're definitely getting a refurb. This includes all the other DVRs offered by DIRECTV.

Refurbished can be as good as new

If you get a refurbished box, this doesn't automatically mean it's bad. In fact most refurbished hardware from DIRECTV lives long and happy lives after being refurbished. If there were a huge epidemic of bad refurbs out there, DIRECTV would be losing money and losing customers. It wouldn't be worth it. Sure, there are sometimes a few clunkers but if this happens, usually the hardware can be replaced without cost to you if it happens soon after activation. At any rate it's going to be less than $20 to replace a broken receiver at any point in its life, due to the lease structure DIRECTV employs.

If you get hardware from DIRECTV, look for a sticker that has the model number. If the model number (usually something like HR54-500) has an R or a NC after it, that's a refurbished box. Most of the time that sticker is the only way you can tell for sure.

If you get a receiver you don't like

The best thing to do with a receiver that comes to you damaged or beat up is deal with it immediately. This doesn't happen very often. DIRECTV tests all its receivers thoroughly. Occasionally there's a problem and the best way to deal with it is as soon as you get it. When you call the experts at Signal Connect, they'll help you go through the process easily. If there's a problem, they'll be able to get you a replacement quickly. If these devices do fail, it's usually very soon after you get them. Call right away, and our staff will help you work through things.

Call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it's after hours, fill out the form below and we'll get right back to you!


The post UPDATED: How can I guarantee that I will get a new DIRECTV box (not refurbished?) appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.

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