Buying a used receiver

[techno935]

So far I'm 1 for 1 on buying used from Ebay when it comes to FTA, cause obviously my Coolsat 4000 is in good shape.

What are the dangers of buying a used receiver that was once tinkered with but needs a factory reset. Is there that small chance a receiver can be damaged internally by someone trying to tinker with D* or E*?

I wanna get another receiver for grandma so she can watch RTN during the day and not have to see re-runs of Maury, Montel and Dr. Phil.

This sounds like a dumb question but I just wanna be sure before I bid and/or buy anything.

Hehe, this is post # 69!

 

[techpuppy]

I don't think the software is an issue for real FTA reception. I noticed a few auctions for receivres that did not include a remote. Some receivers (including mine) require a remote for setup and programming. When I purchased my receiver from ebay the seller guaranteed the unit to be working and in good condition.

 

[rdel]

If the unit that you buy off ebay dosn't work, there is a jumper that you can buy off ebay that bypasses the serial port so you can load the factory software. I have never had to do this maybe Iceberg or one of the tech guys up here has some knowledge about it.

 

[bidaw]

I believe what rdel is trying to point out is the Jtag port of a receiver. Do a search on JTAG and you will have almost all you need to know about that.

 

[SatinKzo]

I bought 2 receivers off ebay so far. A coolsat 5000 (a while ago) and a Fortec Mercury II (very nice IMO). I have never had issues with them or anything I bought off ebay. I only deal with people that have been selling for a while though. I got them both for well below retail, both were brand new also.

Also, read descriptions throughly. I bid on a couple items (not receivers) and when they arrived I thought stuff was missing. I was about to complain until I re-read the item and they even said things were not there. So I learned a lesson there.

Edit:

Sorry was trying to edit this when my connection went down. Anyways, I wanted to add that the coolsat I bought was a tampered with receiver before n2 came out, then the bottom fell out of the fta market so I snatched up a receiver cheap while I could. I got it and just reflashed it with the factory files and it works fine for fta.

 

[Mr Tony]

most bvoxes can be reflashed with factory software. I've done that with a couple boxes I got for cheap off Ebay

But make sure a remote comes with it

 

[BKP]

I've been buying and selling on eBay for 6 years now.. Besides reading the complete description as mentioned above the most important thing is to check the sellers feedback..

Most sellers are honest..

 

[jh98]

I bought my Coolsat on e-bay, but it was new. I would be a little worried about buying one of the "clone" receivers used... ones that have names like Cool-Tec, or Pan-Sec or something. Who knows where you would find the factory software if you needed to reset it.

A new Traxis might not cost much more than a used receiver.

 

[mastermesh]

Remotes can be bought on ebay too. My Pansat 3500s remote zoinks out on me now and then because it's been dropped a few too many times. Got a second remote off of ebay. Total cost, with shipping was about 12-13.00. Not bad. The only thing the new remote lacks is the universal tv optional stuff... everything else works perfect.

 

[Mr Tony]

alot of sellers have the exact remote available

 

[BKP]

I wondered what the clone names were for receivers.. Are there many..

 

[Mr Tony]

a couple that I know of

Pantec (Pansat Fortec)
CooCoo (Coolsat)

Some are clones but the company says it isn't. One of which is a KUSat 2600. Its the exact same look as a Digiwave 7000 with a KUsat name and different software in it that says KUSat

But some say Pansat or Coolsat but are cheap knock offs.

 

[techno935]

Good stuff to know. Thanks everyone.