I received my new smartcard today. Things did not go well.
It arrived UPS 2nd Day Air. Instruction paper was included but no $40 Dish card (wasn't really expecting one). Followed instructions, replaced card (current card was a "red" smartcard) and paper indicated I should get Error Message #20 pop-up stating "Smartcard currently inserted is not valid....". Instead I got Message #129, "Your receiver has not yet been authorized...". Ok, both could be right.
Next step was to call the automated service using the "0" option. Got through on 4th attempt with the "Automated service cannot process request. Please hold...." and then the Spanish "Your business is important to us..." hold message. I don't mind that because that stays in country instead of outsourced CSRs. 25 minutes on hold. Nice woman comes on and takes receiver number and new smartcard number. On hold for 1 minute and she comes back on and says the activation hit is being sent, no longer that 10 minutes before my system should be up and running. I wait 10 minutes, no change - still message #129.
For good measure, I wait 1 hour with no change. I call back (15 minute wait) and talk to a nice gentleman. He again takes my numbers and goes off for 5 minutes. He says he went to the supervisor' terminal, inputted the information and made sure the activation hit went out. He then says wait 5 minutes and see if there's any changes. If not, do the 2 minute unplug-for-a-hard-reboot and then everything should be good. I wait 15 minutes, no change. I do the unplug reboot. When it comes back up, still no change.
I think maybe it needs a first-time activation again. I go that automated route and order 1 day of programming. But it comes back with the "Have there been any changes to your system?" message. So it recognizes my receiver number. It finishes the transaction normally and takes my money. I wait 30 minutes and still no change - still message #129 "Your receiver has not yet been authorized...".
Call Dish back again. 25 minute wait then the CSR comes on only to find out he can't do anything because he doesn't have access to Dish Now accounts. He transfers me to a Dish Now CSR. 30 minute wait and then I hear a hello and a hangup. I'm done playing for the night.
For fun, I put my red card back in and find it boots up normally and the programming (paid and free) is still there except for the programming I just tried to order. Obviously, the activation hit for the new smartcard never made it to the receiver or the receiver refused to accept it. I've been following everyone's experience with the pre-paid receivers and now feel I may be one of the unfortunate.
Could it be that a pre-paid receiver has a one-time shot to be activated and if that's missed, trouble? Could it be that since there are different models of motherboards and manufacturers for the model 301, that some can be upgraded and some can't? I just had one of my subscribed 301s not accept the new purple smartcard and had to swap out the receiver. Could it have something to due with the red smartcard? There is only a few entries on the 'net concerning these cards. There are other possibilities (new card bad, something different in the pre-paid card swap vs. regular receiver swap at a software level, etc.).
I would be interested in hearing others concerning their card swap, how well it went, especially if you have a red smartcard. I'll keep playing around some more trying to activate this new smartcard. If all fails, this may be the end of my experience with the Dish Now system. Good luck to all others.
Hermitman,
I just tried exchanging my smartcard about 10 minutes ago, and ran into the same exact thing you did.
I removed my old card(It is Yellow with red writing, and blue/black borders to be exact) on the System Info screen(I was told to go into the menu first and go to 6, 1, 3, for system info,, let it check the signal, then remove the card), and replaced it with the new G3 card.
It went through the power down, and then power up procedure, was getting the info from the satellites, and then I got the 129 message saying that the receiver has not been authorized and to call dish.
I did that, got transfered twice when I explained I was a prepaid customer, and then explained my situation to the CSR. He told me they have been having problems with people getting the smartcards to activate on the prepaid accounts, and to try again in another 24 hours(this will be 4/2/09 at 3pm tommorrow), as he was told by a technical advisor
, or superior
, that the ability to change the card will be ready by tommorow.
I will not hold my breath. I did make sure that the info he had on my prepaid receiver was 100% correct. Receiver #, Old Smartcard #, New G3 Smartcard #, my address including zip code, and my name, plus the fact that I was trying to exchange a card on a prepaid account and not a regular account.
It all turned out to be correct, so I will try again tommorow.
If it does not work, I think I will just keep the old card in until the last possible moment, and only order programming up until that day/days, or maybe the day before, since I already have the new G3 card here anyways.
Until it says I absolutely can't on the old smartcard, I will continue to use it, and I think so should you and anyone else, unless you have success on getting the new card to be accepted.
