Refurbished receivers

[Cobra611]

It's been one week since I had DirecTV installed, and I am very happy with my decision to sign up. But, while FINALLY breaking down the boxes that the receivers were packaged in (recycle day here), I noticed that both receivers are HR-21 models and are refurbished. Now, I had asked this forum earlier if there was a difference between the HR 21 and the 22 or 23, as I was hoping to get the latest models available. If I called up CS, would it be probable or not likely for me to get the to issue two newer models for me?

 

[Ronnie-]

I would not bother. In 99.9% of cases I have heard of, you get what they send you.
The differences in the boxes is minimal. Suffice it to say, you are missing out on nothing by having what you have.:up

 

[jcrandall]

The boxes are leased and remain owned by DirecTV, so they often use refurbs for upgrades and new installs. Just the way their model works. Only way to generally get 100% new is to buy it at retail, like a best buy, obviously though at a higher cost versus the free or reduced that DirecTV gave you to signup.

HR20 - 300gb drive & OTA built-in
HR21 - 320gb drive
HR22 - 500gb drive
HR23 - 500gb drive & built-in BBCs

 

[Cobra611]

Thanks guys...ok, I won't make a big stink out of it. I wish I had gotten the larger hard drive, though. Luckily, the 750 GB external hard drive I was using with my Cablevision Scientific Atlanta box, works with the DirecTV unit.

 

[sddtvtech]

well i find sometimes Refurbs are better than New ones. Ive had at one install where i had 2 brand new bad, and used a Refurb and it proven to be a good box. My toshiba DLP tv is a refurb and its running strong for now 3 years.


refurbs or not... they work either way. I got refurbs i mainly try to use just for service calls since the office instructed me to use and use NEW on upgrades and new installs.

 

[PMKS]

well i find sometimes Refurbs are better than New ones. Ive had at one install where i had 2 brand new bad, and used a Refurb and it proven to be a good box. My toshiba DLP tv is a refurb and its running strong for now 3 years.

I have the "protection" plan. When my H21-200 went out they sent me a refurb H21-100 that would not even power up, I had to be transferred to a case handler, to get another one sent to me, 3 weeks later. The next refurb H21-100 I was sent arrived all scratched up, but it worked, although it's way slower than my other H21-100 and my H23-600.

I'm sure there will be good and bad refurbs, but so far I've had bad luck with the refurbs.

 

[mikedz4]

will directv allow you to activate boxes bought on ebay? If so I am sending my dvr back to them and going to hopefully negotiate my remaining balance down to a manageable level, get directv back and activate a dvr from ebay.

 

[Islandguy43]

HR23 - 500gb drive & built-in BBCs

What exactly is " built-in BBCs"?

 

[Ronnie-]

What exactly is " built-in BBCs"?

You know the little boxes that you have to put in between the coax and the receiver on most HR series? They are built into the new ones. Internal.

 

[sddtvtech]

will directv allow you to activate boxes bought on ebay? If so I am sending my dvr back to them and going to hopefully negotiate my remaining balance down to a manageable level, get directv back and activate a dvr from ebay.

id say no and if its a newer DTV reciever, they are leased to DTV and would be sold illegal on EBAY. If its like a D11 standard or older then i say you COULD but most likely no bc every recievers are leased to DTV to the customer where it was in put in from the day it was installed. anything like a D10 standard would still belong to the customer and DTV has that Serial Number registered to that customer's name. So i dunno how it would activate if its sold on ebay.

id still say no.

if you want a reciever and Best Buy is near you, id go get a new one or order one from D*

What exactly is " built-in BBCs"?

BBC stands for B-Band Converter. They convert HD programming from the Co axial to HD through the box added. newer HDDVRs have then internally now. If you add a BBC to a reciever that is built in, you will lose 99 and 103 signal.


a BBC:

 

[PMKS]

What about those ebay auctions that have "new" HD receivers in the box with access cards?

The only IRD I ever bought on ebay was a RCA HD DTC-210 some years ago, it was "new-in-the-box" and DirecTV activated it with no questions, that was some time ago though....

I purchased a H21 through a local dealer for $99, and it showed up on my account as leased when I activated it, I would imagine if these auctions for the NIB IRD's are legit, it would be the same deal, I'd be scared to buy a used IRD on ebay.

 

[sddtvtech]

What about those ebay auctions that have "new" HD receivers in the box with access cards?

The only IRD I ever bought on ebay was a RCA HD DTC-210 some years ago, it was "new-in-the-box" and DirecTV activated it with no questions, that was some time ago though....

I purchased a H21 through a local dealer for $99, and it showed up on my account as leased when I activated it, I would imagine if these auctions for the NIB IRD's are legit, it would be the same deal, I'd be scared to buy a used IRD on ebay.

well if its a NEW and it is a STORE selling D*.. then fine.. but if its a PRIVATE seller.. No.

EBay Stores that are allowed to sell then sure! it would be like a local place for example, a Karl's TV store could (if they wanted to) sell on Ebay as long as they are allowed to sell per contracted to sell D* recievers.. then youd be fine.

id just be careful with the private sellers. they could be stolen equipment.

[edit]

I know a few years back, D* that contracted with stores like Radio Shack had to sell a number of recivers a year to keep the contract, some didnt so they took them away. Ebay would go faster bc the selling rate would be widely broad. Dish Network didnt have a limit (at the time) and could keep them. Most Radio Shacks still sell Dish Network as of today. that i know of... correct me if im wrong.

[/edit]

 

[grydlok]

BBC stands for B-Band Converter. They convert HD programming from the Co axial to HD through the box added. newer HDDVRs have then internally now. If you add a BBC to a reciever that is built in, you will lose 99 and 103 signal.


a BBC:

come on on dude are you serious???

 

[Islandguy43]

BBC stands for B-Band Converter. They convert HD programming from the Co axial to HD through the box added. newer HDDVRs have then internally now. If you add a BBC to a reciever that is built in, you will lose 99 and 103 signal.

Thanks for the info. BTW, since you are DTV Tech; is it true that sometime this month, all new installs will be SWM, and if not, what is the key to getting a SWM install?

 

[cfb]

I wouldnt go with a used receiver from ebay because a lot of them turn out to be leased units the seller thinks they own. Check with directv on the Receiver ID (RID) to make sure its a unit you can activate.

Anyone here have any direct knowledge of directv's 'refurbishing' process? Do they just run it through the tests and if it passes, box it up? Or do they replace the fan and disk drive and other wear items automatically as part of the process?

If they're just recertifying a used box and sending that out as 'refurbished', I'd have to give that a thumbs down. While directv 'owns' the box and has to replace it if it breaks, it'll still take all your recordings with it. You'd probably be minimizing your risks by using a new esata drive but I'd rather have a new box if the refurb has a 2 year old disk drive, fan and power supply in it.

 

[sddtvtech]

Thanks for the info. BTW, since you are DTV Tech; is it true that sometime this month, all new installs will be SWM, and if not, what is the key to getting a SWM install?

effective Oct 14th.

ask the tech if he can install the SWM and if he says sure.. he'll call and change work order.

 

[sddtvtech]

I wouldnt go with a used receiver from ebay because a lot of them turn out to be leased units the seller thinks they own. Check with directv on the Receiver ID (RID) to make sure its a unit you can activate.

Anyone here have any direct knowledge of directv's 'refurbishing' process? Do they just run it through the tests and if it passes, box it up? Or do they replace the fan and disk drive and other wear items automatically as part of the process?

If they're just recertifying a used box and sending that out as 'refurbished', I'd have to give that a thumbs down. While directv 'owns' the box and has to replace it if it breaks, it'll still take all your recordings with it. You'd probably be minimizing your risks by using a new esata drive but I'd rather have a new box if the refurb has a 2 year old disk drive, fan and power supply in it.

all the recievers i take out that are bad could be a bad tuner, wont power on or anything thats bad. the refurbs are usually replaced im sure whatever is wrong with it and they put a Refurb sticker on the back of the recievers.

 

[sddtvtech]

come on on dude are you serious???

BBCs are not required on HR23s... and is requird on H21s UNLESS youre doing a SWM install then it isnt required.

 

[cfb]

all the recievers i take out that are bad could be a bad tuner, wont power on or anything thats bad. the refurbs are usually replaced im sure whatever is wrong with it and they put a Refurb sticker on the back of the recievers.

Thats what i'm afraid of. A hard drive in a DVR is generally good for about 3.5-4.5 years. If the box was 2 years old when a tuner went out, that means you've got 1.5-2.5 years before you lose all your programs and settings and need to get another receiver. The fans in the boxes are good for about a 4-5 year span. The power supplies are EXTREMELY cheap and I'd be surprised to see a lot of them make it past 4 or 5 years unless they've been fed pretty clean electricity.

If it was a non-recording receiver or I could move an esata from one box to another and keep the settings and programming, I'd be less concerned.