bajabound2005 - 1-10-2007 at 08:33 AM
Actually, "novice" would be an overstatement. We've never used satellite TV of any kind. What we know would fit on the head of a pin.
There is a Direct TV dish on our house. The cable is run as the previous owners had Direct TV. Here's what we think we know. We need to set up an
acct with a US service address, preferably in San Diego (that we can do). That pretty much sums up what we think we know! When trying to order up on
the website, I was doing great until I got to the part that says the receiver has to be permanently hooked up to a telephone landline to activate the
receiver, etc. Now, obviously, no one in Baja has their receiver hooked up to a US landland and probably not even to a Mexican landline. I have
someone here offering to sell me a receiver - would that receiver already be "activated?" Please, Nomads, tell us how to move forward on this one!
bajabound2005 - 1-10-2007 at 08:47 AM
So if I got a new receiver from Direct TV we'd be SOL? I should mention we aren't looking to do anything off the books here, we'll set up a legal
acct, etc., we just don't know HOW to do this since we aren't actually in the US.
[Edited on 1-10-2007 by bajabound2005]
Used Receivers
MrBillM - 1-10-2007 at 10:28 AM
New is usually better.
Since many satellite subscribers terminate their service without fulfilling their contractural obligations, it has been the policy of both Dish
Network and DirecTV to NOT authorize a new subscriber on an existing receiver until that obligation was met. I imagine the policy is still in effect,
but you can call them and supply them with the Receiver info and they'll check it. At one time, DirecTV was charging a penalty when activating a
receiver previously owned to discourage picking them up used at the swap meet, but I had heard they discontinued that.
Most people I have set DirecTV up for have already activated their receivers in the U.S. so I have no idea whether the initial setup requires it being
connected to a phone line. There are at least two "Dealers" on the Nomad Board that do know, though. I'm sure they'll give you an answer.
bajaguy - 1-10-2007 at 03:18 PM
BB...I have had Dish network at my place in Carson City for about 3 yeras now. Never hooked up to a phone line. The installer told me that the
important thing about the phone line was using it to order movies by using the remote function.....but we have netflics
roundtuit - 1-10-2007 at 03:42 PM
Move mind back and forth never hook up phone at either place
bajabound2005 - 1-10-2007 at 06:20 PM
roundtuit; will it work with a Mexican phone line? I don't need the pay per view either; we also do Netflix and have about 200 movies we haven't even
seen yet.
roundtuit - 1-10-2007 at 06:31 PM
Two yrs ago talked to some one from directv and was told the telephone is only for pay per view. Never buy so never hooked up . No Problem. I told
them was in trailer part time, never asked for regestration
bajabound2005 - 1-10-2007 at 07:22 PM
OK, now we're getting somewhere!
wornout - 1-10-2007 at 07:55 PM
You should be able to set it up using the San Diego address and don't worry about the phone, just tell them you are in an RV in the Imperial Desert
and need some authorization hits.
One other thing, don't order any PPV programs. In the old days, you could do this until you get to a certain dollar amount and then everything shuts
down and you MUST connect a phone to clear the register. My wife was ordering movies during the day, the phone plug had fallen out of the jack and I
didn't know it. One day it just shut down, I called DirecTV and they said they couldn't see the phone line, I said wait a minute and I will check,
and buy the time I got back to the phone he saw the signal. He then sent some hits and I got a bill the next month with the approximately $80 worth
of movies added.
I am with Dish Network now and those bandits charge 5 bucks a month if you don't have a phone connected.
roundtuit - 1-10-2007 at 08:00 PM
My vacation time is in the Yuma area