Can I hook up my Directv DVR to watch recorded shows without a satellite?

Question

I have the receiver, because we moved and are transferring our service, but the installation person hasn't been by yet with the satellite. We do have basic cable here in the apartment, but I don't think that can be used with satellite. I just want to watch some of my pre-recorded shows.

Answer 1

yeah, it's possible to do that. Just hook it up to the TV and play it like usual. So long as you aren't past the authorization period (basically, the time frame your card has for you to use the current services - it's sent when you make payments and changes to your programming and has a specific cutoff date if no new authorizations are sent) and your receiver hasn't been unplugged for more than a month it would work.

The only problem, obviously, would be that if you were on a screen that would normally have programming it would say "searching for satellite signal (771)" which means your receiver is not getting a connection to the satellite (meaning no new authorizations).

If you've passed your authorizations period, though, you may get an error message. Same thing with your receiver being unplugged for a long time.

In short, try it since it's likely to work.