Can i use a DishDVR reciever with my Direct TV satellite and card?

Question

A buddy of mine quit his stuff and has an extra dishdvr box. I was wondering if there was a way i could use it with my directv stuff, or are they just incompatible?

Answer 1

no, there are a few incompatibility issues here.

First, the DirecTV satellite is equiped with Low Noise Blockers (LNBs). The noise that they block (or absorb and don't pass on down to the receivers) is any signal other than that encrypted as a DirecTV signal. Anything from Dish's satellites will be blocked out (exception to this rule: a single LNB dish that pulls information from the satellite that Dish is sharing with DirecTV can be used to pull either/or - but no other satellites info so you'd only get the very basic programming). In turn, the DishDVR receiver will only decode Dish info. If you have a dish sending down DirecTV programming the DishDVR receiver wil not recognize the information.

Also, the access cards are incompatible with services that are not that of their company. This is to reduce fraud, theft of services, and illegal use of equipment in general. They store the "keys" to decrypting the information sent via the satellite. If the key doesn't fit, the door won't open.

Hope that explains it all a little bit.

Answer 2

No you cannot.

Answer 3

Nope. I worked at DirecTV - you have to have a receiver and specific card activated by the company to work. You couldn't put a different card in another receiver even. It's a one-to-one match.