Ok you electronics savy people, I have a question

I was given a used DVR that was apparently sold by Direct TV. It is set up to work with Direct TV. What I am wondering is can I hook it up and use it without Direct TV. I currently have cable. The instructions talk about having to register it. Hook it to a phone line. And steps like that. But I would think that if I dont use Direct TV that I should be able to connect to the cable and go with it.
Am I wrong it my thinking?
If someone actually knows it would be great.
Thanks

Hmm, don’t know about this one. I have Dish Network and got the DVR through them, and it’s my understanding that it’ll only work with their service. I pay $5/mo extra to have it, so because of that fact, I bet it would be the same with your unit. That’s probably why they have you register it. It’s another way for them to get your $$, and it’s a service they provide, so….based on that, I would say you’re outta luck.

I hope someone with DirecTV chimes in. I’m interested to hear what the exact answer is.

But I will say this: it’s the best $5 I spend every month. The ability to pause live TV, and record an entire season of shows, and then any other show in between? And then watch em whenever you want without video tape? Priceless!

Have you hooked it up and tried it? Couldn’t hurt, I wouldn’t think.

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I was given a used DVR that was apparently sold by Direct TV. It is set up to work with Direct TV. What I am wondering is can I hook it up and use it without Direct TV. I currently have cable. The instructions talk about having to register it. Hook it to a phone line. And steps like that. But I would think that if I dont use Direct TV that I should be able to connect to the cable and go with it.
Am I wrong it my thinking?
If someone actually knows it would be great.
Thanks

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You could look here
myth
I,ve got a friend that runs his dvr as a linux server, similar to the above link. He is pretty technical, and enjoys tinkering with it. It Would be pretty tought to pull off if your not technically inclined.

I’d recommend a standalone tivo box. I think mine is $10/month.
FYI, You will need to have either a WIFI or phone line connection available for the Tivo box (or any dvr for that matter)to update programming.

If it’s a Direct TV DVR then you have to have an access card to activate it. You then also need to have a dish to be able to get the signal to activate it. The dvr will only decode the Direct tv signal. So…no you can’t use it on your cable. If it was a stand alone DVR/PVR (some dvd recorders are like this but don’t do HD) that doesn’t use a signal to activate (like you do in TIVO, Cable, Moxi, Direct TV, Dish) or a computer based one (still most don’t do HD because of the copyright protection imbedded in the signal) then you could. I haven’t really researched it much because I have Direct TV DVRs. I do know that these systems are not cheap!!

Thanks guys
That pretty much answers my question.
Sounds like a Craigs list item.