Condo Direct Tv question?

[nippyjun]

We live in a large 200+ unit condo. There is a local company that provides the direct tv box and local channels for a fee if you want to have direct tv. If you don't want direct tv you dont' need a box and don't need to pay anything. So, my questions is, if I go and buy my own direct tv box do I need to even use this local company anymore, or since they are contracted for our building to set up direct tv for people who want it I have to go through them. I believe that there is one dish on the roof for everybody meaning that we only need the box to convert the signal.

 

[achiral]

i doubt they will let you use their dish to receive a signal from. but you can buy a separate system and legally they have to let you put up a dish to receive reception

 

[nippyjun]

The signal from the dish already goes to my unit. So I'm wondering how the local company would know if I used the signal with my own box. Or would direct tv know that I have to use a box provided by this local company?

 

[NutBucket]

Directv will not be able to differentiate anything. The only issue would be with the local company but IMHO they *shouldn't* be able to tell either.

 

[nippyjun]

Would I just get a new box and call direct tv and tell them I have a new one. Or should I even buy the box from them? Also, I'm not familiar with how they work... there is a card in the back of my box. Does direct tv have to program the card before I can use it? Do all boxes come with a card?

Thanks.

 

[nippyjun]

One other thing? Would it be illegal to go around the local company and get my own box?

 

[mpitts]

You should be able to just go get your own equipment (dish/reciever) and install it. The condo people can't tell you whether or not you can have it.

 

[nippyjun]

I would only do it if I can use the existing dish. We are allowed to get our own dish, but I don't want the wires running through our place. I want to use the existing dish which already has a signal comming to our place. It's really a matter of getting a box and figuring out the card part (weather all boxes come with a card or where the card comes from)?

Is it best just to get the box from direct tv or do you guys/gals recommend somewhere else to buy the box without having to sign up again for service since I already signed up with direct tv.

 

[royaldank]

It is my understanding that DirecTV receivers have to be hooked directly to an LNB (little rod that sits in front of the dish). Thus, you'd have to have a direct connection to that dish. So, I would guess if you want DirecTV, they come out and hook up a new dish for you somewhere on the property and hook it into their existing wiring structure. So, if the cost is a lot more than getting one yourself, you are only paying for convience and ease of not wiring it yourself.

You could just as easily get your own setup for cheap somewhere and hook it up yourself.

Maybe commercial subscribers to DirecTV have different setups. I know at home if you want 2 receivers, you have to have a dual LNB dish outside in the yard.

 

[MrBond]

I'm guessing the box they provide isn't much more then a normal cable box (or have you seen your neighbors' and can verify it's an actual DTV receiver?). With a DTV reciever, the card is programmed (by DTV when you call up and give them your box codes and subscribe) so it knows what channels to let you view.

Alternativly, it could be a standard reciever that the company tells their database the box codes, so it knows that it can recieve the signal (kind of like a cable modem, you can't just go buy a modem and hook it to your cable feed to get cable modem service, the mac address has to be registered with the cable company)

 

[nippyjun]

So the card that comes with a new box is unprogrammed and the programming is done remotely when you call direct tv to activate?