Get free Direct TV receivers:

Visit our free satellite receivers page to learn how to get a completely free satellite dish system (including up to five free Direct TV receivers) when you start new service from either DirecTV or the Dish Network.

Direct TV receivers: See eBay's DirecTV receiver listings.

Note: if you want to buy anything off of eBay's website, you must register here first.  Registration is FREE and does NOT require credit card information.

Direct TV Receivers

Direct TV receivers serve as the final point of destination for the signal that began on earth, traveled to a satellite, and returned to earth again to be captured by a satellite dish. Now if it is the parabolic satellite dish's job to catch the signal as it returns to earth, it is the Direct TV receiver's job to take that signal and do useful things with it.

Specifically, the Direct TV receivers (and actually all types of satellite TV receivers) all perform these basic functions.

• The Direct TV receivers extract the signal of the requested channel from a larger set of satellite signals. Since every time you want to watch a different channel on the television a different signal must be extracted, you need a Direct TV receiver for each television in your house. This isn't really a big deal, though, because if you start new Direct TV or Dish Network service, you can get all of the satellite equipment for free (for up to 5 televisions in your house).
• Satellite signals are beamed back down to the Earth in an encrypted form, and it is the job of the satellite receivers (Direct TV or other brand) to de-scramble them. The correct code for the receiver is entered in the form of an access card, which also allows providers to communicate with the receivers.
• Since satellite signals are sent out in a digital form (specifically in the MPEG-2 form), Direct TV receivers must convert them into analog signals so they may be displayed on all television sets. An alternative to this is to use a satellite HDTV receiver.
• Receivers will keep a log of the pay-per-view shows you order. The receiver then sends that billing information to the provider.
• The current programming guide is displayed on-screen by the receiver.
• They allow parents to lock-out certain channels.
• Some Direct TV receivers have built in DVRs (digital video recorders).

Direct TV receivers can be bought on their own by following this next link. But if you're starting new satellite service you should visit one of the retailers listed below, and you can get all of your satellite TV equipment for free -- free satellite dish.

Learn about other pieces of electronic and satellite equipment: