update access card

Hey, @wsrevi1949. We'd be glad to help you with this email you got.

Access cards usually don't get replaced until they either become defective or you get a new box. As long as your service doesn't get affected and you don't get an error message about the access card, your service should be fine. This email may seem suspicious, so we'd recommend checking out our article on Identifying Fake AT&T Emails. This article gives examples of what fake emails look like and what you can do to report them.

Let us know if this helps!

Ramses, AT&T Community Specialist

Is this the notice you received via email? I received one as well and wondered if it was legit.

If you have SD only receivers they need to be swapped out for HD receivers and a new dish DTV will do it for free.

What are the models of all your boxes?

Though MPEG-2 is shutting down, some have been sent access cards supposedly to authorize in the system until MPEG-4 equipment may be provided (shutdown may have slowed down because of pandemic).

We have 5

A HDR  Model HR23-700

A HDR  Model H20

2 Model D10s

And 1 Model D12

Access cards do expire for standard definition receivers and really old hd receiver models. People with standard definition receivers have been getting letters about needing new access cards so it's  not a scam, however, standard definition receivers themselves actually need replaced instead of just a new access card. When the mpeg2 feeds are completely shutdown the new access cards won't do any good since they can't change the receiver from mpeg2 to mpeg4.

@bvbaker 

The email may be legit based on those models. Though I suggest calling DirecTV's official customer support number to be sure.

The D12 is the very last MPEG-2/SD-only receiver made, making the D10s that much older. The H20 is MPEG-4, but is not fully compatible with the system normally used in MPEG swaps.

With the MPEG swap do NOT replace the HDDVR (HR23). Though a bit older it works with the newer setups. You should expect to receive a Genie and 3 Mini Genie Clients to replace the other models. The net gain is going from 4 tuners to 5, and all TVs may make use of both your HD and DVR service. Plus recordings from all boxes are viewable from each other.

As a note, Clients are an extension of the main Genie so will not work without it. If you have RV, external garage, or other such setup on separate cabling/receiving dish, keep the H20 for that location instead of replacing with a Client.

Just make sure to read the order confirmation sent to be sure all is as expected.

Thanks!

You're welcome.

As one caution, do not let any agent convince you to "upgrade" to the Genie-2 (HS17). It only allows Clients, forbidding other boxes. That would replace everything you have, which downgrades your flexibility and reliability.

Thanks so much for the advice! I plan to call them soon.