activating access card

Fair enough. The chip in the Access Card can store the PPV purchase info. That way if not connected to internet (or in the old days a landline), or only sometimes connected (or connection flakey), they still had a way to put the info on the bill when the Access Card was returned.

Though as normal, the PPV's program itself isn't on the Access Card. It is not a memory card for storage.

So when the access card comes, there is nothing on the chip other than a little code that says, it's cool, you can unscramble the signal?  It's not assigned to any particular unit and isn't paired until I activate the card and tell them which machine it's in?  Will the card work immediately and stop working after x amt of time if not activated or does it need to be activated to work?

When you receive the card, you do have to activate it. That is pairing it with the correct receiver.

Think of the Access Card like a secure key.

Nothing is on the card. They don't give you programming on it, like shipping you a DVD. The programming is delivered by the satellite.

As for how long you have to activate the card, that I do not have the answer to. Certainly, I wouldn't wait weeks/months, but a few days or such should be fine if your schedule is hectic.

DIRECTV EQUIPMENT LEASE AGREEMENT that I assume covers a new access card also.

Specifically, you agree that, within 30 days of getting the Leased Equipment (either provided to you or installed professionally), you will activate your DIRECTV Receiver(s)/Genie Mini(s) and subscribe to a base level of programming, valued at $29.99/mo. or more, which may consist of a DIRECTV base programming package (English or Spanish language) OR a qualifying international language a la carte service bundled with either BASIC CHOICE™ or PREFERRED CHOICE™. At the end of your Programming Commitment, your DIRECTV Service will continue on a month-to-month 

@shannon02 

I knew of the 30 days for the boxes (conversation with someone who ridiculously waited months), but wasn't confident it applied to the Access Card. But you're right it would make sense to apply to that as well.

After all, they want you using it and enjoying programming, thereby being a customer.

@Juniper Yes, the paperwork says activate within 30 days and if you don't, the next time you need a card, it will cost $20.  So when I put the card in the genie as directed and told the woman on the phone there were no channels available, the problem most likely was it needed to be activated, which she had no clue.  Instead, she said she'd send a new card.  The last woman also told me I could activate it online. 

why would only part of the genie playlist show up in the other room.  Shouldn't it be all or nothing?  Also, what would cause the genie to come on in the middle of the night?  Either the genie and/or our tv is set to come on when the genie does and 2 nights in a row it came on around 2am.  The genie comes on when it's reset, thought maybe it would reset after a s/w update, but last update was in June.  Can a dvr spontaneously reset?

Hard drive problems can cause it to reboot.

The Genie receiver may also reboot if it hasn't received data from the satellite in several hours. As far as your receiver rebooting, it could be hard drive failure as @shannon02 pointed out, the receiver may be overheating, or a software update is taking place. 

If it keeps rebooting because an update is not taking, there is something you can try. Unplug the power from the Genie for at least a minute. This allows any bad memory that is cached drain, which may clear the issue. If you try this, be aware the guide will have to download again from the satllite which is usually completed in 24 hours through sometimes can take up to 48 for everything to be loaded again.

Also make sure the Genie is not plugged into a "smart" power strip and if your TV has HDMI-CEC that it is turned off. They don't play well with DirecTV equipment.