genereal question

hey everyone, this is my first post and I have no idea about direct tv and stuff related.

Here is my question- I am living at a home with two dishes outside and one wire is cut off when the other is hooked up and I got a reciever and remote from my grandpa who won't be using it this winter as he is in Arizona and has direct tv at 4 different locations and I hooked it up to my tv and seem not to get it to work as it is looking for satelitte service. Does my grandpa have to call the company to activate the dish to make it work or what do I need to do?

Thanks for your help.