One thing I was unaware of when I purchased a receiver was how the "Smart Cards" work on the Dish Network units.

I wanted to get a second receiver for my father.  I found a unit identical to his that was refurbished, it did not come with a smart-card, but I thought that was no big deal - we can just use the smart card from his current system.

Lesson 1)  Smart Cards are linked directly to an indivdual unit and cannot be used in any other receiver.

Ok, now I know I need a unit with a smart card.  I found a good-working used receiver with a blue smart card.

Lesson 2) The blue smart cards are no longer supported by Dish Network.

So I now have two receiver which are essentially useless, and no gift for my 80 year old father.

Dish Network says they will sell you a Smart Card that will work (in both cases), but it costs around $60.

-Matt