This is interesting as we recently bought a system with a 6' dish, 2 recievers and supposedly legal Direct TV from a dealer, Global Satellite in Santo Domingo. I questioned the legality of the service then but was strenously assured that it was fully legal. When our service quit several weeks before the 90 day renewal time, we complained and it took two weeks to get it restored. We then renewed at $6,000rd for another 3 months. Within 2 weeks one receiver quit working and then the other shortly after. After many phone calls and hassle with the dealer, one was finally restored. The other has been out for almost a month now despite us paying for the service. When the recievers quit, "call ext. 726 to restore service" popped up on the screen. This is their fraud department extension number as Ext 721 is the normal service restoration extension. From investigation via another DR dealer, I found that the dealer signs a customer up using a different account and then gets 30 days free service. When that ends and no payment is made, the account closes and then the procedure must be repeated using a different account information.
I checked with Direct TV and was told there is NO LEGAL SERVICE in the DR. Obviously the dealer is pirating the signal using a dealer or bogus address in the states (he calls Miami to have it restored).
When I asked others who have this here, I was told to have the small dish installed (and monthly service paid via billing) at a stateside address and then bring the reciever here.
I hope this has changed as we would like to have it fully restored and in compliance as it is a bummer to have it one day and gone the next (3 times in 3 months).