interesting (Score 1)

Ok. This is a very interesting situation. I have been reading up on DirecTiVo "hacking" for some time now, and it seems as if your quandry falls right under the legal justification for what these sites are trying to do. According to them, their software/hacks/mods are for people in situations just like yours, and not those who are simply stealing satellite service (and therefore, would not want to connect the units to the phone. If its hooked to the phone then it has the ability to communicate two-way, if its not...then its just a one way connection) So, go to deal database and check out their forums. By downloading some linux images, and taking the drive out of your unit (voiding its warranty) flashing it with the downloaded image, you can disable the units ability to call out.

Or...just get a coupler, remember those, from the 1980's