DirecTV - Call every time to turn on?

The cut off time for DirecTV or Dish receivers is about 30 days (give or take a few) and there is nothing you can do to change that other than provide the receiver with a signal. It is easier to reactivate a DTV receiver as you can do it online, but if you don't mind the phone call you can do the same with Dish but you have to talk to a real person.
If you are going to have to make that call to activate the service anyway, you could also call when you are not using it and suspend the service on the receiver so you don't have to pay for the rest of the year.