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View Full Version : My Install Craziness....


nomar116
10-23-07, 10:50 PM
Ok, so I just spent about 1.5 hrs on the phone w/ D* and Brewster trying to straighten my install out and didn't get very far... Can anyone provide some help...

The installer came out just over 2 weeks ago. He was installing a two room system with HR20. I'm a renter so I didn't want to put the dish ON the house. The main ground is on the NE corner of a single story house. When the installer arrived I immediately took him towards the backyard saying plainly I wanted the dish put there (south backyard with a clear view). The installer refused, he stated that Brewster would be by to "inspect" the install and that a dish there wouldn't be up to code because he could not ground it properly. Instead, I settled on installing the dish in the NE corner, nearer the ground, in our FRONT yard. At over 10 feet out from the front wall, looking back over the roof the install is VERY obnoxious (I've driven around the neighborhood to see that no one elses' dish is quite as tacky as ours and am a little embarassed). He also misled me about my HD local channels (not available), never offering an antenna, and failed to hook up a second line to my DVR b/c I have a "planters shelf" in the living room.

Well a QA inspector came by TODAY and knocked on our door. Apparently he thinks the install could have been done better (and they've had other problems with my first installer). He walked around the backyard and stated nstalling anywhere back there should NOT BE A PROBLEM. He also insisted on fixing the DVR issue as well. The whole time I was actually at work so this inspector was talking to a FRIEND OF MINE.

So I came home to learn of this and immediately got on the phone. At first no one knew what was going on, then I final tracked down the supervisor (through a disbatcher, of course). At one point during my convos I had both the Brewster disbatch and QA guy claiming that the dish could be relocated but ONLY if I had D* cut a work order! After a very, very laborous adventure on the phone, and several exchanged phone calls between disbatchers and D* people, I finally managed a conference call between D* and the local Brewster installers. (FOR THE RECORD, D* DID AN AMAZING JOB TO SEE THAT I WAS MADE HAPPY ON THIS DEAL).

Well in this conference call the Brewster representative claimed to be talking to both my original Tech and a Supervisor in the background. Turns out no one knows what they're talking about; One tech says it can't be done, another says it can. I have a supervisor coming out on Saturday to have a final say.

So can you all please help!!?? It would mean the world.

Can the dish be installed in the backyard, about 30-50 feet from the main ground? I have been told by my "friend" that running #4 copper (?) as a ground would make this no problem. But by the end of the convo Brewster was claiming they "don't do that." It sure seems to me that they should be willing to find a way. And should I let them run a second line to the DVR? As a renter I feel compelled to just "wait it out" for the SWM. After 1.5 hours on the phone I hope I can make something of this and I didn't just waste my time...

Thanks.
Paul

wildbill129
10-23-07, 11:30 PM
Is your dish going to be mounted on a pole in the ground in the backyard??

shocky
10-23-07, 11:54 PM
Wow.. This has me scared.. My install is on Friday morning.

I'm not too keen on the idea of them poking holes in my roof..

glennb
10-24-07, 05:30 PM
I'm not too keen on the idea of them poking holes in my roof..

Why ?

They seal it. I've done it many times. I've never had any roof leaks. Go up there yourself after they leave with some exterior RTV and seal around it some more.

nomar116
10-24-07, 10:19 PM
Yes, I currently have and want to keep a pole mount. As a renter I do not feel comfortable installing the dish on the house when I will be moving in a less than a year.

Is it true that they are often unwilling to run a ground a distance greater than 15'?

paulman182
10-25-07, 06:34 AM
Right or wrong, my installer used the messenger wire on the RG6 as the ground wire when installing my AT9 about 75 feet from the multiswitch.

A pole mounted dish is somewhat grounded through the pole, anyway.

I don't suppose this is code but I'm just relating what my installer did.

raoul5788
10-25-07, 07:05 AM
Yes, I currently have and want to keep a pole mount. As a renter I do not feel comfortable installing the dish on the house when I will be moving in a less than a year.

Is it true that they are often unwilling to run a ground a distance greater than 15'?

It shouldn't be true. My pole is 40' from my house, then it's another 25 to the water pipe where the dish is grounded. Local codes here in CT require this type of ground. I have no idea what the codes are where you live. Call the local inspector to find out.

raoul5788
10-25-07, 07:08 AM
Right or wrong, my installer used the messenger wire on the RG6 as the ground wire when installing my AT9 about 75 feet from the multiswitch.

A pole mounted dish is somewhat grounded through the pole, anyway.

I don't suppose this is code but I'm just relating what my installer did.

WRONG!!!! And dangerous, too! The pole itself does not ground the dish in any way.
The dish must be properly grounded to relieve static buildup. Depending on the local codes, you may need to run a ground to the water pipe.

hombresoto
10-25-07, 07:19 AM
WRONG!!!! And dangerous, too! The pole itself does not ground the dish in any way.
The dish must be properly grounded to relieve static buildup. Depending on the local codes, you may need to run a ground to the water pipe.

FWIW: I have done thousands of installs/service calls/upgrades. On a service call, the only consequences I have seen with an ungrounded system has been:

1. fried LNB
2. fried multiswitch
3. center conductor fried at a connector

I have never seen any a/v equipment, tvs, or receivers damaged from a power surge through the coax, and about 50% of systems here get grounded. I have seen dozens of receivers fried due to surges through the phone line, and yes, there is a way to tell.

If you really think that little messenger on the cable is going to do much for you on a lighting strike, you are mistaken.

raoul5788
10-25-07, 07:34 AM
FWIW: I have done thousands of installs/service calls/upgrades. On a service call, the only consequences I have seen with an ungrounded system has been:

1. fried LNB
2. fried multiswitch
3. center conductor fried at a connector

I have never seen any a/v equipment, tvs, or receivers damaged from a power surge through the coax, and about 50% of systems here get grounded. I have seen dozens of receivers fried due to surges through the phone line, and yes, there is a way to tell.

If you really think that little messenger on the cable is going to do much for you on a lighting strike, you are mistaken.

Like I said, the ground is to stop static build up. Nothing can stop a lightning strike from getting through.

newsposter
10-25-07, 08:05 AM
The installer refused, he stated that Brewster would be by to "inspect" the install and that a dish there wouldn't be up to code because he could not ground it properly.


can you clarify for me ...are you saying the installers work would be inspected for a grounded dish? this runs contrary to a recent post i read that said most all dishes are never grounded (against code of course)

I'd think it would be great if they would as they didnt ground my 5lnb the other week and i'm scared of how they would do it. The dish is on my front roof, centered above my 13 ft window, and i just dont know what would be required to even ground it.

nomar116
10-25-07, 09:12 AM
The inspection was a Q/A from Brewster. This D* inspector was ensuring everything was up to their standard. His cheif complaints with my original install were that he did not run a second line to the DVR (frankly, because I asked him not to). He also wasn't fond of a dish in the front yard and said it could be put anywhere in the backyard.

The inspector didn't seem to have any concern over keeping the dish near the house's main ground. The original installed insisted they couldn't add a second ground to the house per local code and so it had to be within 15' of the main ground. Now I don't understand why they can't run #4 copper for distances greater than this to ground the dish if needed. The installer also didn't account for another ground we have for the pool right next to where I want the dish installed.

As for the second line to the DVR, I wanted to wait for the SWM since I was told this would be out on "Dec. 12" which I have no idea how he would know that...

newsposter
10-25-07, 01:15 PM
wow I gotta get me one of these directv inspectors. I bet ironwood would fail sadly if they did they around here. But reading your post makes me think I may be in trouble because they cant ground it where it is.