soloredd
10-28-07, 08:01 PM
Well, I feel I have to give some positive feedback about my install earlier this morning. I had been agonizing over this day for about a week after reading thread upon thread from multiple forums of install woes. Thankfully (and luckily??), my experience was great.
My install service was done by Ironwood here in Clovis, California. The installer's name was Frank and my time slot was 8am-12pm. Frank was at the house at 8:30am ready to go. I showed him where the HD DVR needed to go and explained how my house was pre-wired and might need another coax outlet. He said no problem, charge was $37.50 each 1/2 hour. I did not mind paying at all, and I actually had to ask him to do it because he said most people don't want to pay the fee. Well, I didn't want a hole in my exterior wall and I knew this going in, so I had cash at the ready. Frank then brought in the HD DVR and said "You're getting a new box, this is the first one I've installed." It was an HR21-700 and has a very nice and complimenting piano black finish which matches my TV. He then set up the box and then proceeded outside to take down my Dish Network dish and wire the new Slimline 5-LNB. Now, this part took quite awhile but after looking at it I can see why. He properly installed the tripod mounts (which I've heard quite a few people don't get) and very nicely attached the new cable to the house and then to my exterior hub.
Once he came back inside I showed him to the main hub in my master closet and also gave him a glass of ice water, which he appreciated and seemed shocked I'd offer! I asked him how everything was going and he said "Good, I'll be done in about 30 minutes." I was prepared to have to pay for an hour's work or so but sure enough about 25 minutes later he was done fishing the cable down my wall and putting in a new coax outlet. Primo stuff! Then the HD DVR had to do it's thing after he checked the sat signals. All mid 90s on everything. Downloaded an update which took a few minutes then he called to activate the service. Right after he hung up he brought up my local FOX channel for the Lions-Bears game in HD. EXCELLENT. Frank then walked me through the controller and how to record, etc. He then explained all he did and that he left the old dish outside as he does not do anything to dispose of it. He was about to leave and I asked him "Do I owe you money or anything?" He said "Oh, yeah. $37.50 for the wall fish." I then gave him $80 and asked him to keep the change for himself. He was very reluctant and I told him I had been pleased with his work and felt he deserved it.
So, all in all it was a great experience. And I am absolutely loving DirecTV and my DVR. It sucks it takes so long to update the Guide because I'd like to set up some upcoming NBA games and some shows for recording but that's a very miniscule issue. Maybe it's just because it's new but I don't miss Comcast and their very small channel offerings (especially for HD) at all.
My install service was done by Ironwood here in Clovis, California. The installer's name was Frank and my time slot was 8am-12pm. Frank was at the house at 8:30am ready to go. I showed him where the HD DVR needed to go and explained how my house was pre-wired and might need another coax outlet. He said no problem, charge was $37.50 each 1/2 hour. I did not mind paying at all, and I actually had to ask him to do it because he said most people don't want to pay the fee. Well, I didn't want a hole in my exterior wall and I knew this going in, so I had cash at the ready. Frank then brought in the HD DVR and said "You're getting a new box, this is the first one I've installed." It was an HR21-700 and has a very nice and complimenting piano black finish which matches my TV. He then set up the box and then proceeded outside to take down my Dish Network dish and wire the new Slimline 5-LNB. Now, this part took quite awhile but after looking at it I can see why. He properly installed the tripod mounts (which I've heard quite a few people don't get) and very nicely attached the new cable to the house and then to my exterior hub.
Once he came back inside I showed him to the main hub in my master closet and also gave him a glass of ice water, which he appreciated and seemed shocked I'd offer! I asked him how everything was going and he said "Good, I'll be done in about 30 minutes." I was prepared to have to pay for an hour's work or so but sure enough about 25 minutes later he was done fishing the cable down my wall and putting in a new coax outlet. Primo stuff! Then the HD DVR had to do it's thing after he checked the sat signals. All mid 90s on everything. Downloaded an update which took a few minutes then he called to activate the service. Right after he hung up he brought up my local FOX channel for the Lions-Bears game in HD. EXCELLENT. Frank then walked me through the controller and how to record, etc. He then explained all he did and that he left the old dish outside as he does not do anything to dispose of it. He was about to leave and I asked him "Do I owe you money or anything?" He said "Oh, yeah. $37.50 for the wall fish." I then gave him $80 and asked him to keep the change for himself. He was very reluctant and I told him I had been pleased with his work and felt he deserved it.
So, all in all it was a great experience. And I am absolutely loving DirecTV and my DVR. It sucks it takes so long to update the Guide because I'd like to set up some upcoming NBA games and some shows for recording but that's a very miniscule issue. Maybe it's just because it's new but I don't miss Comcast and their very small channel offerings (especially for HD) at all.