View Full Version : Did I get an incomplete install?
Last October D* came to install my new HR20 after my move. The installer didn't connect the second tuner because he said he couldn't fish a cable due to the construction of the wall.
Since then I've read about SWMs, etc., so I called yesterday to schedule an appt. to get the 2nd tuner connected. The first thing the D* rep said was "That should have already been done". So now I'm thinking that last fall I paid for having both tuners hooked up, but I got short-changed. Is connecting two tuners considered "standard installation"? If that's the case, I'm thinking that I shouldn't have to pay for this install.
The installer is coming Saturday AM, so if I got ripped the first time I want to call D* before Saturday and state my case. Do I have a case? :confused:
Michael D'Angelo
04-10-08, 12:03 PM
For the installer to fish wires through the walls there is a charge for that. I believe it is $60 a cable per wall. So if he would have done the work he would have charged you. But I am sure there are times that it is not possible to fish a wire depending where it is going.
veryoldschool
04-10-08, 12:07 PM
This would be hard to answer without "being there". A "normal" install of a DVR should have two coax feeds, but "standard" install is two holes drilled through an outside wall to the DVR.
RobertE
04-10-08, 12:08 PM
IMHO, Yes & No. Hope that clears it up. :p
Anyway, yes, all DVRs should have two lines run to them for full use.
However...
There are cases where it would be a challenge to get that second line to where you want it. You said that the installer didn't fish the cable due to the construction of the wall. Wall fishes are typically not part of the standard install/upgrade, so that won't be free. Then depending on the construction of the house, it very well may be impossible to fish that cable where you want it. An example would be you want the new line on an interior wall of the second floor, but there are rooms above and below. No real way to get from A to B. Thats just one example.
A second line can always be run, it may have to run around your baseboards, over doors, upstairs, etc, but it can be run. Going to look like poo though.
Now that I think about it, the bill was about $230, and $200 of that was for the HR20, so I guess I didn't pay any extra for the install.
As for running a second cable, since last October I've had a home theater guy come out and give me an estimate for installing surround sound speakers. He looked at the same wall as the D* installer and said "no problem" as far as fishing wires. Hmmmm......
Thanks for all the feedback! Hopefully by Saturday afternoon I'll have that 2nd tuner hooked and all will be well. :)
This would be hard to answer without "being there". A "normal" install of a DVR should have two coax feeds, but "standard" install is two holes drilled through an outside wall to the DVR.
Unless your DVR and TV are in the middle of your livingroom.;)
veryoldschool
04-10-08, 01:22 PM
Unless your DVR and TV are in the middle of your livingroom.;)
Same thing, just a longer cable coming from the wall.
Same thing, just a longer cable coming from the wall.
Not in my house,er mobile home.:D
jodyguercio
04-10-08, 01:26 PM
Not in my house,er mobile home.:D
So it could double as your clothesline right?:D :lol:
So it could double as your clothesline right?:D :lol:
Not here.We're the upgraded rednecks.:D
veryoldschool
04-10-08, 01:54 PM
Not in my house,er mobile home.:D
In this case the outside wall is your floor. :lol:
Last October D* came to install my new HR20 after my move. The installer didn't connect the second tuner because he said he couldn't fish a cable due to the construction of the wall.
Since then I've read about SWMs, etc., so I called yesterday to schedule an appt. to get the 2nd tuner connected. The first thing the D* rep said was "That should have already been done". So now I'm thinking that last fall I paid for having both tuners hooked up, but I got short-changed. Is connecting two tuners considered "standard installation"? If that's the case, I'm thinking that I shouldn't have to pay for this install.
The installer is coming Saturday AM, so if I got ripped the first time I want to call D* before Saturday and state my case. Do I have a case? :confused:
Did you sign off on the tech's paperwork (part of which specifically states you are completely satisfied with the work performed)? If yes, there's not much chance of getting the 2nd line for free from the next tech. I was on a service call a couple of weeks ago that was a very poor install and the customer was complaining about cable routing and wanted everything cleaned up. Only problem was that the install was over 90 days old and my supervisor said the company wouldn't let me reinstall without custom labor charges.
so, while you may have got an incomplete install, you did allow the tech to leave it that way.
........
There are cases where it would be a challenge to get that second line to where you want it. You said that the installer didn't fish the cable due to the construction of the wall. Wall fishes are typically not part of the standard install/upgrade, so that won't be free. Then depending on the construction of the house, it very well may be impossible to fish that cable where you want it. An example would be you want the new line on an interior wall of the second floor, but there are rooms above and below. No real way to get from A to B. Thats just one example.
A second line can always be run, it may have to run around your baseboards, over doors, upstairs, etc, but it can be run. Going to look like poo though.
Well, in my case it's a one-story with attic access, and the wall where the cable comes down is an interior wall, so I think the installer last fall was just being lazy. I know, some of you are thinking I'm lazy too, but the days of crawling in attics are behind me. :lol:
TigersFanJJ
04-10-08, 02:43 PM
As for running a second cable, since last October I've had a home theater guy come out and give me an estimate for installing surround sound speakers. He looked at the same wall as the D* installer and said "no problem" as far as fishing wires. Hmmmm......
It may be easy to fish that wall. However, custom work isn't required on your or the techs part.
Your options for custom work are:
1. The tech quotes you a price and you agree so he does the work for you and you pay him.
2. He quotes you a price you don't like so you decide to pay someone else to do the work for you.
3. He doesn't do custom work, so you have to find someone else to do it for you.
4. You save a little money and do the custom work yourself.
It may be easy to fish that wall. However, custom work isn't required on your or the techs part.
Your options for custom work are:
1. The tech quotes you a price and you agree so he does the work for you and you pay him.
2. He quotes you a price you don't like so you decide to pay someone else to do the work for you.
3. He doesn't do custom work, so you have to find someone else to do it for you.
4. You save a little money and do the custom work yourself.
So are you saying that any cable run that doesn't just come through a hole in an outside wall is "custom"? Just wondering.
A second line can always be run, it may have to run around your baseboards, over doors, upstairs, etc, but it can be run. Going to look like poo though.
Really ?
A "professional installer" would run a coax cable on stairs inside a house ?
Canis Lupus
04-10-08, 03:22 PM
Pretty much yes.
You mentioned before having a home theater guy come out for an estimate on surround. Maybe he could also run that 2nd SAT cable and you could save a few bucks there.
So are you saying that any cable run that doesn't just come through a hole in an outside wall is "custom"? Just wondering.
Canis Lupus
04-10-08, 03:23 PM
I think he said "upstairs", not "up stairs" :grin:
Really ?
A "professional installer" would run a coax cable on stairs inside a house ?
TigersFanJJ
04-10-08, 03:27 PM
Really ?
A "professional installer" would run a coax cable on stairs inside a house ?
You are getting a little outside the lines of the professional install. Not the fault of the installer if the customer wants it ran that way because they are too cheap to pay for the custom fee.
EDIT: In a safe manner, of course.
I've never been in a situation where this had to be done, but it is possible.
You mentioned before having a home theater guy come out for an estimate on surround. Maybe he could also run that 2nd SAT cable and you could save a few bucks there.
Thanks for the suggestion, and yes, I've thought of that. I just don't want to wait for the 2nd tuner for as long as it will take the surround system to come to the top of the to-do list. ;)
Canis Lupus
04-10-08, 03:54 PM
Ah ok. Well maybe he could run the lines before you actually get the equipment? Or maybe that's just a wash in the cost.
veryoldschool
04-10-08, 04:22 PM
Anybody for a SWM? :lol:
So are you saying that any cable run that doesn't just come through a hole in an outside wall is "custom"? Just wondering.
I live in a mobile home,when I called DirecTV I always tell them I need the cables to go under the place and come out in the middle of the livingroom floor.The only installer that had a problem with this was the first one and I sent him packing.The next 2 didn't have a problem,and because they didn't I gave them a tip.;)
Ext 721
04-15-08, 11:29 PM
So are you saying that any cable run that doesn't just come through a hole in an outside wall is "custom"? Just wondering.
One interior and one exterior wall, or 2 total walls or fewer...from one side to the other. Floors count as walls.
Ext 721
04-15-08, 11:32 PM
Really ?
A "professional installer" would run a coax cable on stairs inside a house ?
Existing cable run in a rented home. I squeezed one extra cable in the same hole. Landlord would not approve new holes. I followed the existing run from comcast...up the staircase.
When the customer demands easy, shoddy-looking work, instead of difficult, pretty work...only a moron would refuse.
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