HD Dish Switch for our MDU

[Monson]

Okay, Hopefully someone on here can help me out as I have been nominated to take on this task by the condo board.

We have been going through the process of getting our building HD ready with DirecTV.

About a year and half ago, our SysOp told us that our building (57 units) would need to rewired to receive HD signals. We were currently getting SD just fine. The drug their feet and then decided that they would only do the work if we extended our contract. So the contract is extended and then they say that we don't need the new wiring and what we have is sufficient.

Fast forward to the MPEG-4 switch, the owners that did have HD lost their HD due to the migration of the sat signal. DirecTV says you need the 5LNB dish. Okay, SysOp says they will get to it.

So, now it is the present and the SysOp says they won't upgrade the dish cause more than the dish will need to be upgraded to get HD to the residents. I am pretty sure they are after another contract extension

What I am asking is what above is true and what do we need to get HD in our building? Do we only need the dish? What is this other equipment and what does it run ballpark (so we know if extending the contract is worth it).

Thank you everyone for help in advance.

[doctor j]

The conversion will require an MFH-2 system.
Several threads in this forum about that.
Existing wiring can be used most likely.
Probably 1 SWM-8 per 2 units(allows 4 tuners per unit)
Trunkline hardware will be needed ie; power inserter ; amplifier ; 4 line switch ; chassis for each 6 swm ; power ;ups prefered ;etc. Design installation maintanence. Easily can be thousands of dollars for 57 units.

Doctor j

[DirecTv Chicago]

Okay, Hopefully someone on here can help me out as I have been nominated to take on this task by the condo board.

We have been going through the process of getting our building HD ready with DirecTV.

About a year and half ago, our SysOp told us that our building (57 units) would need to rewired to receive HD signals. We were currently getting SD just fine. The drug their feet and then decided that they would only do the work if we extended our contract. So the contract is extended and then they say that we don't need the new wiring and what we have is sufficient.

Fast forward to the MPEG-4 switch, the owners that did have HD lost their HD due to the migration of the sat signal. DirecTV says you need the 5LNB dish. Okay, SysOp says they will get to it.

So, now it is the present and the SysOp says they won't upgrade the dish cause more than the dish will need to be upgraded to get HD to the residents. I am pretty sure they are after another contract extension

What I am asking is what above is true and what do we need to get HD in our building? Do we only need the dish? What is this other equipment and what does it run ballpark (so we know if extending the contract is worth it).

Thank you everyone for help in advance.

You basically need a whole new system installed, MFH2 mainly consists of:

1.) 5 LNB Dish- Simple to replace, relatively inexpensive.
2.) Chassie- Imagine it like power strip. It allows you to plug the SWM-8 Units into a large power strip limiting the number of power outlets you need and space on the wall. You don't have to use these but it is recommended. They are $400-$500.00 a Chassie.
3.)SWM-8: This is the most important piece to the whole puzzle. It is the switch that allows for the MFH2 signal to function both on HD and standard defintition. Around $200.00 a switch it can get very expensive.

It is very hard to give even a rough estimate on what an installation of a MFH2 system would be as it greatly depends on the demographics of the building. Since the SWM-8 only can hold 8 tuners on them a building that is going to have a larger amount of DVR's and receivers can cost twice as much as a building that has less receivers.

What you can do is contact another system operator and have them come out and perform a site survey. Most System Operators will do these for free and usual only take an hour. Then they will be able to tell you what it would take to get your building started.

Regardless of whether you stay with your current operator or a new one you should expect to sign a new contract as there is a substantial upfront cost to the SO. However do not get forced into signing ridiculous contracts as I have heard from a couple of people on here. I have heard some SOs request 10 years plus the customer pay anywhere from $10,000 - $30,000 towards the upgrade. That may work in a smaller market but there are plenty of different operators in this market looking for your business.

Where is your building located and what type of system do you currently have? Also do you know what type of horizontal cabling you have? This would depend on how easily the building could be upgraded?

[doctor j]

A sample bill of supplies might be( prices from wholesale supplier):
AU-9 dish - $83.00
Brace - 2 x $7.50
Non Penetrating mount - $26.00
Power Inserter -(PI-6S) $69.00
Amplifier - (SA-6AL) $134.00
Quad Tap - (MST-774) $153.00
SWM-8 - 29 x $159.00 = $4611.00
Chassis - (FMC-6) - 5 x $487.00 = 2435.00
Power Supplies - 17 x $22.00 = $375.00

Base Price for supplies is at least $7893.50

Doctor j

[AntAltMike]

A sample bill of supplies might be( prices from wholesale supplier):

...SWM-8 - 29 x $159.00 = $4611.00
Chassis - (FMC-6) - 5 x $487.00 = 2435.00
Power Supplies - 17 x $22.00 = $375.00


This would be overkill if the condo has access to franchised cable TV, as if it does, the DirecTV penetration rate would probably not exceed 30%.

If your condo engages the services of a real estate management company, you might want to tap into them for advice.

[Monson]

Thanks to everyone above for the answers.

To answer some of the questions.

My building is located on the North Side of Chicago.

The building used to have cable TV, but that was an even bigger nightmare than the one we have now. Plus apparently the cable co won't give a bulk discount for a building the size of mine.

I would guess that there are on average two tuners per unit, with quite about 1/3 to 1/2 with DVRs.

Our management company is only one guy who manages a couple buildings so resources are limited there to begin with. That is why I was nominated to tackle this issue.

[DirecTv Chicago]

This would be overkill if the condo has access to franchised cable TV, as if it does, the DirecTV penetration rate would probably not exceed 30%.

If your condo engages the services of a real estate management company, you might want to tap into them for advice.

That may be but can you gurantee that? That can be very dangerous for a system operator expecially if the cost of the upgrade is absorbed soley on the extension of a contract.

If they go in thinking that they may only need 10 SWM's but end up needing 20 that will completly throw the numbers off. Unless they charge the customer the cost of the SWMs. Some companies do, my company however does not. Which is where it can be tricky. It is a flat fee of $50.00, unless it is above the 8 tuners.

[DirecTv Chicago]

Thanks to everyone above for the answers.

To answer some of the questions.

My building is located on the North Side of Chicago.

The building used to have cable TV, but that was an even bigger nightmare than the one we have now. Plus apparently the cable co won't give a bulk discount for a building the size of mine.

I would guess that there are on average two tuners per unit, with quite about 1/3 to 1/2 with DVRs.

Our management company is only one guy who manages a couple buildings so resources are limited there to begin with. That is why I was nominated to tackle this issue.

It all depends on your demographics but 2 tuners is usually a little low for a northside chicago building. I would estimate roughly 3 per unit. However you do not need to install everyone on the MFH2 system. If you are fortunate to have two cables to each unit you can put the standard def on the 101 and the HD on the SWM-8 only. That is a slim possibility but same thing goes for those that are only interested in standard def. They do not have to be switched over to the MFH2They can continue to use the same system they always have.

You would have plenty of system operators interested in a purely DirecTV building and if yours refuses to install it then look at other opportunities. I would also recommend sending out a survey to the building to see what the interest is. Basically ask tenants "If we were to upgrade the building to High Defintition service with DirecTV, who would be interested?" Also what type of receivers and how many. This would give a SO an idea of the interest and what the estimated build out would be.

If you have any other specific answers just let us know.

[woodybeetle]

Please contact me via private message as far as your building needs and concerns.

[Monson]

It all depends on your demographics but 2 tuners is usually a little low for a northside chicago building. I would estimate roughly 3 per unit. However you do not need to install everyone on the MFH2 system. If you are fortunate to have two cables to each unit you can put the standard def on the 101 and the HD on the SWM-8 only. That is a slim possibility but same thing goes for those that are only interested in standard def. They do not have to be switched over to the MFH2They can continue to use the same system they always have.

You would have plenty of system operators interested in a purely DirecTV building and if yours refuses to install it then look at other opportunities. I would also recommend sending out a survey to the building to see what the interest is. Basically ask tenants "If we were to upgrade the building to High Defintition service with DirecTV, who would be interested?" Also what type of receivers and how many. This would give a SO an idea of the interest and what the estimated build out would be.

If you have any other specific answers just let us know.


We are already a purely DirecTv building. Contract runs through next fall.

I guessed 2 tuners due to the fact that units are about half 1 beds and half 2 beds. Most of the owners I have talked to said they had 2 tuners.

Thanks again everyone, so far this has been very helpful.