New Install - What to Expect

[steve_n_houston]

Hopefully I've worked out my install scheduling issues for good and will have my new system installed by Monday!

I'm wondering what I should expect in terms of cable runs and dish location, etc. I have a detached garage where a single RG6 line comes in for cable. That line goes to an 8-way splitter in the attic of the house. From the splitter, there is a single RG6 run to each room.

I'm getting an HDDVR, an HD box and two SD boxes. According to the DTV website, I'm getting a "5LNB Multisatellite dish."

Where is the most likely location for the dish? House or garage? Both have good, unobstructed southern views (which is what I understand I need for good reception).

Also, will I need to have any additional cable run? I've heard that in some cases you need more than one cable to the DVR.

Thanks!!!!

[putty469]

Most likely the 8-way splitter in the attic will be replaced by a multi-switch. A multi-switch has four RG-6 inputs from the dish, and can be fed out to 8 connections. A DVR needs two connections to record two things at once. However, if you want to avoid a messy cable run it can operate with just one. I'd suggest perhaps running a second wire from the attic to the DVR location prior to install.

I'll let one of the installers say the best location for the dish, but if it were me I'd put it over the garage b/c any possible (but highly unlikely) leaks would be confined there. Just remember that D* needs four cables from the dish to your attic.

Best of luck, and enjoy your HD!

[harsh]

The first choice for mounting the dish will be on the house (not necessarily on the roof) as near as practical to the electrical service entrance.

Ideally this will be an all Single Wire Multiswitch (SWM) setup (HR2x, H2x, 2 D12) and they'll just need to put in a four-way splitter where your 8-way splitter is now.

putty469's recommended configuration is pretty much the worst case scenario as it demands an extra RG6 to the DVR and a complicated dish grounding situation.

[houskamp]

with 5 tuners maybe you'll get lucky and get a swm setup :)

[steve_n_houston]

with 5 tuners maybe you'll get lucky and get a swm setup :)

Does that mean I will have a single run from the dish to the SWM? In that case do I still need a second run to the DVR to record two shows at once?

[houskamp]

Does that mean I will have a single run from the dish to the SWM? In that case do I still need a second run to the DVR to record two shows at once?
IF you get one you won't need the second run..

[skylox]

You could be as lucky as I am and have your install rescheduled 4 times.....thought 3rd time was a charm, but for me it looks like it will be the 4th....maybe 5th

[thestaton]

I would expect the worst and hope for the best. Do you have the number for your installer? If not call D* and request it. Then give them a call and ask them if you can get a SWM8. If they don't know what your talking about then your going to have to run the second line, or order it and install it yourself. They are very simple.

[joshjr]

with 5 tuners maybe you'll get lucky and get a swm setup :)

I was hoping for the same thing but with what his setup is listed as the 5 lnb multisattelite dish that is not what he will be getting right? How does the SWM work if he needs to get 101,110,119,99, and 103? Is it still a 5 lnb dish setup?

[houskamp]

I was hoping for the same thing but with what his setup is listed as the 5 lnb multisattelite dish that is not what he will be getting right? How does the SWM work if he needs to get 101,110,119,99, and 103? Is it still a 5 lnb dish setup?
yep.. I have one (from test)..

[Johnnie5000]

Don't expect a SWM. If you get one, great. Just don't bank on it.

The most ideal spot for the dish is going to be the line-of-sight that is closest to the electric meter or whatever NEC ground you have (copper water pipe, ground rod, etc). Plan on having 4 lines ran into your attic to have a 6x8 multiswitch in place of your 8way splitter.
And yes the HDDVR will need a 2nd line ran. If you can scope out a easy way to have the 2nd line put in before the tech gets there and just point him in the right direction, things will go smoothly. You know, point out a good ground, where your splitter is, and how you think the 2nd line should be put in will help the guy out a great deal (instead of making him look for it).

But on the other hand if you get a SWM: one line to the attic to a DTV splitter, one line to the HDDVR.

[steve_n_houston]

So it sounds like the SWM is the ticket. Why would an installer rather pull a bunch of lines instead of just using the SWM?

[veryoldschool]

So it sounds like the SWM is the ticket. Why would an installer rather pull a bunch of lines instead of just using the SWM?
SWM is new and some may be short of stock.
coax & holes is still cheaper.

[rudeney]

SWM is new and some may be short of stock.
coax & holes is still cheaper.

I many cases it might be, but not always. For example, if the install has more than 4 tuners, then a multiswitch will be required. Based on prices at Solid Dignal, the difference between a WB68 and a SWM8 is only $80. Depending on how much drilling and cabling would need to be done, a SWM might start looking pretty good.

[veryoldschool]

I many cases it might be, but not always. For example, if the install has more than 4 tuners, then a multiswitch will be required. Based on prices at Solid Dignal, the difference between a WB68 and a SWM8 is only $80. Depending on how much drilling and cabling would need to be done, a SWM might start looking pretty good.
Not to disagree, but "company costs" verses "installer's costs".
That $80 would be more than a few hours of the installer's time.

[steve_n_houston]

Do the installers make the call on which equipment to use once they have looked at the install or is that decision made before they even leave the office?

Can I just request they use the SWM from the get go? Even if I have to pay a little extra for it, it's still better than having guys going through 24" of insulation in my attic to drop a cable down two stories to to the receiver.

[veryoldschool]

Do the installers make the call on which equipment to use once they have looked at the install or is that decision made before they even leave the office?

Can I just request they use the SWM from the get go? Even if I have to pay a little extra for it, it's still better than having guys going through 24" of insulation in my attic to drop a cable down two stories to to the receiver.
"The system" will determine what you will get, which is to say it doesn't matter what you setup to have installed, "the system" will change this to what "it thinks" you should have.
Once the installer comes out "you may" be able to change then, but there is zero guarantee.

[rahlquist]

Can I just request they use the SWM from the get go? Even if I have to pay a little extra for it, it's still better than having guys going through 24" of insulation in my attic to drop a cable down two stories to to the receiver.

99.999% of the time a request is ignored. And I am still not convinced the rare .001% who happen to get what they ask for isnt just luck.

D* looks at is as customer X requested service for XX# of tv's. We will provide that however our installer sees fit following certain specs and supply issues.

So IMHO a request will not do you any good.

[evan_s]

Requesting or hoping for a SWM8 is pretty much not going to happen. SWM8's are used for MDU (multi-dwelling units) and are not something your HSP is normally going to have. A SWMlnb with the SWM integrated into the LNB is what is being rolled out for home installs.

As was mentioned the parts for an install are automatically determined by the system and pretty much no one can guarantee you a swm or even a specific receiver. You can request things and may sometimes get lucky but thats really all it is.

With that said you are a new install going for 5 tuners with at least 1 hd dvr so you do meet the systems requirements for a SWMlnb install and I'm 99% sure that Houston is one of the areas where it has been rolled out. Given the info we have you should be a good candidate to get a SWMlnb. That doesn't mean you will actually get one but it does put it in the much more likely category.

[rudeney]

Not to disagree, but "company costs" verses "installer's costs".
That $80 would be more than a few hours of the installer's time.

Yeah, you’re probably right, but I was also thinking that “company costs” of the SWM8 vs. WB68 might not be so far apart. I was also thinking in terms of my installation (4 HR20s’, 1 H20, 1 R15) where a SWM8 would work and would actually be less expensive (at retail, anyhow) than two WB68’s plus splitters.

[Getteau]

I agree with TheStation. Get the number to the installer and call him as soon as you can. That way, you can explain the situation at your house and you may stand a better chance of getting the SWM.

[RACJ2]

Do the installers make the call on which equipment to use once they have looked at the install or is that decision made before they even leave the office?I was part of the .001% that was able to get the SWM LNB. To get it, you will have to be in an area that offers it and then might have to be persistent and patient. For my install, I only had a total of 4 tuners and they usually require 5 or more for a SWM. I have PIP/POP on both my plasmas and told them that I may add 2 more receivers to use this feature later. That would quickly bring me up to 6 tuners.

Here is what I did. First call D* and ask the CSR to put the request in the installer notes. Then ask for the phone # for the HSP that will do the work. Contact them and as if they can see the notes. Now you at least have a better chance.

Next, the day of the install, the installer will probably call you. Ask him what equipment he has and he will probably say a Slimline dish. Ask if he read the notes about a SWMline. Then ask him to see if he can get the SWM, because of the situation you have with existing cabling.

If he says he can't do it, call the HSP and ask to speak with an install mgr. Tell him that you want to have a good experience with your install and on the DBStalk forum, I was told the SWM would work best. Can you make that happen for me? They aren't going to want you upset and complaining so they may agree to do it.

Now for the patience part. Part of them agreeing to the SWM LNB, they may tell you we have to reschedule. Then you might have to wait a few days to get what you want. Basically, I described what happened with my install last month. Good Luck!

[RobertE]

I was part of the .001% that was able to get the SWM LNB. To get it, you will have to be in an area that offers it and then might have to be persistent and patient. For my install, I only had a total of 4 tuners and they usually require 5 or more for a SWM. I have PIP/POP on both my plasmas and told them that I may add 2 more receivers to use this feature later. That would quickly bring me up to 6 tuners.

Here is what I did. First call D* and ask the CSR to put the request in the installer notes. Then ask for the phone # for the HSP that will do the work. Contact them and as if they can see the notes. Now you at least have a better chance.

Next, the day of the install, the installer will probably call you. Ask him what equipment he has and he will probably say a Slimline dish. Ask if he read the notes about a SWMline. Then ask him to see if he can get the SWM, because of the situation you have with existing cabling.

If he says he can't do it, call the HSP and ask to speak with an install mgr. Tell him that you want to have a good experience with your install and on the DBStalk forum, I was told the SWM would work best. Can you make that happen for me? They aren't going to want you upset and complaining so they may agree to do it.

Now for the patience part. Part of them agreeing to the SWM LNB, they may tell you we have to reschedule. Then you might have to wait a few days to get what you want. Basically, I described what happened with my install last month. Good Luck!

Glad you got what you wanted, but thats not the way it works in the real world in 99.9999% of the time. Here's a blurb from a memo from 7/31. SWM Reminder - We’re hearing reports that technicians are prompting customers to request a SWM via the Call Center. Please note SWM should only be installed when the SWM OLI is on the New Install Activity. SWM is not discretionary, and WOI will not add a SWM to accounts that don’t qualify.

Who is WOI? Work Order Integrity. They are the one that make sure a work order has what it's supposed to have on it.

What does that mean that WOI won't add it to the account? Could be a couple of things. The HSP/Contractor will have to eat the cost of the SWM (not likely to happen), or someone who really should be getting one doesn't, or one just disappears (technically theft). Also, quite possibly, if the work order doesn't get changed, it can't be closed. If it can't be closed the tech doesn't get paid.

[Cmnore]

Buy yourself an SWM LNB and have the installer use it instead of the one he brings with him.

[RACJ2]

Glad you got what you wanted, but thats not the way it works in the real world in 99.9999% of the time. Here's a blurb from a memo from 7/31.

Who is WOI? Work Order Integrity. They are the one that make sure a work order has what it's supposed to have on it.I am sure you are correct, but I was able to request and get the SWM LNB, so it is possible. One thing I left out of my prior explanation is that the manager at the HSP said he needed to get approval from D*. Since I received the SWM LNB, I am asuming they approved it. This might be because I told him when the NHL season starts, I plan to add 2 more receivers to the same TV's that already have DVR's. So I can use the PIP/POP to monitor a second game and that would have required 3 cable runs to each tv.

They may or may not have realized what they did, but if they continue to take care of me like that, I plan to remain a loyal D* customer. Even after my 24 month commitment is over.

[harsh]

I many cases it might be, but not always. For example, if the install has more than 4 tuners, then a multiswitch will be required. Based on prices at Solid Dignal, the difference between a WB68 and a SWM8 is only $80. Depending on how much drilling and cabling would need to be done, a SWM might start looking pretty good.If the house is prewired for cable, then an SWM might be the way to go. If new cabling must be installed, the number of runs is not as important.

[rudeney]

If the house is prewired for cable, then an SWM might be the way to go. If new cabling must be installed, the number of runs is not as important.

D* does not install SWM’s in residential homes. The OP might be able to buy his own SWM and work with the installer to use it in his system, but the only other option would be for a SWMLine dish or running more cable.

[steve_n_houston]

D* does not install SWM’s in residential homes. The OP might be able to buy his own SWM and work with the installer to use it in his system, but the only other option would be for a SWMLine dish or running more cable.

Just got word from the installer (assuming I understood him correctly) that my system will have a single line from the dish and will require only a single line to each receiver (including the DVR).

I assume that means I'm getting the SWMLine dish, correct?

[houskamp]

Just got word from the installer (assuming I understood him correctly) that my system will have a single line from the dish and will require only a single line to each receiver (including the DVR).

I assume that means I'm getting the SWMLine dish, correct?
Sure sounds like it.. You do meet the base criteria (5+tuners and new install)

[evan_s]

That would be correct Steve_n_houston. A dish with a single line coming from it and only using a single line to a DVR would be a SWMline dish.