DTV - SWM not readily available??

[vikecowboy]

Does anyone know why DTV does not have SWMs or SWM LNBs readily available? Seems odd that I can buy them on ebay but DTV does not have any available to send me.

Is this technology still not fully verified? I think it is so I think it is odd that DTV cannot guarantee that a tech who comes out to my house will have a SWM on him.

Thanks

[mobandit]

Does anyone know why DTV does not have SWMs or SWM LNBs readily available? Seems odd that I can buy them on ebay but DTV does not have any available to send me.

Is this technology still not fully verified? I think it is so I think it is odd that DTV cannot guarantee that a tech who comes out to my house will have a SWM on him.

Thanks

The technology is verified, it's just that D* is only using the SWM devices in new installs, except in rare circumstances. I tried several times to get D* to install a SWM for me, I woulnd up doing a self-install. It wasn't that hard, just more expensive than I realized at first (material/tool costs really ate up my budget for this install).

[litzdog911]

The technology is certainly "fully verified". DirecTV has, so far, chosen to concentrate SWM-based installations on multi-family and apartment type installations. But you can easily buy SWM dishes and multiswitches from many on-line sources, such as http://www.solidsignal.com.

[Crimson]

I also was not able to get DirecTV to order it for me, and I was a movers connection person. I was a customer for many years and moved to a house that was wired by DirecTV but only 1 drop to a room. DTV said they could not guarantee an SWM install it was at the discretion of the installer.

I was about to give up and order myself when the tech called me and I asked about SWM and he said 'SURE! I'll do that for you.) Turns out once he got here his supervisor said 'New Installs only'.. He argued with him that it was the only way to do the install and they finally relented and installed SWM dish and setup. Tech was very cool about it although he indicated some new system will be in place soon that he won't be able to do this (Something with tracking every piece of equipment on his truck).

So I'd say do it soon, and convince the installer to do it. I tipped mine $40 for going through the trouble.

[davel]

DTV just came out today to fix the signal strength issue on the 101 satellite with teh HR-20. He said that "they are having issues with software on the HR-20" he wanted to replace the hr-20 with a hr-22. I said no because I did not want to lose the OTA ability. I told him all he had to do was upgrade to the SWM and it woudl be fine (another setup I have has an SWM and hr-20's.

He ended up giving a free upgrade and leaving the old one. They don't wat to do any real work or recabling.