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View Full Version : Moving: DYI Reinstall or Call DTV for $50?

LilCozyFab
06-08-09, 01:35 PM
I'm moving from my apartment to a house (Thanks). At the current time my AU9 SL is mounted on a poll and cememted into the ground (which I'm digging up and taking with me). 4 - TV Setup: HR21, R15, 2 - D11 on a Multiswitch.

At my new place, the dish can be mounted anywhere. My HR21 is going in the basement (underground). D11 is going in basement (underground). R15 is going in bedroom (future update to H Series HD Receiver). D11 is going in guestroom. Other near future additions will be a SD/HD Receiver on Kitchen Wall for Small LCDTV and a HD DVR Receiver for the office/HTPC system.

I would like to know if I should DIY the reinstall/cabling or call DTV and pay the $50 for them to do it (Would be free through DTV if I didn't temporarily let service go this pass fall).

If it's only going to be $50 flat from DTV I think that's going to be the best way to go due to drilling and length of cable needed. I could do the project myself but I believe the cost of cable and jacks will be over $50.

Your insight please! Thanks guys.
Mertzen
06-08-09, 02:51 PM
I'd say let D* do it. Why go through the hassle and indeed cost of getting supplies when you have fully equipped techs out there.
Plus you'll have a warranty on the work too.
jimmyv2000
06-08-09, 02:51 PM
I would do all the wiring your self .From whats listed of your set up alot of that wiring work may be custom.

My advice take your dish with you and try to set it up.Before you call Directv
If you get stuck then call.They will bring you a new dish and you can keep your old one as a spare for tailgating or use it if a storm knocks the other one out of alignment.
eakes
06-08-09, 03:27 PM
I am a strong believer in DIY. I would not pay one red cent to wait for an unknown installer to show up at an unknown time to do unknown quality of work. When I do it, it meets my specification and satisfaction. If something goes wrong, I have no one to blame but myself!

You have the antenna, all you need is a little coax, some connectors and some amount of your time. When it is done it will be done right - by definition.

You only need to call Directv to change your billing address!
randyk47
06-08-09, 05:15 PM
I'm also a big DIY believer. I don't mind letting DirecTV do the "heavy lifting" of installing a dish, though even that I've done half of the time, but when it comes to running cables I'm DIY all the way. I know my house, I know how it is cabled, and I'd much rather take the time to do it the way I want it.
xmguy
06-08-09, 05:57 PM
I'm also a big DIY believer. I don't mind letting DirecTV do the "heavy lifting" of installing a dish, though even that I've done half of the time, but when it comes to running cables I'm DIY all the way. I know my house, I know how it is cabled, and I'd much rather take the time to do it the way I want it.

I agree. When I had DirecTV installed. I ran what Coax was needed. The rest I told the installer to connect to what existing coax and where.
Herdfan
06-09-09, 10:07 AM
Also, it seems tech are requried to update the software on you receivers. So if for some reason;) you don't want this software upgraded, then DIY.
LilCozyFab
06-09-09, 10:12 AM
Also, it seems tech are requried to update the software on you receivers. So if for some reason;) you don't want this software upgraded, then DIY.

That my friend is a great point since I'm apart of that one group that calls this place home.
Mertzen
06-09-09, 10:24 AM
Also, it seems tech are requried to update the software on you receivers. So if for some reason;) you don't want this software upgraded, then DIY.

Only on new boxes. And I know plenty of techs that don't wait around for a HD DVR to download and reboot.
randyk47
06-10-09, 06:27 AM
No kidding. My first HD DVR had to be "installed" by a tech. He stayed around long enough to unbox it and watch me hook it up in my AV stack. Once we had it all connected he called and activated the unit and left. He didn't stay around for any software upgrade and was in and out in a whole 15 minutes.
ThomasM
06-10-09, 05:37 PM
Well, since I bought all the cabling, dish, and receivers myself and installed same back in the "good old days" before leased equipment, I would recommend you do the move yourself. Especially after seeing one of the "professional installers" in action when I upgraded to my first R15. Watching him install a second cable run as fast as he could gave me a headache. I later redid the entire job to my specifications.

While the cable/hardware may cost you more than having DirecTV do it, don't forget you will get a new 2 year programming commitment if you have them do it. And you will be at the mercy of whoever they decide to send out.

Consider carefully!