New Service

[KingOfBling]

I have a question,we recently ordered a system and should receive it soon,im wanting to know when the installer comes out to install it who needs to be at the house to activate it ,or can we activate it when we get the package ? (Take out the cards and
activate them).

I talked to the company we ordered it from and they said that we would need to call dtv from our home phone or have them call us back on it to verify its our number.I asked them that question because right now me and my girlfriend are having problems with
the phone company regarding a mixup in them charging us for calls that we didn't make overseas,so they have froze our dialtone service until the account can be sorted out,we can still receive calls though.

I read that you can activate your service online and such.I remember one time i was at my uncles when he was getting service installed and all the installer did was install it and made sure the picture was on and left.


Also why did the company tell us that we are not to open the package that it can only be opened by the installer ? That seems
odd as we want to know we got what we orderd.

[PSB]

Its best for most folks not to open the box as many installs cant be done and it makes the return mailing easy! The systems must be activated when the installer is there or he wont be paid! You can activate online but that needs a phone line too! A cell phone would work, and they will give you 30 days to sort out your phone problem, but you will never hear from them again as long as you pay on time..........

[KingOfBling]

You can activate online but that needs a phone line too!


Thats no problem there i have a cable connection.



Its best for most folks not to open the box as many installs cant be done and it makes the return mailing easy!


What do you mean by that ?

[Jtater]

You would be surprised how many installs can't be done for various reasons. Some sites don't have a clear view of the birds, if you live in an apartment it's now a D policy that if the installer can't bond the ground to the service meter the installation can't be performed. I'm thinking you were asking about credit checks earlier on and stated you just had to pay a deposit. Make sure you have the required amount when the installer arrives cause your install can be cancelled for that reason as well. For every reason an install can be cancelled, there is a way to get around it, sometimes you just have to be inventive.

[Jtater]

Forgot to mention. You can activate prior to the installer coming, but there is good reason not to. Once a card has been activated it's permantly assigned to the person whos name it's listed under. D will not allow anyone to use a card that has been activated under someone else's account. I would advise that you do not activate the cards until an install has been performed, whether you perform that install prior to the tech coming isn't important, the tech won't care either as he will still get paid as though he did the entire thing, but will only have to check the integrity of the install, signals, and phone connections. To wrap up, if you activate the cards and for some reason the install can't be performed a few bad things will happen to you. First, you won't be able to return the system for a refund once the cards have been activated. Second, even though you never received service, you will still be obligated to the one-year contract you agreed to by activating the cards. Third, since you obviously won't be receiving service you will be subject to the early termintation fee of up to $100 for breaking your contract. Simply put, don't activate the system until the someone completes a good install, whether it's you or a tech doesn't matter. Not trying to preach, just trying explain why you would want to wait.

[KingOfBling]

You would be surprised how many installs can't be done for various reasons. Some sites don't have a clear view of the birds, if you live in an apartment it's now a D policy that if the installer can't bond the ground to the service meter the installation can't be performed. I'm thinking you were asking about credit checks earlier on and stated you just had to pay a deposit. Make sure you have the required amount when the installer arrives cause your install can be cancelled for that reason as well. For every reason an install can be cancelled, there is a way to get around it, sometimes you just have to be inventive.


Can you tell me if the single lnb systems point to the same direction as the dishes with the 3lnb's (phase 3),we have a few tall trees so i just wondered about that.My aunt who i bought the house from had dtv with the singal lnb dish and i was wondering if they pointed the same direction.

[Jtater]

The direction is generally the same. Unless the current dish is looking through a gap in the trees you should be just fine.

[PSB]

Its roughly the same direction (about a further 10deg to west,here) The main problem when trying to get a "line of sight" for a Phase III is that its pointing to three satellites and you need a clearance of about 30 deg. (180-215deg. here in St Paul, MN.) to make sure the install lasts a good few years before any trees get in the way. Its a real problem here as there are SO many mature trees here! Then people wont take your proffesional advice, one cust. kicked up hell with me on the phone the other day coz a Phase III would not work on his FOREST home : ) The hole place was under a canopy of trees, and he was saying the guy next door has a dish? He was right he had a dish, and it was mounted on the fence between the house's but it was not hooked to anything and it never has been pointing at anything as its right in front of a 100" tree!!!!!!! I feel sorry for these customers until they ask me if I can move the satellite over for them!!!!!!!! (it happens!)