Complicated Installation Questions

[BruceS]

I currently have 2 HD DVR's in the same room with two cables running to each, an internet connection to each, and Whole Home DVR service running over my home network.

I just placed an order to install an additional HD DVR and 2 additional HD receivers in three rooms which currently do not have any DirecTV cables installed. At the same time they are supposed to upgrade me to SWM and DECA.

It is currently 5/26 and the installation is scheduled for 5/29 in a 4 hour window.

My current HD DVR's are an HR20-700 and an HR21-200.

I have 2 questions.

1. Do you think 4 hours is going to be enough time to perform the complete install? The installer will need to change from a WB8 to a WB16 to support that many boxes. He will need to run cable to 3 rooms that do not currently have any directv receivers. Then he will need to add whatever filters and splitters that are needed for DECA and SWM. I am not sure whether my current dish is SWM compatible, so he may need to change the dish as well.

2. Since the install is scheduled for 3 days from now, what do you think the chances are that he will have the HD DVR and 2 HD receivers available as well? If DirecTV needs to ship them to me, they will probably not be available in time unless they pay for overnight shipping.

Interestingly enough, when I view the 2 order numbers for this in my account on the DirecTV web site, neither of the orders show anything about SWM or DECA. However, when I noticed this and called back to verify that they were to be installed at the same time, I was told that since Whole Home DVR was shown on my account, it should be done at the same time.

At least if he doesn't have the receivers with him, he can run the cables to the additional rooms and then use one of my current HD DVR's to check that the SWM and DECA connection(s) work well in each one.

[RobertE]

I currently have 2 HD DVR's in the same room with two cables running to each, an internet connection to each, and Whole Home DVR service running over my home network.

I just placed an order to install an additional HD DVR and 2 additional HD receivers in three rooms which currently do not have any DirecTV cables installed. At the same time they are supposed to upgrade me to SWM and DECA.

It is currently 5/26 and the installation is scheduled for 5/29 in a 4 hour window.

My current HD DVR's are an HR20-700 and an HR21-200.

I have 2 questions.

1. Do you think 4 hours is going to be enough time to perform the complete install? The installer will need to change from a WB8 to a WB16 to support that many boxes. He will need to run cable to 3 rooms that do not currently have any directv receivers. Then he will need to add whatever filters and splitters that are needed for DECA and SWM. I am not sure whether my current dish is SWM compatible, so he may need to change the dish as well.

2. Since the install is scheduled for 3 days from now, what do you think the chances are that he will have the HD DVR and 2 HD receivers available as well? If DirecTV needs to ship them to me, they will probably not be available in time unless they pay for overnight shipping.

Interestingly enough, when I view the 2 order numbers for this in my account on the DirecTV web site, neither of the orders show anything about SWM or DECA. However, when I noticed this and called back to verify that they were to be installed at the same time, I was told that since Whole Home DVR was shown on my account, it should be done at the same time.

At least if he doesn't have the receivers with him, he can run the cables to the additional rooms and then use one of my current HD DVR's to check that the SWM and DECA connection(s) work well in each one.

The 4 hour window is just for him to arrive, not to complete the job. So, if you have a 8-12 window, he can show up at anytime in that time frame. Without seeing your house, what existing cables are there to possibly reuse, where the rooms are in relation to where the switch goes it's going to be nearly impossible to say how long it will take.

However, figure on it taking 4-5 hours at least. 1 hour to run the lines for the new boxes and get them configured. 1 hour to swap over from the WB68 to SWiM16, then the last hour to shake out any issues. Thats my "best case" outlook. Could go quicker, but most likely will take considerably longer.

They shouldn't ship the boxes to you. He will bring them. He "should" also have all the needed parts. If he doesn't have him call his supervisor to find them BEFORE he gets started. You (and the tech) don't want a half completed install.

[BruceS]

The 4 hour window is just for him to arrive, not to complete the job. So, if you have a 8-12 window, he can show up at anytime in that time frame. Without seeing your house, what existing cables are there to possibly reuse, where the rooms are in relation to where the switch goes it's going to be nearly impossible to say how long it will take.

However, figure on it taking 4-5 hours at least. 1 hour to run the lines for the new boxes and get them configured. 1 hour to swap over from the WB68 to SWiM16, then the last hour to shake out any issues. Thats my "best case" outlook. Could go quicker, but most likely will take considerably longer.

They shouldn't ship the boxes to you. He will bring them. He "should" also have all the needed parts. If he doesn't have him call his supervisor to find them BEFORE he gets started. You (and the tech) don't want a half completed install.

Thanks, I thought it was going to take a lot longer than 4 hours for the install. At least if he needs to change the dish, it is mounted on a pole about 4 feet above ground level, so he won't need to climb on the roof for that.

Oh well, I will just need to watch that evenings baseball game either over the internet or my iPhone.

[dwcolvin]

I currently have 2 HD DVR's in the same room with two cables running to each, an internet connection to each, and Whole Home DVR service running over my home network.

I just placed an order to install an additional HD DVR and 2 additional HD receivers in three rooms which currently do not have any DirecTV cables installed. At the same time they are supposed to upgrade me to SWM and DECA.

It is currently 5/26 and the installation is scheduled for 5/29 in a 4 hour window.

My current HD DVR's are an HR20-700 and an HR21-200.

I have 2 questions.

1. Do you think 4 hours is going to be enough time to perform the complete install? The installer will need to change from a WB8 to a WB16 to support that many boxes. He will need to run cable to 3 rooms that do not currently have any directv receivers. Then he will need to add whatever filters and splitters that are needed for DECA and SWM. I am not sure whether my current dish is SWM compatible, so he may need to change the dish as well.

2. Since the install is scheduled for 3 days from now, what do you think the chances are that he will have the HD DVR and 2 HD receivers available as well? If DirecTV needs to ship them to me, they will probably not be available in time unless they pay for overnight shipping.

Interestingly enough, when I view the 2 order numbers for this in my account on the DirecTV web site, neither of the orders show anything about SWM or DECA. However, when I noticed this and called back to verify that they were to be installed at the same time, I was told that since Whole Home DVR was shown on my account, it should be done at the same time.

At least if he doesn't have the receivers with him, he can run the cables to the additional rooms and then use one of my current HD DVR's to check that the SWM and DECA connection(s) work well in each one.

It really isn't that complicated. Only 8 tuners on 5 IRDs. Typically, a SWM-LNB will be installed with a single wire (can use one of the existing 4) to an 8-way splitter at the WB8 location. From there, only single coaxes are required to each of the 5 receivers, plus another run to somewhere near your Broadband Router (if needed, since you already have Ethernet near the receivers... in the room with the two DVRs you could use 2 of the existing 4 to run the receivers, 1 to connect a DECA to the internet, and have 1 leftover). So the biggest effort may be running the 3 coaxes from the splitter to the 3 new rooms.

Success depends on how experienced the installer is with SWiM/DECA. :grin:

[evan_s]

If you don't mind me asking how much is this all costing you?

Normal price for a Whole home DVR conversion is 99$ + 49$ for the install and that is before adding any additional dvrs. The normal price for those is 199$ for the dvr and 99 each for the receiver. So at normal prices it should be almost 550$.

Just because you have the Whole home DVR enabled as unsupported using your home network doesn't mean an automatic conversion to a SWiM system with DECA from an install order for 3 new receivers. If there isn't a line item for the Wholehome DVR upgrade it's probably not going to happen.

[BruceS]

I am currently using a network switch in the room with the receivers connected to my router via wireless-N.

However, I do have a wired ethernet in the room about 15 feet from the switch.

Does the DECA connection to the internet need to be plugged directly into one of my routers or can I just use the switch?

[dwcolvin]

I am currently using a network switch in the room with the receivers connected to my router via wireless-N.

However, I do have a wired ethernet in the room about 15 feet from the switch.

Does the DECA connection to the internet need to be plugged directly into one of my routers or can I just use the switch?

The DECA connection to the internet can be attached anywhere. If you plan on streaming video via Mediashare from a computer in your home or using DirecTV2PC, you might want the DECA hardwired rather than wireless. For On Demand, Apps, 'phoning home', etc., the Wireless-N is fine.

[BruceS]

If you don't mind me asking how much is this all costing you?

Normal price for a Whole home DVR conversion is 99$ + 49$ for the install and that is before adding any additional dvrs. The normal price for those is 199$ for the dvr and 99 each for the receiver. So at normal prices it should be almost 550$.

Just because you have the Whole home DVR enabled as unsupported using your home network doesn't mean an automatic conversion to a SWiM system with DECA from an install order for 3 new receivers. If there isn't a line item for the Wholehome DVR upgrade it's probably not going to happen.
Looking at the orders under my account, it appears that I am being charged nothing for the 3 receivers.

They show free for each of the receivers and $49 plus tax for the install.

Of course, I have been a customer since DirecTV purchased PrimeStar, so that may count for something.

[evan_s]

That is another huge red flag. Having duplicate orders so they can get extra discounted receivers/dvrs usually results in the system automatically canceling one of them.

If I had to take a guess your installer will show up on the 29th with only the receivers from one of the 2 orders with the second canceled and nothing about a whole home dvr SWiM/DECA conversion. I hope you get what was promised but I think the CSR was mis-informed and trying to play games with the system that won't work.

[BruceS]

I will just wait and see what happens.

All the TV's are currently connected to TW cable, so if he doesn't bring all of the receivers, we will still be able to use the TV's.

[BruceS]

Naturally, I got called out of town on the scheduled install date, so I had to trust that my friend would meet the installer and make sure everything worked correctly.

When I got back today, both my old and new receivers seemed to work except they could not see all other DVR's.

Both my old HR20-700 and HR21-200 could see each other, but not the new HD DVR.

All of the new receivers could see each other, but not either of the old boxes.

When I check the network address on all of the receivers, the old ones are still on 192.168.1, my local subnet.

All of the new ones show addresses which start with 169.254.

I assume this means that what is missing is the DECA to router connection.

Is that correct?

[houskamp]

169 address means it didn't find a dhcp server.. so it isn't connected to your router

[BruceS]

I connected an ethernet cable from the powered DECA adapter to my network switch.

Now everything seems to work fine. All DVR's recordings are visible on all of the receivers.

The only thing I noticed was that the two recordings on the new DVR showed up immediately on both of the old DVR's, while the ones from the old DVR's did not show on any of the new boxes for a couple of minutes.

I assume this is because the old DVR's had many more recordings.