New (well to the whole thing)

[Sebastian]

We just moved into our new (well to us) house a week ago. I have never had a DBS system. I'm planning on getting DirectTV. The offer that expertsat has right now seems pretty good, 3 rooms, tri-lnb and directivo for $69. I'm this | | close to pushing the order button. I'm still waffling over whether to do this or go to circuitcity. Yes they are more expensive and they aren't offering the same deal. The only reason I would is that they are offering a $75 store card and I got a TIVO for x-mas from circuitcity that I would need to return.

The cable install thats in the house is an ugly job, no wire fishing just straight punch ins from outside. Should/can I go ahead and pull the wire where I want the 3 units? If so would it be ok if I left bare wire. I am the worst cable crimper there is. Is it feasable to have 1 wire come into the basement, ground there and feed the rest of the house from that point. The directivo will need 2 feeds?

What would happen if I wanted to add a second directivo? I have a feeling that the wife will fall in love with it and the fight will be coming soon over use of it.

I guess what I am asking is it ok for me to pull the wire? To a central spot where the installer won't cuss me. Idea for that spot? Could I get a second directivo for cheap? Should I go ahead and do it now or replace it later?

[boba]

You will need to bring four cables from the Phase 3 dish into basement/crawlspace or attic which ever you wish to use as the common location for cables to start from. I would suggest running 2 cables to each location you are planning on having a satellite receiver. If you add a second TiVo you will need an 8 way multi switch because you will need five feeds if you have 3 units and two are TiVo. Through the end of Feb DirecTV's promotion allows you to buy a 40 gig TiVo for less than $100 so most markets have a $99.99 price.

[Sebastian]

4 wires from the dish? Wow I thought there would only be one. So i'm guessing that I should run standard RG6 in the house (2 min to each room?). I assume that the installer will do the drops from the dish. If not should I use RG6 with grounding wires on each of the 4 drops from the dish. I was hoping to bring the inside runs to near the electric panel so the outside drops could be grounded easily. I truly such at crimping coax would the installer freak if I ask him to crimp all the runs that I do?

[Chris Blount]

Hi Sebastion and welcome to DBSTalk! :welcome_s

Boba is correct. You will need at least 4 runs coming from the Dish for a 3 room system (2 for the DirecTivo and 2 for the other rooms).

Personally, I would get DirecTivos for all the rooms that need them. Once you use a DirecTivo, you will wonder why you even bothered having a regular receiver without recording capability. You might as well since you will be paying the $4.99 per-account DVR fee. That fee is added whether or not you have 1 DirecTivo or 5 so go ahead and have the 8 way switch installed now if you have the funds.

Also, if you really want to run your own cables, that's okay but you might want to consider the installer doing all the work. Since you are a new customer you can take advantage of the lower costs involved in a new installation.

It's up to you but Circuit City might be your best choice since it's local and easily accessible if you have problems.

[Sebastian]

Thank you for the welcome. The reason I was going to pull wires inside my house was that there are limits to what is free with the free install :) To be honest i'm anal ;) I was just hoping to make it the least painless on me and the installer.

[Chris Blount]

Thank you for the welcome. The reason I was going to pull wires inside my house was that there are limits to what is free with the free install :) To be honest i'm anal ;) I was just hoping to make it the least painless on me and the installer.

That sounds good. I would probably do the same thing. :D

[Sebastian]

OK last question. Alright last question for today.

The 8 way switch? Thats 4 in and 8 out? I've seen prices all over the place for these. $50-$60 for 5x8 switch (checked on expertsat and rapidsat.com). Is that right? Arre all switches the same?

[markh]

You'll have to make sure the switch is cascadable with the built in switch in the triple LNB dish. I don't think every switch has that capability. The 3 LNB dish has 4 outputs, so it's good for running 4 regular receivers or 2 DirecTiVos.

[Sebastian]

OK I finally ordered directly from DirectTv. Yes I know I am slow, but I found out that we didn't have access to the attic. We do now and cable has been fished.

I must say that the ordering process was funny (well I have patience and a morbid sense of humor). I call and tell them I want; 3 rooms installed, 2 directTivo's, 1 standard reciever and tripple LNB. I was told sorry we can't do that. I was suprised. Why can't I? New customers can only get 1 tivo. I asked how I could get a second tivo. I have to wait until the install and when I order my service package I can order a second Tivo then. I ask for a manager same story. This logic went in circles for a while. It was like a bad "who's on first sketch". It all boiled down to the system could only allow 1 tivo per new customer. Anyways I am happy to be getting my system, after spending 5 hours at the DMV anything is enjoyable.

[AHallenberg]

OK I finally ordered directly from DirectTv. Yes I know I am slow, but I found out that we didn't have access to the attic. We do now and cable has been fished.

I must say that the ordering process was funny (well I have patience and a morbid sense of humor). I call and tell them I want; 3 rooms installed, 2 directTivo's, 1 standard reciever and tripple LNB. I was told sorry we can't do that. I was suprised. Why can't I? New customers can only get 1 tivo. I asked how I could get a second tivo. I have to wait until the install and when I order my service package I can order a second Tivo then. I ask for a manager same story. This logic went in circles for a while. It was like a bad "who's on first sketch". It all boiled down to the system could only allow 1 tivo per new customer. Anyways I am happy to be getting my system, after spending 5 hours at the DMV anything is enjoyable.

I want the same set up you want to have. Are you ordering just the one Tivo and one standard reciever to begin with and then you are calling them back and having the second Tivo sent to you? What about the install on the second Tivo will they do it when they install the initial system?

[Sebastian]

I want the same set up you want to have. Are you ordering just the one Tivo and one standard reciever to begin with and then you are calling them back and having the second Tivo sent to you? What about the install on the second Tivo will they do it when they install the initial system?


I ordered 2 standard recievers and 1 tivo. The processing person that I ordered through did tell me that I may want to call customer services at the end of week and see if they could swap out one of the standard reciever with the second tivo I wanted.

I believe that ordering through Tivo everything is included. I asked if I order a second tivo then I would need a larger switch etc. I was told that when the second tivo arrived everything that I needed would be included and I would have to schedule a second install appointment. Please take this with a huge grain of salt, since I have never had sat service.

[jwwahly]

No they are right.If you order from D* themselves then the installer has this on his/her workorder,and the multiswitch is included.But the one thing you want to make sure of to make it easy for everyone is make sure you have the installer run all four wires from the dish to one common area or when you get the second tivo the next guy will have to redo all of it so that he can hook up the 8-way switch.

[Sebastian]

Well I got the phone with customer service. The reason I could not order 2 DVR's at once was that you are only allowed to order 1 DVR per year from Direct. I guess I will call back again and try my plea one more time to a different CSR. If not I guess I will be going to the local retailer.

Any thoughts on what model or who to get another DVR from if Direct doesn't come through?

[cnsf]

I got the 4X8 switch for free when I got the additional Tivos. They throw it in for the install. i.e. if you order a new Tivo, they have to provide the signal to it if installation is included......