D* Install Question

[Brian]

If I order D*, are they willing to simply ship everything to me and let me take my shot at installing it? or do they demand and installer come out?

Thanks

-Brian

[JLucPicard]

Because there is some responsibility on their part that things are working properly (especially now under the "lease" model), they will require an installer be sent out. They generally don't even ship the equipment when you order - it is brought to the install site by the installers.

[sheridan1952]

That's what they told me when I wanted them to send me a DVR and I would hook it up myself. BUT, I read this on the website, so I will be questioning them again. But I think I know the outcome of that.

For full functionality, DVR requires connection of two (2) satellite inputs from a dual LNB DIRECTV System antenna, and connection to a land-based phone line. Professional installation highly recommended.

See, it says RECOMMENDED, not REQUIRED!

[carl6]

If you order a unit from a separate vendor on-line, or buy one and walk out the door with it at a brick and mortar store, then you can do your own install. If you order it directly from D*, then they will send an installer.

I'm not sure, but I think some of the retail stores now also require installation. You order what you want, but an installer will bring it out.

Carl

[sheridan1952]

I figured that, but my point was that it was on D*'s website that the statement was made. It's a bit misleading, I think.

There they are talking about the customer getting a DVR from them and then stating that professional installation was RECOMMENDED, but when you call, they say it is REQUIRED.

[Brian]

Thanks to all...

Also -- Does D* allow having a "Bill To" and a "Service" address that differ? Really no that big of a deal, but easier is always easier...

Thanks again

[Wolffpack]

Thanks to all...

Also -- Does D* allow having a "Bill To" and a "Service" address that differ? Really no that big of a deal, but easier is always easier...

Thanks again
Yes they do.

[JohnVT]

I figured that, but my point was that it was on D*'s website that the statement was made. It's a bit misleading, I think.

There they are talking about the customer getting a DVR from them and then stating that professional installation was RECOMMENDED, but when you call, they say it is REQUIRED.

So I guess that means I'll never expand my service from what I have now. The lease arrangement is just annoying, but I will do all installations myself... oh well.

[sheridan1952]

So I guess that means I'll never expand my service from what I have now. The lease arrangement is just annoying, but I will do all installations myself... oh well.


Not necessarily, you can get all your equipment from sources OTHER than D*, install it yourself and call for activation. Many of us do just that. You can get your equipment new from retailers, or new and used off of Ebay, which is what I have done several times.

[Skip Towne]

I do installs for an MSP and the equipment is shipped to the customer. Some people do their own installs but it is a risky proposition. And why pass up a free install? And, if you order a Hi-Def receiver with the AT-9 dish, you will tear your hair out trying to aim it. Hope this helps.

[sheridan1952]

Why pass on free install?

How about, I don't want my wiring run along the outside of the house and then have holes drilled though my walls?

How about, I don't want my antenna mounted on my roof?

There are other reasons, but that's what you get with a free install.

For some people, it is in their best interest to have their system professionaly installed. Not for me and there are others who feel the same way.

[TigersFanJJ]

If you have the knowledge and are capable of installing the system yourself (including properly grounding), then by all means go ahead and do it yourself.

On the other hand, if you have things all screwed up to where I have to sit there for an hour just trying to figure out what you did wrong, before I can start my install. Then it will no longer be free for me to install it for you.

[CCarncross]

Why pass on free install?

How about, I don't want my wiring run along the outside of the house and then have holes drilled though my walls?



SO run the wiring yourself, problem solved....but let them install the dish and terminate all the cables using good quality compression fittings.. that way if anything goes wrong, they have to come back out and fix it....

How about, I don't want my antenna mounted on my roof?


Where else do you want it installed that may not be included in a free install? Pole mount of course would cost extra, but you could have the pole sunk b4 hand if you chose provided you were able to find an appropriate place to put it for LOS..

Most could install Dual round or Phase III dish, but unless you have a birddog, or comparable meter, not many should even attempt an AT9 install....

[sheridan1952]

My point was...What I want is NOT included in a FREE install. Yes, I could do all of that beforehand, but then I've just done 95% of the work so I might as well complete the job.

But then that's me. I'm DIY kinda guy and I have years of experience in the A/V service field, so I'm very comfortable doing it myself.

Someone else's mileage may vary.

But I appreciate your response and viewpoint.

[Jhon69]

Why pass on free install?

How about, I don't want my wiring run along the outside of the house and then have holes drilled though my walls?

How about, I don't want my antenna mounted on my roof?

There are other reasons, but that's what you get with a free install.

For some people, it is in their best interest to have their system professionaly installed. Not for me and there are others who feel the same way.

How about,who ever told you that you have to accept shoddy workmanship?.
You are the customer,if they won't do it your way,tell him to take a hike!.I can't
believe that a potential customer,would put up with such crap.
When D*,came out to install my system,the 1st installer,tried to pull that crap on
me.This is what I told him,I am the customer,it's my way,or the highway!.I had to
cancel,my 1st order,my 2nd order was installed to my needs.Don't put up with crap,also if you don't have a birddog,even if you adjust your dish right,you still
won't have as high a signal,as with a birddog.A pizza dish,is not as forgiving as
CBand system,with a 8ft dish,it's a precise signal,that has to be adjusted precise,
or your system,won't perform to it's full pontential.Also,when a job is done right,
don't be afraid,to tip the installer.

[harsh]

This is what I told him,I am the customer,it's my way,or the highway!.This might have some impact if you were actually the installer's customer. In many cases, the satellite company is his customer and their requirements may differ substantially from your own expectations.

[harsh]

I'm DIY kinda guy and I have years of experience in the A/V service field, so I'm very comfortable doing it myself.We would all like to think that we can do anything that we put our minds to, but mounting antennas is really nothing like installing or repairing VCRs, receivers and televisions. My neighbor who worked as a technician for many years had his mounting plate punch a hole in his roof in a freak windstorm yesterday. He's now having misgivings about his decision to self-install.

Certainly, there is something to be said for the whole concept of DIY, but there are many issues involved and the layman might not consider. I've seen more than a few installations where there were no drip loops.

[sheridan1952]

I can appreciate that there are people out there that THINK they can do it and should not even attempt it. The comic strips are full of these kind of bumbling people, take Dagwood Bumstead and his attempts at plumbing repair.

But since you brought it up...
5668

5669

5670

This is the way my dish has been installed since 1998. Up to a week ago, it was a single LNB, now it is a triple. And I would NEVER mount anything to my roof.

And Jhon69, you completely miss my point. I have been all through this board and another forum and the definition of a FREE INSTALL is clearly defined and what I want does not fall into that definition. In fact, I would pay dearly for what I want done, so I do it myself.

I will say this, I installed the dish and had a good signal. When my DVR was delivered, the installer had very little to do as I had already done everything prior to his arrival. He went out there and hooked up his Birddog and tweaked the dish even more. In fact, it took an adjustment to the tilt, even though it was the specified settings.

[Jhon69]

This might have some impact if you were actually the installer's customer. In many cases, the satellite company is his customer and their requirements may differ substantially from your own expectations.

I went thru D*,the installer,even had his dispatcher call me,telling me they could'nt
do it that way.I called D*back told them what I needed,They rescheduled my
install.A different installer,working for the same company,came and completed my
install.My way........:D

[Claus]

Hi sheridan1952,
Nice to see you using T&B Snap-N-Seal compression connectors, they are my favorite. Let me ask you why is your dish so high from the roof?
Claus
I can appreciate that there are people out there that THINK they can do it and should not even attempt it. The comic strips are full of these kind of bumbling people, take Dagwood Bumstead and his attempts at plumbing repair.

But since you brought it up...
5668

5669

5670

This is the way my dish has been installed since 1998. Up to a week ago, it was a single LNB, now it is a triple. And I would NEVER mount anything to my roof.

And Jhon69, you completely miss my point. I have been all through this board and another forum and the definition of a FREE INSTALL is clearly defined and what I want does not fall into that definition. In fact, I would pay dearly for what I want done, so I do it myself.

I will say this, I installed the dish and had a good signal. When my DVR was delivered, the installer had very little to do as I had already done everything prior to his arrival. He went out there and hooked up his Birddog and tweaked the dish even more. In fact, it took an adjustment to the tilt, even though it was the specified settings.

[sheridan1952]

I believe at the time, (it was 8 years ago), I probably figured clearance from the roof was a good thing. It really isn't that high. It's about 3' - 4' above the edge of the roof, I can reach it easily with an 8' ladder.

Of course, now I'm thinking that if I need to, I can move the OTA antenna from the attic and place on the mast under the dish. I did that with a friend's installation several years ago. Maybe that's what I had in mind when I put the mast up back then.

Hi sheridan1952,
Nice to see you using T&B Snap-N-Seal compression connectors, they are my favorite. Let me ask you why is your dish so high from the roof?
Claus

[Jhon69]

I can appreciate that there are people out there that THINK they can do it and should not even attempt it. The comic strips are full of these kind of bumbling people, take Dagwood Bumstead and his attempts at plumbing repair.

But since you brought it up...
5668

5669

5670

This is the way my dish has been installed since 1998. Up to a week ago, it was a single LNB, now it is a triple. And I would NEVER mount anything to my roof.

And Jhon69, you completely miss my point. I have been all through this board and another forum and the definition of a FREE INSTALL is clearly defined and what I want does not fall into that definition. In fact, I would pay dearly for what I want done, so I do it myself.

I will say this, I installed the dish and had a good signal. When my DVR was delivered, the installer had very little to do as I had already done everything prior to his arrival. He went out there and hooked up his Birddog and tweaked the dish even more. In fact, it took an adjustment to the tilt, even though it was the specified settings.


I apologize if I missed your point.
I just don't want people thinking they have to accept cables,running along their
house,with a hole drilled thru the wall.That was my point.To DIY,is becoming a
vanishing tradition,with free installs.But as long as people know they need a
birddog put on their system,and RG-6,cable,that's been swept tested,3GZ,to
help their system work it's full potential,all the rest is down hill.

[sheridan1952]

Thanks for the response, I apologize if I came off a little strong. I've had other people try and berate me for doing it myself, like it's some sort of secret inner circle and no one other than a qualified installer should touch it.

(Cue the Monty Python secret masonic handshake)

To acknowledge your side of it, as I said earlier, the installer that came out to deliver my DVR tweaked my dish for me and I am delighted with the numbers. 90's on 101 and in the high 80's on 110 and 119. So I appreciate the value of someone qualified and with the right toys. To be fair, I could never justify the cost of a Birddog meter for myself.

Thanks for taking the time.

I apologize if I missed your point.
I just don't want people thinking they have to accept cables,running along their
house,with a hole drilled thru the wall.That was my point.To DIY,is becoming a
vanishing tradition,with free installs.But as long as people know they need a
birddog put on their system,and RG-6,cable,that's been swept tested,3GZ,to
help their system work it's full potential,all the rest is down hill.

[Wolffpack]

I just don't want people thinking they have to accept cables,running along their house,with a hole drilled thru the wall.
Unless you're willing to pay time and materials (I was told back in MI that it was $125 even to go in the attic) that's all DTV provides. Now that I'm out in AZ, unless you're in a house that was pre-wired with a distribution center, your lines are run outside the house. No attic, no basement.

I was lucky as mine had 5 RG6 lines going to the SAT dish mount point and at least 1 RG6 going to every room. 3 to the Family Room entertainment nook and two to a couple of rooms.

[sheridan1952]

I spent several very uncomfortable hours in my attic (in Houston) running my wiring. As my existing system was 8 years old and I was going to add new outlets, I decided it would be in my best interest to go ahead run all new RG6 SCCC throughout. I still have bruises from laying across the rafters to get where I needed to go. (Not to mention the wonderful fiberglass!)

I would not ask anyone else to do that, and I'm sure it would have been expensive.

[harsh]

He went out there and hooked up his Birddog and tweaked the dish even more.I'm a little surprised that the installer didn't comment about your grounding. I guess he didn't want to stir anything up.

[sheridan1952]

I'm a little surprised that the installer didn't comment about your grounding. I guess he didn't want to stir anything up.

Everything is grounded to a 6' copper rod in the ground. What do you see or don't see?

[Jhon69]

Unless you're willing to pay time and materials (I was told back in MI that it was $125 even to go in the attic) that's all DTV provides. Now that I'm out in AZ, unless you're in a house that was pre-wired with a distribution center, your lines are run outside the house. No attic, no basement.

I was lucky as mine had 5 RG6 lines going to the SAT dish mount point and at least 1 RG6 going to every room. 3 to the Family Room entertainment nook and two to a couple of rooms.

I guess I was lucky then,D*,went under my house for free,after I called them up
and told them what I needed.

[harsh]

Everything is grounded to a 6' copper rod in the ground. What do you see or don't see?I don't see a single wire running from each of the grounding block terminals directly to the ground rod clamp (bonding point). It would appear that the siamesed ground wires follow the cables indoors, but the picture gets kind of hazy under the eave. Those siamesed ground wires should also be connected to the bonding point, not the ground blocks.

[sheridan1952]

The grounding blocks are bonded to the mast, the mast is is grounded at the base to the ground rod.

What is the difference between the the grounding blocks and the bonding point? Since they are connected, they should have the same potential.

[Claus]

Mr. Sheridan 1952,
You should know that if you post picture of your install, people will bring out magnifying glass! He he, sorry about that! It may have it but I don’t see it, a #6 ground wire from ground rod to house ground. Prefer less than 20ft long.
Claus

[sheridan1952]

Yeah, I should have seen that one coming. House ground, the electrical panel is about 50' away. There is the plumbing, but that is in the attic.

Mr. Sheridan 1952,
You should know that if you post picture of your install, people will bring out magnifying glass! He he, sorry about that! It may have it but I don’t see it, a #6 ground wire from ground rod to house ground. Prefer less than 20ft long.
Claus

[harsh]

What is the difference between the the grounding blocks and the bonding point? Since they are connected, they should have the same potential.This is true in the all-copper low voltage DC world, but the NEC is concerned about issues like electrolysis and static electricity. When everything is the same material, it isn't an issue, but when you're connecting a copper rod and clamp to a galvanized steel or anodized aluminum pole and finally a nickel plated pot metal enclosure, all bets are off. What you have there is, quite literally, a low potential battery.