HR20 availability in Atlanta?

[wanderingheel]

I have an appointment scheduled for September 18th - however, CSR was unable to verify if the HR20 was going to be available for installation at that time in Atlanta. I'm keeping the appointment in case - CSR was going to contact the local offices on Tuesday to validate, but I was wondering if anyone else had any information for the Atlanta market?

Thanks in advance...

[nhlfan79]

Ordered last week (details in main CSR thread). Originally was told to call back the second week of September. But, after receiving the Best Buy email over the weekend, I called back this morning and was told basically that for right now the HR20 is only available through Best Buy and that the local installers do not yet have it in hand. I was told to try back next week.

[dan8379]

Ordered last week (details in main CSR thread). Originally was told to call back the second week of September. But, after receiving the Best Buy email over the weekend, I called back this morning and was told basically that for right now the HR20 is only available through Best Buy and that the local installers do not yet have it in hand. I was told to try back next week.


Exactly the same for me. Was told that Best Buy had exclusive rights until "at least" Sept 11. But then she said that it still might not be available to order until the end of of Sept, first of October.

[laxcoach]

I have an install setup for 9/8 in Atlanta. My guess is that it will not happen because they need the 40' ladder and they never bring it the first 10 times they come to my house.

[dan8379]

I have an install setup for 9/8 in Atlanta. My guess is that it will not happen because they need the 40' ladder and they never bring it the first 10 times they come to my house.

And you ordered directly through D*? This is frustrating...I have verified three different times that I have notes on my account to get it for 19.95, but I can't get anyone to order it for me...

[laxcoach]

And you ordered directly through D*? This is frustrating...I have verified three different times that I have notes on my account to get it for 19.95, but I can't get anyone to order it for me...

Yes. Here is what happened with me. I ordered one of the eBay units last week and immediately called for a dish upgrade. They scheduled that for 9/8. When D* pushed the ship date out to 9/13, I got a refund on my eBay unit and called D*. I told them that I wanted to change my dish upgrade and got transferred to something like "install tech" or "install support"; I'm not sure what the exact name was.

So, I told that guy my situation and I said that I live in the middle of the city and I cannot pickup local OTA with this dumb HR10. I wanted him to either get me a HR20 or a H20 (to hold me over) because if I want to see NFL games in HD. He told me HR20 wasn't available, and I told him I thought it might be because D* sent me an email on 9/1 at 7:01PM saying it was. Anyway, he double checked and said he could schedule an HR20 install.

Mind you, I was really nice the whole time. I didn't really bargain. When he said it was available he asked me "what was the price you were going to pay the authorized dealer?" I laughed and said I won't answer that. He told me the price was $399 and then I told him $299 and he matched it. I could have tried to bargain, but I just want locals in HD on a DVR.

Personally, I think the reason I got the install date was because 1-I already had an install date and I got to a diff dept. 2-I am an "a list" customer which means I spend too much money. 3-I used the NFL card. 4-I complained about HR10 OTA tuner (nicely). 5-I complained about HR10 slowness (nicely). 6-I whipped out the email date time to the second.

[laxcoach]

Just an update: They installed my new AT9 on 9/8 and brought a HR20. I had gotten another one at BB for my bedroom and installed it the night before. So, I now have 2 HR20s in Atlanta.

I do have a word of warning. The installers were very nice, but had no knowledge whatsoever. The "tech supervisor" insisted that my 4x8 multiswitch was fine and that I didn't need the 6x8. The normal tech thought I was right, but the supervisor wouldn't budge. When he hooked up the 2nd HR20, it wouldn't tune to the local HDs because I had HR20 #1 already tuned to local HD. At that point, the tech supervisor insisted that there was a tree blocking one of the sats and that I have to live with it. When I showed him my other receiver, he relented and installed the 6x8 switch. That solved the problem.

[mikeny]

Just an update: They installed my new AT9 on 9/8 and brought a HR20. I had gotten another one at BB for my bedroom and installed it the night before. So, I now have 2 HR20s in Atlanta.

I do have a word of warning. The installers were very nice, but had no knowledge whatsoever. The "tech supervisor" insisted that my 4x8 multiswitch was fine and that I didn't need the 6x8. The normal tech thought I was right, but the supervisor wouldn't budge. When he hooked up the 2nd HR20, it wouldn't tune to the local HDs because I had HR20 #1 already tuned to local HD. At that point, the tech supervisor insisted that there was a tree blocking one of the sats and that I have to live with it. When I showed him my other receiver, he relented and installed the 6x8 switch. That solved the problem.

Good for you! I'm glad you you got them to swap your switch with the WB68 before they left because I had 2 missed appointments where they were scheduled to come back after they neglected to do so with the original AT9 install. The installers do not want to pick up such a small job where they get nothing (for an incomplete install) or little. I think that's why they decide not to make your job a priority for that given day.

My mpeg-4 channels were actually working with the 4X8 installed but when you would tune to them, the screen would often briefly turn white, pink and pixelated. The WB68 cured this.

[nhlfan79]

D* processed my order this morning and I have an install date of 9/21. I wish it was sooner!

[dan8379]

I also ordered mine today, install on the 23rd. Sounds like they've received official notification that it's ok to order now nationally.

[Smthkd]

Mine is scheduled for the 19th!

[tpreed]

I have an appointment for Friday 9/15 in the afternoon...

Not sure if it is for HR20 but the Directv customer service person told me since it also includes the 5 LNB dish she is almost sure it is the HR20.

Also, I need a new multiswitch for my third DVR in the house but it wasn't listed on the order...any ideas? Should I call Directv back or just hope the install guy has the multiswitch on the truck? If he does is that an added charge?

[f300v10]

My 'install' is also set for the 23rd. I had pre-ordered with BeachAudio at the $250 price but cancelled when they failed to ship on the 11th. Really glad now that didn't work out, D* came through for me at $19.95. I have had the AT-9 dish since last Nov.

[cmoss5]

I have an appointment scheduled for September 18th - however, CSR was unable to verify if the HR20 was going to be available for installation at that time in Atlanta. I'm keeping the appointment in case - CSR was going to contact the local offices on Tuesday to validate, but I was wondering if anyone else had any information for the Atlanta market?

Thanks in advance...

Called retention department, getting my HR20-700 installed on Saturday
morning 09/16/2006 in Tucker (just outside of Atlanta) as already have the
5 LNB as had the H20 installed in another room in Feb of this year and
the HR20 will replace my H210-50 that is going south as hangs up a lot
nowadays...costing me $19.95 for handling for the HR20-700..just have
to sign up for 2 years as no problem as have had for over 5 years...

[cwalton1]

For those who are still wanting to purchase the HR20 now and not wait on VE, just got back from the Best Buy in Buckhead and they are getting a shipment in tomorrow (Friday) with more devices. I went ahead and "pre-ordered" one with them while I was in store. Not sure if other stores are getting them in or not. Called D* when I got back and scheduled a free installation for 9/18.

[Greendragon]

Cwalton;

Are you talking about the new store at Lindbergh Plaza? I went in there this evening around 6:30 and was told that it would be next week before they got any.

[cwalton1]

Cwalton;

Are you talking about the new store at Lindbergh Plaza? I went in there this evening around 6:30 and was told that it would be next week before they got any.

The same one. I talked to sale rep in their Magnolia room and looked on the computer and said a shipment was arriving on Friday and to go ahead and preorder one with him. I am going by at lounch today to pick it up. I will let you know if they arrived.

Craig

[deltadave]

Hey all - Ordered 8/25 and got the HR20 installed 9/07. With D* for 5 years. Paid $19.95 for S&H and that was it. STILL waiting on them to comeback out and put up my 5LNB but that is another long (very long) story.
dave

[dervari]

Ordered on 9/13 and installed on 9/17. NE Atlanta in the Northlake Mall area. YMMV depending on what part of town you live in. Retention gave me a $19.95 deal for the HR20 and installation.

[Guindalf]

I'm in Habersham County but get Atlanta locals. I called Friday evening and my install is scheduled for Saturday.

I had to pay $99 for the upgrade, but I'm getting 4 months free HD, and six months each of SHO & HBO for a total of $2.00.

Interestingly, though, there was no S&H charge.

[Rugged]

called on Saturday, Sep 16 and install is schedule for Saturday Sep 30th...they had the 25th avail but I can't take the time off from work.

I'm concerned about the size of the new dish. does anyone have links/pictures?

[nhlfan79]

Had my install today. New dish went in fine, once the installer realized his signal finder was training on a Dish Network satellite. He couldn't figure out why it was detecting a signal and my receiver was showing zero. So, a 30 minute delay there.

Well, we then plugged in the HR20 and it was DOA. Never detected 99 or 103, but picked up the three others. Of course, the installer didn't have a second one in his truck, so he's gonna have to come back tomorrow when he's in the area and bring a new one. Pretty frustrating, I guess. WAF is slipping downward rapidly, regardless of the $19.99 deal I got through retention.

[tpreed]

called on Saturday, Sep 16 and install is schedule for Saturday Sep 30th...they had the 25th avail but I can't take the time off from work.

I'm concerned about the size of the new dish. does anyone have links/pictures?

Check out Solid Signal they have install manuals and videos...

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?main_cat=02&CAT=&PROD=AT59

[nhlfan79]

Follow-up: The installer left me high and dry yesterday. No replacement HR20, no phone call, no returning MY phone calls. I'm ticked. I have a dead HR20 in a box in the corner of my living room, a deactivated SD TiVo (where my HD TiVo was being moved to, so no service at all on that tv at the moment), and my old 3 LNB dish sitting on my patio because the installer never took it with him when he left the first time. GRRRR!

I've called Mastec (1-877-889-7880) and left them a message. I've also let retention know about the issue. This sucks.

[nhlfan79]

Apparently, it gets worse. Not only did the installer not come out as promised, but according to retention, I signed off on the original work order to show that it was completed. He flat out forged my signature on the work order so he could get paid! Needless to say, they heard it from me and I filed a formal complaint against the installer (Oh, Matt, where are you???). Retention set up a new work order with a head tech to come out this Tuesday to double check his dish installation and bring me a functioning HR20. They'd better, because they're now down to their last straw. This is no way to treat a five-heart customer.

[dan8379]

Well, my install scheduled for today had to be rescheduled because they didn't have any HR20's available. So I'm rescheduled for next Saturday...hopefully that will turn out better.

[Aspec]

MasTec installed me on 9/22/06. HR20 works fine, but installer can not find the 119 satellite. Says it could be a tree in the way. But my phase III saw 119 with no problems.

Installer was super nice, but I am not buying the tree story. Called D* and thery are sending someone else tommorow to check. Is Mastec the only company in Atlanta that is D* authorized? I'm wondering if I'll get MasTec again.

[nhlfan79]

With all the comments that there are no more HR20s available, I'm very concerned that my follow-up install won't happen tomorrow. Will post what happened.

I've been dealing with MasTec this whole time. Almost makes me miss Ron's TV.

[nhlfan79]

OK, I'm long past anger and now am laughing at my predicament. Retention sent a "service tech" from MasTec out this morning who said he was not authorized to bring me a new HR20 because he can only activate them on new installs or upgrades, but not for defective-box swapouts. He tried calling the original installer (who works for a subcontracter of MasTec) and had no more luck contacting him than I did. So, a call back to retention now means that D* will have to FedEx me the new box in a couple of business days. Just in time to miss the last few days of the baseball season in HD. Darn.

Long story short, the service tech told me that the original installer committed a multitude of terminable offenses and pretty much assured me he will be fired (his words, "I'd be fired if I did any *one* of these things"): (1) the substandard workmanship on the dish install; (2) not using support beams on the AT-9 mast for my steep roof install; (3) drilling multiple holes in my brand new roof for an unnecessary dish relocate simply because he didn't know how to locate the right satellites; (4) leaving his installation debris strewn all over my patio and landscaping; (5) falsely closing my work order, despite the DOA HR20, by forging my signature; and (6) calling ahead to say he was 15 minutes away and then not showing up for another hour-and-a-half, and then calling the next customer on his list from my house to say he'd be there in 15 to 20 minutes but not leaving my house for at least another half hour.

In fact, they are sending the president of the local installation company out to take pictures of the mess. The tech told me not to touch a single thing, so that they'll have documentation for why he's being terminated.

I just have the worst luck, but I'm at peace with my apparent bad karma because I'd go insane otherwise.

[Guindalf]

OK, I'm long past anger and now am laughing at my predicament. Retention sent a "service tech" from MasTec out this morning who said he was not authorized to bring me a new HR20 because he can only activate them on new installs or upgrades, but not for defective-box swapouts. He tried calling the original installer (who works for a subcontracter of MasTec) and had no more luck contacting him than I did. So, a call back to retention now means that D* will have to FedEx me the new box in a couple of business days. Just in time to miss the last few days of the baseball season in HD. Darn.

Long story short, the service tech told me that the original installer committed a multitude of terminable offenses and pretty much assured me he will be fired (his words, "I'd be fired if I did any *one* of these things"): (1) the substandard workmanship on the dish install; (2) not using support beams on the AT-9 mast for my steep roof install; (3) drilling multiple holes in my brand new roof for an unnecessary dish relocate simply because he didn't know how to locate the right satellites; (4) leaving his installation debris strewn all over my patio and landscaping; (5) falsely closing my work order, despite the DOA HR20, by forging my signature; and (6) calling ahead to say he was 15 minutes away and then not showing up for another hour-and-a-half, and then calling the next customer on his list from my house to say he'd be there in 15 to 20 minutes but not leaving my house for at least another half hour.

In fact, they are sending the president of the local installation company out to take pictures of the mess. The tech told me not to touch a single thing, so that they'll have documentation for why he's being terminated.

I just have the worst luck, but I'm at peace with my apparent bad karma because I'd go insane otherwise.

This isn't an install from hell, it's standard practice!

Actually, that's not fair. There are some good intallers out there, but there are some really bad ones too! My install this past Saturday went fairly smoothly apart from the fact that he didn't have a multiswitch on the workorder, so he wired the two HR20s directly to the AT-9 and the HR10 to the old 3LNB dish. He left the box from the AT-9 for me to dispose of as he said his trash collecter would charge him. He left two bare connectors hanging from the old dish. He wasn't able to activate the HR20s (not his fault, D* picked 6pm on a Saturday to perform system upgrades so the computers were down!). He NEVER collected my signature. He did give me his cell number and told me to call if I had problems :nono2:

I'm away on business until later in the week so I won't know how well the boxes are performing 'til I get back. Wife is already saying that her soap was virtually unwatchable yesterday, but no complaints since (I'll talk to her later this evening for an update).

[nhlfan79]

FedEx came today with two boxes! Unfortunately, they're duplicate empty boxes in which to ship back the dead receiver. So no replacement HR20 today...

[hdtvfan0001]

FedEx came today with two boxes! Unfortunately, they're duplicate empty boxes in which to ship back the dead receiver. So no replacement HR20 today...

They say "Somebody Up There Loves You...in their ad....

...I guess you must not be one of them though. What a a string of bad luck unfortunate timeing, and falling in the cracks of bad CSR support. I'd be on the phone demanding all sorts of "pain and suffering" compensation from the retention department...

[nhlfan79]

In fact, they are sending the president of the local installation company out to take pictures of the mess. The tech told me not to touch a single thing, so that they'll have documentation for why he's being terminated.

The beat goes on. Four days later and no-one from the local installation company has contacted me or returned any of my numerous phone calls. It's obvious they have no intention of resolving my issues or chronicling the mess, like I was promised. I hate to call retention yet again, but I'm out of options.

I'm now eight days after my original installation and I still don't have a properly installed dish or functioning HR20.

[Guindalf]

Well, I got a service call today after a messy install last week. The tech installed the missing multiswitch (Zinwell W68) and removed the old 3LNB dish. Everything seems to be working ok for now.

[nhlfan79]

I got my replacement HR20 yesterday. Hooked it up this morning and it seems to be working just fine, even the maligned caller ID. *IF* it can work reliably, it will obsolete my HD TiVo pretty quickly.

Also, I was just talking on the phone to the wife, and call waiting clicked in. By the time I clicked over, I heard the second half of an automated message from the installer. All I heard was that the "...technician will arrive between 8 AM and 12 PM." I have no clue what day though!

[nhlfan79]

According to the wife, two installation supervisors are at my house right now chronicling the shoddy install and fixing all of my problems. Right off the bat, THEY noticed a problem I hadn't even complained about, namely, the aesthetically poor job the original installer did of running the wires into my attic. They were sticking up everywhere and hadn't been bundled together. I'm having them take our digital camera up to the roof to take close-up pics of all the holes the original guy drilled. I'm also having them check to see whether he even mounted the dish into a stud rather than just the plywood sheet, and whether he bothered to ground the dish and tighten all the bolts.

Maybe I'll post some before and after pics later.

[feeth]

I have a replacement install for sunday. Worked out a deal yesterday to replace my R-15 and H20 with a HR20.