AT-9 Self Install

[TMullenJr]

I have my HR20 on the way, but D* said the first available install date is 10/17th! I've always done my own installs, and the only reason I was having them do it is because it was free. All of my cabling is in place, as is the WB-68. I installed a bunch of the original 18" oval dishes, and a few of the phase III dishes without any issues.

My question is how much more difficult is the AT-9, and can anybody recommend where I can pick up the dish?

[KungFool]

I just installed the AT-9 myself, and although it takes a while to fine tune, if you have 2 people and a walkie talkie or phones, it's not so bad.

It took me about 20 minutes to put up and about 45 to zero in. I had my friend sitting down on the receiver watching the signal meter and followed the install instructions to the T as far as fine-adjustment and such.

Both tuner's signal meters are at 96%, and the proper transponders on the Ka satellites are > 82%, some as high as 92%. You will get weak signals on a lot of the Ka transponders, as they are being beamed to other locations.

If you don't have a second person, I would highly recommend a signal meter, as it does require a much higher degree of accuracy than the old single/double lnb dishes (I can't speak for double/triple lnb oval dishes, as I've never installed one).

Hope this helps.

[HDNut]

I am getting mine installed tomorrow by Directv's installers, and it will include the multiswitch because I upgraded an old DTC100 receiver with the new H20. I have seen the dish for sale on line at various sites with prices quoted between $97 and $150 plus about $30 for S&H. Did you ask Directv for a free install? I would say that since you purchased your own HR20, you should be entitled to a free dish install. By the way, I am wondering whether the new multiswitch is compatible with the old 10-250 HD Tivos since the new dish and multiswitch use band stacking instead of voltage and tone for porarization and sat selection.

[litzdog911]

Check out these installation videos and decide if you want to tackle it yourself ....
http://www.solidsignal.com/dtvkuka/

[NVTanner]

I installed mine two weeks ago with no problems. Great signal strength from all three sats and was better signal compaired to my old series III I had on the rooftop.

The one time I ever had a custom installation I ended up removing and reinstalling myself and I learned alot from that experience. Since then I have installed a several FTA dish's and even one dish and 7 LNB's so that made the new AT9 a piece of cake!

[edpowers]

I installed mine two weeks ago with no problems. Great signal strength from all three sats and was better signal compaired to my old series III I had on the rooftop.

The one time I ever had a custom installation I ended up removing and reinstalling myself and I learned alot from that experience. Since then I have installed a several FTA dish's and even one dish and 7 LNB's so that made the new AT9 a piece of cake!


How long did it take you to install? Did you use a signal meter? If so, what model? Would you say it was much more difficult than installing a phase III?

[mazter]

I'ts really not that hard. Just follow the directions from the solid signal website that Litzdog pointed out and you should be fine. I don't recommend using the reciever as the signal meter. You should get one , you don't need anything super special , like the birddog. Stay with something simple like the accutrac II or other branded meters which are just about the same. Good luck!

[69RoadRunner]

I've considered this, but since I need a new, expensive, multiswitch, I guess I'll let DirecTV do it and then fix it if it's not aimed correctly.