Getting DTV for the first time today, what should i expect?

[Michael000]

The installer should be here before noon to install DTV for the first time at my home, i was curious what i should expect. I ordered a 4 setup install (1 is just the wiring for now) with 1 HD box and 2 standard boxes.

1. Will i be receiving the 5LNB satellite?
2. What HD box will i be receiving?
3. How long should this take?
4. Will i be locked into the 2 years even if my service is sub par (if i were to have problems and techs came out and still couldn't fix it)?

I'm sure i'll have more questions but these are the ones off the top of my head.

I'm coming from Charter Cable who we've been with for 10+ years because they still refuse to offer any kind of HD or DVR in our area anytime soon (told me at least another year to rip up the optic cables and put in new ones). Tragedy really, i've had a Sony KDF-E60A20 (60" RP and our first HD TV) for about 5 mos and only recently got my first taste of HD content with a PS3 and blu-ray. Once i found out Charter was going to up our price (again) and still not offer HD i said to hell with it and started looking at satellite options (i've never been a big fan of satellite due to the lack of locals).

Honestly the only thing i'm worried about is if i get the right FSN programming. The lady swore up and down that in the Houston area that FSN (Fox sports) is included w/out ordering the extra sports package. Even if i do get it i'm worried i'll get the wrong regional games. I say that cause a friend gets satellite (dish network) and FSN but he gets the Mavericks and Rangers instead of the Astros and Rockets.

[carl6]

1. Yes, you should get the 5-LNB dish.
2. The H20 (if you just ordered a receiver) or the HR20 (if you ordered a DVR).
3. Two to four hours.
4. Yes.

Welcome aboard. Reading the forums you will find some people with problems, but keep in mind most subscribers do not have problems and enjoy their service very much. I think you will love what you end up with.

Carl

[kick4fun]

The installer should be here before noon to install DTV for the first time at my home, i was curious what i should expect. I ordered a 4 setup install (1 is just the wiring for now) with 1 HD box and 2 standard boxes.

1. Will i be receiving the 5LNB satellite?
2. What HD box will i be receiving?
3. How long should this take?
4. Will i be locked into the 2 years even if my service is sub par (if i were to have problems and techs came out and still couldn't fix it)?

I'm sure i'll have more questions but these are the ones off the top of my head.

I'm coming from Charter Cable who we've been with for 10+ years because they still refuse to offer any kind of HD or DVR in our area anytime soon (told me at least another year to rip up the optic cables and put in new ones). Tragedy really, i've had a Sony KDF-E60A20 (60" RP and our first HD TV) for about 5 mos and only recently got my first taste of HD content with a PS3 and blu-ray. Once i found out Charter was going to up our price (again) and still not offer HD i said to hell with it and started looking at satellite options (i've never been a big fan of satellite).

Honestly the only thing i'm worried about is if i get the right FSN programming. The lady swore up and down that in the Houston area that FSN (Fox sports) is included w/out ordering the extra sports package. Even if i do get it i'm worried i'll get the wrong regional games. I say that cause a friend gets satellite (dish network) and FSN but he gets the Mavericks and Rangers instead of the Astros and Rockets.

Well, I can't speak for everyone but I switched for the first time last March. So glad I did, because the programing and HD is wonderful. Depending on tree's and sight, you should have no trouble getting reception if the sight line is clear. If you have any issues with the installers, please call DTV and have them resolve the issue. You are right about getting FSNSW. I get that free living in Fort Worth. I get all the regional games because FSNSW is part of the programing package. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Michael000]

Well the DTV guys just LEFT. Apparently due to all the trees around there's no location to put the dish that would let us get the HD channels. With no HD there's no point in switching over from our cable, no point in wasting the special deal pricing for the first 12 mos.

Nice guys, they were straight up with me about the HD. When i asked about the new satellites going up later in the year they said maybe we'd be able to get the channels then, depending on their placement.

Words do not describe how pissed off i am at the moment :hurah:. Charter Cable may seriously end up being the reason i start looking at buying another home lol.

[rcoleman111]

Sometimes it depends on the installers. Some of them just don't want to go to any trouble to get your system installed. There are some very tall pine trees in my neighborhood that would block the line of sight to some of the satellites if the dish was mounted at ground level, but I'm getting them all with the dish mounted on the roof (the new satellites that are being launched this year will be in a location where the trees won't interfere).

The first installer who came out to upgrade my system to HD just mounted the dish on the side of the house where the old dish was located and let me discover after he was gone that some of the channels weren't coming in. The second installer spent a couple of hours on a ladder re-mounting the dish on the corner of the roof. If that hadn't worked, it might have been necessary to have it mounted on the other side of the house to get a better angle.

You could always get your own installer to give you another opinion as to what your options are. It might cost a little money to do that - it's just a matter of whether it's worth it to you to get the HD stuff.

[DawgLink]

You should have had some of those answered when you set up this appointment.

But you should get the 5-LNB dish and if not, they should come out when they get one and set it up. That is what they told me when they installed mine.

[Michael000]

Well from what they told me i'd be able to receive feeds from different satellites from different locations on the roofs (we've got a 2 story) but there wasn't 1 spot where we'd be able to get all 5 at once cleanly due to pine trees. The HD feed comes from the southwest (if the way they were pointing was any indication) and on the 2nd story it'd be blocked either by our pine tree or our neighbors. If it was mounted on the garage it'd be blocked by the tree in our culdesac and another in our yard.

Basically our house is a logistical nightmare, so i tend to believe that even if i go with another installer i'd get the same result. I briefly looked around earlier (it's raining) and we're pretty much surrounded by at least 2 story trees on all sides. I don't think you can go more than 15 feet around the perimeter without hitting one. The worst part is most of them are pine trees, and as everyone in texas knows these are worthless trees heh.

[DonCorleone]

Michael,

That's a real bummer...I feel for you. You get so excited about it coming, you're waiting for him to finish, and then to find out it can't happen is such a letdown. Sorry to hear it didn't work out.

[TigersFanJJ]

The worst part is most of them are pine trees, and as everyone in texas knows these are worthless trees heh.

Tell me about it. Besides all the worthless pine straw, you have to dodge the tops of them during hurricanes. :eek2:

[rcoleman111]

It sounds like some of the trees may be too close to your house if they are blocking the line of sight even from the second story. The trees in my neighborhood are over in the neighbors' yards, but they are definitely taller than two stories.