DPP44 Switch Physical Location

[marcarnold]

Hey folks, I just recently discovered dbstalk.com and have learned a bunch in the last couple of weeks. Just had a 622 installed a few days ago and have a question. I live in the St. Louis area. The installers put a DPP44 switch in the system, but to tell you the truth, what they did looks kind of rinky-dink to me.

This is my first post, and the forum will not let me post a link to a pic, but it is here:

www | the-arnolds.net | dish1.jpg

As you can see, they have the switch simply balanced on a corner on the roof, essentially hanging from the cables. They are coming out this Wed to try and fix the fact I have no sat 118 (FSNMW, ch 418, etc. does not come in). Is it advisable to have the switch exposed to the elements like this? Shouldn't it be mounted more securely?

[James Long]

http://www.the-arnolds.net/dish1.jpg

Uggh! That certainly looks like it needs fixing to me. The switch can be placed outside although one would normally do that with drip loops that would lead rain away from the connectors not into the switch. I'd much rather see the switch on the back of the dish or (better yet) under the eves of the house with the four LNB cables running there.

[marcarnold]

Thank you very much for posting my link, James, and that is what I thought. I am an engineer and when I saw this the next day (they did the install at night) I was astonished.

[Stewart Vernon]

Yeah, same goes for the other switch I see there hanging just to the right of the big switch. Maybe I'm spoiled by the local guy here who does a really good attention-to-detail job and hides as much stuff as he can while securing things neatly... but that does look especially poorly done.

Usually even the folks who don't think enough to do the drip-loops, at least they secure the switches to something and don't leave them floating like that.

[jarvantgroup]

Hey folks, I just recently discovered dbstalk.com and have learned a bunch in the last couple of weeks. Just had a 622 installed a few days ago and have a question. I live in the St. Louis area. The installers put a DPP44 switch in the system, but to tell you the truth, what they did looks kind of rinky-dink to me.

This is my first post, and the forum will not let me post a link to a pic, but it is here:

www | the-arnolds.net | dish1.jpg

As you can see, they have the switch simply balanced on a corner on the roof, essentially hanging from the cables. They are coming out this Wed to try and fix the fact I have no sat 118 (FSNMW, ch 418, etc. does not come in). Is it advisable to have the switch exposed to the elements like this? Shouldn't it be mounted more securely?

You'll definitely have problems with water running into the switch. Moreover, it looks like the installer put the dish on the part of your roof that is over your interior ceilings and not over the eave of your house. Make sure that the installer sealed the penetrations or you'll have issues with leaks. :icon_cool

[Jim5506]

If Dish arranged the install, I'd email the picture to ceo@echostar.com and see if they'll send somebody out to fix it. Lotsa problems with this install.

[nismo]

In addition, non of the connections (including what appears to be a Holland brand diplexer) have rubber grommets to seal out the rain. Definitely some potential problems. Its hard to tell from the photo but the dish might not be grounded either. The switch should be mounted in a way where the cables are faced at 4 and 8 o'clock to carry rain away from the connections. I'd also check to see if black bishops tape was used under the foot of the mast.

[DishSubLA]

That install is without question a complete mess and one that Dish would never consider a proper install. Dish would consider that install to be completely unsatisfactory. I have spoken with several Dish company installers who have told me that they spend a lot of time fixing crappy installs (mostly indie retailers--but there are some great retailers out there) just like that abomination left on your roof. In fact, Dish company installers are often appalled at the mess and poor workmanship of the installs they have to clean-up.

The last upgrade install that my aunt had (all new LNBF's and two new DP34 switches) was from Dish company installers, and few days later a Dish company install supervisor made arrangements to personally inspect the work of the Dish installers. He said the company is trying to make sure that Dish employees do proper installs. I saw the original two Dish company installers as they worked, and they did everything right, even drilling the 2 switches under the eaves neat and sealing the connectors. A beautiful neat job. Dish has to something about the number of bad installs out there.

[marcarnold]

I would like to thank all who have responded to my first post on here.

The dish was there prior to the swap over and I have no leaks, so that is a good thing.

They are coming back out tomorrow and I now have a good idea of what should be done to correct the installation.