Are you satisfied with the >INITIAL< installation of your new dish?

[Alexandrepsf]

Hi,

This is in no way to open another thread to nag about D*. Before I had my bad installation experience, I used to be satisfied with D*, but with what happened and the very bad interaction with Installers and D* (Specially the last 2 persons I talked to who were rude), I changed my mind. I am not happy with them, I think that D* is good as long as you do not have much interaction with them, as soon as you need them to do something, then you see all of their limits. And now I see that I am all in sudden vocal in this forum, like all the non satisfied customers of D*. :lol:

This being said, I think still that most of people had a good installation experience, so I thought it would be a good thing to give to the silent majority some voice by inviting them to just vote in this thread. You do not need to say anything. ;)

Let's just have a non scientific success percentage of the installation of the new dish 5LNB.

Just answer yes or no to the subject.

[HDTVsportsfan]

I can't vote. I had installed all of my dishes over ther the 11 years I have been with them previous to the 5-LNB. When I did get my upgrade all they had to do was mount the dish and peak it. I already had all the cable that I had previously installed myself of the years. I also had the pole w/ concrete in the ground. So I can't really help you w/ this poll.
Good luck.

I should add that when they did come out everything went fine. Now I'm debating if I should vote.

[Alexandrepsf]

I can't vote. I had installed all of my dishes over ther the 11 years I have been with them previous to the 5-LNB. When I did get my upgrade all they had to do was mount the dish and peak it. I already had all the cable that I had previously installed myself of the years. I also had the pole w/ concrete in the ground. So I can't really help you w/ this poll.
Good luck.

I should add that when they did come out everything went fine. Now I'm debating if I should vote.


Thanks no worries.

But did your box work well? I know there were some software glitch, but was it at least working? If your HD box was dead out of the box that counts as well as a bad installation experience.

My box died after 20 minutes, and now I am waiting and do not know when I will have a new box as D* is telling me that they are again in shortage.

[HDTVsportsfan]

My first upgrade was an H20-Non DVR-No problems.
10 months later I had 2 HR20's installed. One was DOA. He went and met another installer and came back as his last call and installed that one. I tipped well for that.
Specifically, I still have those original two. I have not had to format. I appartently am one of the "lucky" ones because I haven't had to to have a replacement or anything like that. A few RBR for both over the 6 months I've had them.
DO you factor in I don't use OTA, networking, or ViiV? I don't know.
But for basic functions. It has recorded everything and hasn't missed a SL or recording.
So I can't complain and I'm happy with them.

[Alexandrepsf]

My first upgrade was an H20-Non DVR.
10 months later I had 2 HR20's installed. One was DOA. He went and met another installer and came back as his last call and installed that one. I tipped well for that.
Specifically, I still have those original two. I have not had to format. I appartently am one of the "lucky" ones because I haven't had to to have a replacement or anything like that. A few RBR for both over the 6 months I've had them.
DO you factor in I don't use OTA, networking, or ViiV? I don't know.
But for basic functions. It has recorded everything and hasn't missed a SL or recording.
So I can't complain and I'm happy with them.

There you go, so another Yes. ;)

Thanks for the replies. Enjoy.

[HDTVsportsfan]

O.K. I voted yes. I didn't want to skew anything for you.

[GBFAN]

I voted yes. I installed all my own equipment since 1995. I let them install the 5LNB dish. The installer was very courteous and let me supervise the whole process. He didn't want to believe that he could mount it to the side of my house where the previous dish was but he eventually came to terms with it. My HR20 has been mostly trouble free. I have had a few of the glitches mentioned in this forum but have only had to RBR maybe 3 times since October.

[Alexandrepsf]

Oh no, that is fine.

I am not satisfied, but I am sure that most of people are, and I thought it would be a good thing to show that to people who are not sure if they should do the upgrade or not, specially by hearing all the horror stories of upgrades.

As I said in my thread regarding my experience, I wish I could say I had a good one too. ;)


Alex

[HDTVsportsfan]

Let me split some hairs and clog up this thread.
I was struggling w/ trying to figure out what YOUR definition of an installation was.

Cabling-No cabling
DIsh mounting/peaking
DOA HR20 etc.

That kind of stuff.
EDIT: An installation encompasses many factors.

[Alexandrepsf]

I meant, were you satisfied after the end of the upgrade.

When you first time sat in front of your TV after the upgrade, were you satisfied or were you disappointed (frustrated)?

My case: I was disappointed because the box did not work and the installer was rude and tried to charge me for something I was not supposed to pay for so I had to struggle to make sure they will not charge me for anything.

And after there was my interaction with D* that started well, but the last two operators (both supervisors) were bad.

So all in all, I am not happy that I tried to upgrade my system, because now I am with a non functional box, a huge headache and frustration of not knowing when I will get my box.

[HDTVsportsfan]

I gotcha. I'm sorry to hear you've had a hard time. I hope it gets better for you.

[BigSey]

I voted no because my lazy installer was a jerk. The box worked fine, after i went thru all of the set-up myself, but the guy definitely tainted the experience.

[Alexandrepsf]

Thanks man, hope so too.

[585960]

Yup satisfied. I did my own AT9, and 1000+, and all cableing. I ripped out the install that Huey, Louie and Dewey did.

[Groundhog45]

I have to give it a qualified yes. I had to argue with them to put the dish on the side of the chimney where all three previous dishes were mounted. It's a wood framed chimney with siding on the outside. Not all that hard to hit a stud at the corner. I called D* and the installer talked to his boss and they finally put it up after I signed on the install papers that I requested (insisted) the install on the chimney. I've got a strong signal and the only problem was during an ice storm last month when I lost signal for one day (several neighbors did also).

GH

[waynebtx]

I voted yes but it only a yes after they sent the installers back a 3rd time, first messed up all my cables second refused to clean up mess the 1st made, 3rd two installer came out and replaced all my cableing everthing has worked fine since then.

[glennb]

I installed my own 5LNB dish and HR20. I was very happy with the install. The installer did exactly what I wanted.

[HDTVsportsfan]

Did you tip him?

[bidger]

In all honesty, I'd have to vote no because my HR20 failed less than a month after the initial install. When the D* reps came out to troubleshoot, they did go on the roof and did something with the dish or the connections and the replacement unit has run fine for 4 months now.

I can't say for certain that whatever the second team did remedied whatever caused the first unit to fail, but they did something with the setup the first installer neglected, so I'd have to say I'm not satisfied with the initial install.

[carl6]

I've done all my own installs, including HR20 and AU9 Slimline. Perfectly happy with all results, and everything is working just fine.

But I don't think that is what this poll is really asking, so I haven't voted.

Carl

[Alexandrepsf]

Thanks for the participation in this poll everyone.

I was hoping to see a lower percentage though.

[Mike Bertelson]

Install went quickly. The installer seemed knowledgeable. Haven't had nearly the problems other people have had. I had 2 RBR's and that's all.

Hope I didn't just jinx myself......................

Mike

[jimb726]

Thanks for the participation in this poll everyone.

I was hoping to see a lower percentage though.

Yikes,:eek2: Why would you want more people to be unhappy with their installs?? If anything this should provide hope that there are actually installers out there who take pride in their work and do good jobs. Actually I would even guess that some of the people who said they were not happy with the install, were actually happy with the install, but were in the same boat as yourself, faulty equipment, which has absolutely no bearing on the install itself. the installer can only install whats given to him, if he or she does a professional install, is polite and courteous and basically does what he should, and then when the HR20 is taken out of the box and doesnt work, is than an install problem or is it a D* problem. I would argue that it is the latter not the former. The installer has no say in whether the box works or not.:nono: That being said, I feel for your situation, I think its ridiculous they wont let you go down to Best Buy and get a reciever and credit you the difference.

Good Luck,
Jim:)

[Alexandrepsf]

Yikes,:eek2: Why would you want more people to be unhappy with their installs??

Sorry, I meant lower percentage of unstaisfied.

[Alexandrepsf]

Yikes,:eek2: Why would you want more people to be unhappy with their installs?? If anything this should provide hope that there are actually installers out there who take pride in their work and do good jobs. Actually I would even guess that some of the people who said they were not happy with the install, were actually happy with the install, but were in the same boat as yourself, faulty equipment, which has absolutely no bearing on the install itself. the installer can only install whats given to him, if he or she does a professional install, is polite and courteous and basically does what he should, and then when the HR20 is taken out of the box and doesnt work, is than an install problem or is it a D* problem. I would argue that it is the latter not the former. The installer has no say in whether the box works or not.:nono: That being said, I feel for your situation, I think its ridiculous they wont let you go down to Best Buy and get a reciever and credit you the difference.

Good Luck,
Jim:)

Thanks,

I told them I know that some people just bought from BestBuy and they paid the difference but the agents I talked to (4 so far since I had this problem) refused to do it.

[AreBee]

My experiences all with one company have varied greatly over the last 6 years.

Install # 1: New install. Single LNB dish and one line. Grade: A

Installer was in and out in an hour.

Install # 2: Triple LNB dish and run one additional line. Grade: D

Installer used existing mast and couldn't hit 119 sat. He said I had to cut down a tree. I asked him to move the dish, but he refused saying it wasn't on the work order. He then tried to charge me $9 for extra cable I laughed at him.I refused to sign work order and the guy left. I had the triple LNB dish and the additional line, but no HD content. I called D* and complained. I received a $25credit and a new appointment free of charge.

Install # 3. Move Dish A+

Move went smoothly and I watched the installer run full tilt across the peak of my roof while being chased by bees. He got stung once and still did his job. Gotta give him an A+ just for the bees.

Install #4: HD Tivo and two additional lines. Grades F, F, F, B

Called a few days before install and rescheduled because we received over a foot of snow. The guy showed anyway.

Day of reschedule the installer pulled a no call-no show. I called D* and the installer claimed no one was home. I was washing my car in the driveway while waiting for him. Another $25 credit.

New reschedule date guy shows says the work order doesn't match and goes to check on a job 5 minutes down the road. Never comes back. A call to DirecTV finds him on his way home to NEW YORK! Another $25 credit and a few free months of premium programming.

Try number four is a success. Two lines run and HD TiVo hooked up. Elapsed time from first try about 4 months.

Install # 5: HR-20-700 and 5 LNB dish. Saturday 3/3/07. Grade: A

Swapped out masts and dishes. Installer got up on a roof that was just thawing from overnight freeze and never complained. Hung around to show me all the features of the DVR.

[1charmedlife]

Yep - my wife was home for the installation today, and my biggest fear was that they would disconnect my incoming digital cable, which is used for our internet.

Got home and everything works - the guy did a decent job and I'm surfing away. (though the installer apparently didn't speak much English and didn't read the sheet I'd left behind (along with leads for the optical toslink, phone and backup power, which he ignored).

Overall though - pretty happy with this!

[1charmedlife]

The installer put the new dish (5-LNB) up where the old one was, ran cable under the house, drilled a hole in the wood floor and brought in the cables.