HR20 install 'checklist' questions

[ExCavTanker]

I'm scheduled for a HR20 and slimline dish upgrade tomorrow. I know the basics of what to look for as this isn't my first upgrade, but what is new is the HR20. I have read of some issues of the tuners and possible BBC issues. What I need to know is what items on my 'checklist' must I make sure are functioning properly before letting the installer leaves my property?

[skoolpsyk]

Great question! One that I, and I'm sure many others would like to know as well!

[carl6]

Make sure the HR20 is hooked up and working on all channels you are subscribed to, including HD locals. Check satellite signal strength and make sure that at least one transponder on either 99 or 103 has a strong signal (some or all of the others may be low or zero, but at least one should be good and strong). Make sure most transponders on 101, 110 and 119 have a good signal.

Make sure the installer installs the b-band converters, two small gray boxes that hook to the back of the HR20, and the coax from the dish connects to the bbc's. Many installers leave them off, but they are supposed to be on.

If you are having more than one receiver installed, make sure they all work properly.

Check that the installer cleans up after himself, does not leave boxes, cable trimmings, etc., laying around. Check the routing of the coax and make sure it is neat. Make sure the dish is grounded, and that the coax goes through a ground block on the outside of your house where it enters the house.

Carl

[Volman]

What if you don't receive any MPEG4 yet?Can you tell if the install is good for MPEG4 even if you don't get HD locals yet?There must be a way to test it.
Are monopoles usually installed?Thanks.

[ExCavTanker]

Make sure the HR20 is hooked up and working on all channels you are subscribed to, including HD locals. Check satellite signal strength and make sure that at least one transponder on either 99 or 103 has a strong signal (some or all of the others may be low or zero, but at least one should be good and strong). Make sure most transponders on 101, 110 and 119 have a good signal.

Make sure the installer installs the b-band converters, two small gray boxes that hook to the back of the HR20, and the coax from the dish connects to the bbc's. Many installers leave them off, but they are supposed to be on.

If you are having more than one receiver installed, make sure they all work properly.

Check that the installer cleans up after himself, does not leave boxes, cable trimmings, etc., laying around. Check the routing of the coax and make sure it is neat. Make sure the dish is grounded, and that the coax goes through a ground block on the outside of your house where it enters the house.

Carl

Thanks,

The installers here and guess what, he brought Murphy with him. Between my next door neighbor's very large maple tree and my very large maple tree, I am currently hosed for the 99 and 103 signals. After I calmed down, I asked him if he can set the dish so that the only thing in the way is my tree, which he is doing. I won't lose any of my current programming and I'll have the HR20 installed when he leaves. I have a call into a local tree trimmer to see if they can get here for a quote while the installer is still here so he can show them exactly what's in the way, if not I'll have to use my memory:). The obvious thing is, with no signal, there's going to be no way for him to verify that the dish is correctly aligned for everything which will necessitate a return trip for the installer as I won't sign off on the ticket that it's complete until it actually is.

[Chuck W]

Thanks,

The installers here and guess what, he brought Murphy with him. Between my next door neighbor's very large maple tree and my very large maple tree, I am currently hosed for the 99 and 103 signals. After I calmed down, I asked him if he can set the dish so that the only thing in the way is my tree, which he is doing. I won't lose any of my current programming and I'll have the HR20 installed when he leaves. I have a call into a local tree trimmer to see if they can get here for a quote while the installer is still here so he can show them exactly what's in the way, if not I'll have to use my memory:). The obvious thing is, with no signal, there's going to be no way for him to verify that the dish is correctly aligned for everything which will necessitate a return trip for the installer as I won't sign off on the ticket that it's complete until it actually is.


That's interesting that you can get 101 but not 99 or 103, since they are so close. I have an install tomorrow, to replace my 3 LNB dish. My 119 signal is in trouble these days, due to the ever growing branches of a massive tree. I'm having a tree pruner come in, but not till next month. So I'm gonna have the installer, like you, align the Slimline, as best he can.

I get 50+ on transponder 22 on 119 now. That is my worst reading of all of them, so it's not horrible. It's just that when the wind blows, depending on how overcast it is, I end up with an occassional dropout. Unfortunately 119, transponder 22 is what WABC-HD and FOX5NY-HD are on :(

[ExCavTanker]

That's interesting that you can get 101 but not 99 or 103, since they are so close. I have an install tomorrow, to replace my 3 LNB dish. My 119 signal is in trouble these days, due to the ever growing branches of a massive tree. I'm having a tree pruner come in, but not till next month. So I'm gonna have the installer, like you, align the Slimline, as best he can.

I get 50+ on transponder 22 on 119 now. That is my worst reading of all of them, so it's not horrible. It's just that when the wind blows, depending on how overcast it is, I end up with an occassional dropout. Unfortunately 119, transponder 22 is what WABC-HD and FOX5NY-HD are on :(


I'm writing this with smoke coming out of my ears, basically a wasted day off from work. The installer has bailed off the work site. As I mentioned before there were two trees in the way, the neighbor's which is towards the 99deg sat and mine which would be blocking the 119deg. I have a tree trimmer scheduled to come out this afternoon, but now that the installer is gone I won't really know for sure if he get's them all unless I have them take way more than is probably needed.

The first red flag of the install-He had to do a pole install and it left quite a bit of the pole above the ground, and I looked and didn't see any quickcrete dust on the ground, I asked him if he used it and he said "oh yeah, it isn't going anywhere". I was highly suspicious about that but let him continue, it also appeared the pole had quite a bit of wobble to it as it he was adjusting the dish and I said wow, that's got quite a bit of wobble to it, he replied "there's nothing I can do about it", I said what about building up a base of quickcrete above ground and/or add some bracing to the pole, he said I can only brace it on the roof and didn't even acknowledge about building up the quickcrete above ground.

Red flag #2-He was having a hard time getting any signals locked in using his Bird Dog sat signal meter, I asked him why wasn't he using the Acutrac meter, he didn't really answer, so I then asked him will the Bird Dog check the signals of the 99 and 103 sats, he said no, hmmmmmm. So I guess my question there is, is it really necessary that they use a meter to check those two sats or is setting the dither between 101 and 119 sufficient?


After calling his supervisor, he said I can't proceed with the install, took down the dish AND removed the pole from the ground, guess what, NO QUICKCRETE! I confronted him about why he lied to me, after staring at me for a few seconds, he said"I guess I owe you an apology". I told him I don't have any signal and he said I'll go hook that back up. I came back in the house and while my wife was talking to him, he said "I gotta go" and left without hooking my existing line back up.


UPDATE: I just off the phone with the supervisor who is going to stop by within a 1/2 hour to discuss the install. I'll keep you updated.

[ExCavTanker]

Thanks,

The installers here and guess what, he brought Murphy with him. Between my next door neighbor's very large maple tree and my very large maple tree, I am currently hosed for the 99 and 103 signals. After I calmed down, I asked him if he can set the dish so that the only thing in the way is my tree, which he is doing. I won't lose any of my current programming and I'll have the HR20 installed when he leaves. I have a call into a local tree trimmer to see if they can get here for a quote while the installer is still here so he can show them exactly what's in the way, if not I'll have to use my memory:). The obvious thing is, with no signal, there's going to be no way for him to verify that the dish is correctly aligned for everything which will necessitate a return trip for the installer as I won't sign off on the ticket that it's complete until it actually is.

I need to correct one thing in my post and that is that I would NOT have my 119 channels until the tree trimmer cleared them out if the installer would've proceeded (I had to make sure I cleared the neighbor's tree for the 99/101/103 sats), which I was willing to do just to get the HR20 installed, but as I just posted, no go on that either.

[compnurd]

The Birddog meters are supposed to be better then the Acutrac meters.

If you have good signal on the 101, I cant see the 99 and 103 being blocked

[MikeR]

I'm scheduled for a HR20 and slimline dish upgrade tomorrow. I know the basics of what to look for as this isn't my first upgrade, but what is new is the HR20. I have read of some issues of the tuners and possible BBC issues. What I need to know is what items on my 'checklist' must I make sure are functioning properly before letting the installer leaves my property?


Here are some additional install tips (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=694781&postcount=1) compiled by milominderbinder2

[mcbeevee]

What if you don't receive any MPEG4 yet?Can you tell if the install is good for MPEG4 even if you don't get HD locals yet?There must be a way to test it.
Are monopoles usually installed?Thanks.
Have to wait on new HD channels in Sep or HD LIL's to test the 99/103 sat's. I'm getting some signals on 99/103, but it is probably fringe spotbeams from Nashville or Atlanta. The monopoles are required with the 5-lnb dishes. :)

(ps - nice userid :righton: )

[ExCavTanker]

The supervisor showed up and was very polite and professional. I updated him on the situation, he also did a LOS survey (with a different device that he actually looked through, very slick and was able to confirm the exact limbs that need to be trimmed). I explained the pole deal and how the installer flat out lied to me, I told him I don't want him back. I also mentioned he was only going to run one more cable to the HR20 vs two new cable runs and that it was unacceptable to me, he indicated they would run two new cables and they would quickcrete the pole in and do whatever is necessary to make sure it won't wobble. The tree trimmer is coming this aft so 'hopefully' this install will still happen today, but I'm not holding my breath.

[ExCavTanker]

Here are some additional install tips (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=694781&postcount=1) compiled by milominderbinder2


Thank you, that is exactly what I wanted. I 'thought' I had seen that checklist in the past but wasn't able to locate it on a search.

[Volman]

Have to wait on new HD channels in Sep or HD LIL's to test the 99/103 sat's. I'm getting some signals on 99/103, but it is probably fringe spotbeams from Nashville or Atlanta. The monopoles are required with the 5-lnb dishes. :)

(ps - nice userid :righton: )
Thanks for the reply.You need to add "Vol" to your userid!Gotta get this install done right before Sept.1st.I figured the monopoles would be included.Installer comes today.

[mcbeevee]

You need to add "Vol" to your userid!
I use "mcbeeVol" on some of the sports forums, but decided to use the original id on non-sports forums.

http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9149&stc=1&d=1184866513

[ExCavTanker]

Even though the thread was hijacked, I'll bring it back on topic.


I was lucky enough to find a tree trimmer to come out and take care of the offending branches and more just to be sure. He had to go about 35' up to get to them and while I didn't plan on having to hire a tree trimmer as part of this upgrade it was worth it as my signals went from the 50's to the upper 80's and low 90's and there was NO way I was climbing up there with a chainsaw.


I called the supervisor to update him and he said he would be sending another installer from another town in my County in about an hour. The installer was there in about 1 1/2 hours, now for the best part, he spent over 5 ours and completed one of the finest installs I have ever seen for D* or E*, he took an extra step to install a small piece of metal on the bottom of the pole so it wouldn't turn and he used quickcrete!!!

His wiring was extremely clean and very well routed. He also did the trick of running cables into the ground from the dish through the angled support masts and then back up through another to the side of the house where the MS was installed so a weed trimmer can be used around the pole without cutting the wires.

He indicated he had a degree in electrical engineering and he was also very personable as I talked with him quite a bit during the install. Through conversation, I found out he was basically as they say in the hitman world, "the cleaner". He's the guy that comes in to fix the other installer's mistakes. He said he's six months from a nursing degree and won't be doing installs anymore. The funny part was he said the guy that was at my house in the am was the 'group leader', though it was obvious that the new guy forgot more than the first guy will ever know. I tipped the guy $25 and called his supervisor today and told him of the fantastic job the installer did and wanted to make sure the installer was recognized for his efforts at the company level.

Oh, more thing, HD DVR ROCKS, I don't know how I lived without it!!!!!!!!