Startup costs

[rucknrun]

Why does direct tv still charge so much at startup? I spent 500 to get my direct tv hooked up. 300 for the startup and 200 for a damn pole in my backyard. Other then that I love it!!

[tommyb]

What equipment did you receive? It is hard to say without knowing. Was pole mount necessary for you to receive signal? I have heard of a few installers in this area (for both D* and E*) scamming people with the "You can't get signal anywhere but right here, so you will need a pole mount" line. They then pocket the profits!!

[rucknrun]

What equipment did you receive? It is hard to say without knowing. Was pole mount necessary for you to receive signal? I have heard of a few installers in this area (for both D* and E*) scamming people with the "You can't get signal anywhere but right here, so you will need a pole mount" line. They then pocket the profits!!

That could have been the case but I have tons of tree's around my house.

I got an HD DVR, a regular DVR and a regular box.


He charged me 200 to mount the pole. Maybe I did get taken advantage of.

[gulfwarvet]

:welcome_s


really depends on what type of equipment you ordered? and what type of package you chosen? and how good your credit is? (hence they do run credit checks)

*EDIT* now i seen your setup, it seems more fishy on the $200 pole install

normally i seen this for New subs:
$299 for a HR20 (if you chosen) but normally for $199 after instant/rebate
1st (or 2?, been to long too remember) month paid in advance.

but $200 for a pole install? it better be made out of gold then. normally, the install is free.

[RobertE]

Why does direct tv still charge so much at startup? I spent 500 to get my direct tv hooked up. 300 for the startup and 200 for a damn pole in my backyard. Other then that I love it!!


$200 for a pole mount seems a bit high.

While it may vary from HSP to HSP, our pole mounts are free if its for a line of sight issue. IE, there is no place to put it on the house. However, if we can put it on the house and you don't want to, then there is a charge. $75. Did your installer bury your line? If so, he may have charged your X amount per foot to dig and bury. Lots of variables here.

[CCarncross]

I never thought that pole mounts were free since they arent considered a standard install. If it takes 3-4 hours of work to do right, with concrete and all, $200 isnt that unreasonable. If most people who really needed pole mounts had a site survey done to locate where the pole mount needed to be for LOS, and did it themselves ahead of time, then I agree it should be considered a standard install, except for the burying of the 4 cables from the dish to the house.

[generalpatton78]

I never thought that pole mounts were free since they arent considered a standard install. If it takes 3-4 hours of work to do right, with concrete and all, $200 isnt that unreasonable. If most people who really needed pole mounts had a site survey done to locate where the pole mount needed to be for LOS, and did it themselves ahead of time, then I agree it should be considered a standard install, except for the burying of the 4 cables from the dish to the house.

I had primestar way back in the day and they had a Sat very similar to the 5 lnb. I've used that massive pole for every sat I've had (5 of them counting primestar) and the installers are always happy to see it.:D

[paulman182]

Evidently, the cost of a pole mount varies area-by-area.

Mine was free. The total cost of all my receivers, 2 dishes, 600 feet of RG/6, five phone jacks and install was about $150, and I'm getting a second HR20 for $22 this week. The largest part of the cost was a $99 H20 from Circuit City.

[rucknrun]

I sent an email to Direct TV and they said they were going to look into it. I guess I will see what happens. Installing the pole was not that much work, It is only about 6 feet tall. They just pounded it into the ground.

[JLucPicard]

Never had a pole mount myself, but from what I've read here, if they just pounded it into the ground I'm guessing you will have problems in the not too distant future - especially when you start getting ground freeze. My understanding is that all pole mounts should have a hole dug and be anchored in the ground in concrete. Too much chance for movement just pounded into the dirt. I would mention what they did to D* if you haven't already.

And I really think you got soaked if you paid $200 for a that type of pole installation.

[aim2pls]

many many factors figure into a pole mount .... in some parts of the country .. digging a 3ft (example) hole can take 15 minutes ... New England (especially) .. HOURS aka "how do you find a rock in New England" >>> stick ashovel inthe ground" ... trenching is a whole other issue

[rucknrun]

many many factors figure into a pole mount .... in some parts of the country .. digging a 3ft (example) hole can take 15 minutes ... New England (especially) .. HOURS aka "how do you find a rock in New England" >>> stick ashovel inthe ground" ... trenching is a whole other issue

2 hours maybe. His trenching technique was using a shovel and putting the wire under the grass. He didn't dig in real deep.

[DawgLink]

I didn't find my startup costs to be TOO bad.

It did cost a good amount by on the whole, it was worth it.

Techs did their jobs and I have not had to return anything

[bonscott87]

I would have put the pole in myself. $30 for the pole and maybe $10-$20 for the cement. After that it's just labor. But then I have the ability to do it myself. If I didn't I would have been willing to pay maybe $100 and a case of beer.

[rucknrun]

I would have put the pole in myself. $30 for the pole and maybe $10-$20 for the cement. After that it's just labor. But then I have the ability to do it myself. If I didn't I would have been willing to pay maybe $100 and a case of beer.

I should have. I called and asked them about why my free installation was $200. Finally I got to the company that does the installation and they manager said he should have charged me $50 maybe for the time to bury the cable. He said I am going to get my money back and he is going to suspend the installer.

I just got a call from the installer. I hope he doesn't start harassing me. I just want to get on with enjoying the service and get past being screwed on installation.

[Dwrecked]

The Scoundrel!

Did he put a gun to your head and force you to write the check? No?

Well then he must have stolen one of your checks and forged your name. Didn't do that either? Hmmm.


Maybe he used "the Force" on you and persuaded you to agree to the pole mount fee. (I hear it only works on the weak minded.)

Regardless, This guy has got to pay! Don't stop at getting him suspended. A real customer would not be happy until he was fired!!!

[ozonedan]

I never thought that pole mounts were free since they arent considered a standard install. If it takes 3-4 hours of work to do right, with concrete and all, $200 isnt that unreasonable. If most people who really needed pole mounts had a site survey done to locate where the pole mount needed to be for LOS, and did it themselves ahead of time, then I agree it should be considered a standard install, except for the burying of the 4 cables from the dish to the house.

I assumed the pole mount was free. I had a D* installer out here several months ago to deliver a new R-15. I asked him about where he would mount a new 5 lnb dish? He said they don't do wall mounts but would do a pole mount. I also assumed they would do a wall mount if the house was BCS with stucco. I was surprised by his no answer.

[rucknrun]

The Scoundrel!

Did he put a gun to your head and force you to write the check? No?

Well then he must have stolen one of your checks and forged your name. Didn't do that either? Hmmm.


Maybe he used "the Force" on you and persuaded you to agree to the pole mount fee. (I hear it only works on the weak minded.)

Regardless, This guy has got to pay! Don't stop at getting him suspended. A real customer would not be happy until he was fired!!!


My intention wasn't to get him in trouble but just to make sure I paid a fair price. He is the only one that caused the problem. I wrote the check because I was excited about getting my service.

[CobraGuy]

The Scoundrel!

Did he put a gun to your head and force you to write the check? No?

Well then he must have stolen one of your checks and forged your name. Didn't do that either? Hmmm.


Maybe he used "the Force" on you and persuaded you to agree to the pole mount fee. (I hear it only works on the weak minded.)

Regardless, This guy has got to pay! Don't stop at getting him suspended. A real customer would not be happy until he was fired!!!

Let me tell you what...if he charged me $200 to pound a pole in the ground, I would be after his butt big time. I would sure like to see the final invoice he submitted. I'll be very interested to see if there's anything on it about the pole. So now the guy got ripped off plus has no recourse when the pole comes loose because there's no record of the installation. $200 to pound in a pole. Give me a break.

[White_Horse]

When we had our AT9 installed the installer said to us if you bury the cable, I won't charge you for the pole, otherwise it will be $75 for the pole. We of course said no problem, we'll bury the cable.

[rucknrun]

When we had our AT9 installed the installer said to us if you bury the cable, I won't charge you for the pole, otherwise it will be $75 for the pole. We of course said no problem, we'll bury the cable.

I would have done the same thing.

[joe diamond]

Rucknrun,

If the installer was an employee of the installation company you would write the check to the installation company for an amount set by the installation company. ($200.00 seems real high) but he was using company materials and being paid wages.

If the installer was a contractor the deal was between you and the installer. The installation company can "suspend" him but can't make him give you your money back. (@200.00 still seems high) He was using materials he paid for and was being paid a set price for the installation.

My charge for a steel pole in concrete with ten feet of dual cable dug in is $75.00. I use two dollars a foot for digging in additional dual cable.
The most expensive pole I ever did was a 6x6x 20 ft beam with eight bags of concrete, four feet in the ground and about fifty feet of two dual cables/$320.00.

$200.00 seems high.

Joe

[rucknrun]

Rucknrun,

If the installer was an employee of the installation company you would write the check to the installation company for an amount set by the installation company. ($200.00 seems real high) but he was using company materials and being paid wages.

If the installer was a contractor the deal was between you and the installer. The installation company can "suspend" him but can't make him give you your money back. (@200.00 still seems high) He was using materials he paid for and was being paid a set price for the installation.

My charge for a steel pole in concrete with ten feet of dual cable dug in is $75.00. I use two dollars a foot for digging in additional dual cable.
The most expensive pole I ever did was a 6x6x 20 ft beam with eight bags of concrete, four feet in the ground and about fifty feet of two dual cables/$320.00.

$200.00 seems high.

Joe

If you are dealing with the recent slimline 5LNB dish and need to dig in
two dual cables the $200 may be fair.......you have to actually dig a trench and you need two bags of concrete.

I just figured $200 seemed like a lot for FREE installation. I probably should have told him no and asked to have another installer come out but I paid him.

He didn't dig a real trench, just kind of shoved the cable under the grass, and he used no concrete.

[bonscott87]

No concrete is bad, very bad. You *have* to have that pole in concrete. First good rain followed by strong winds will knock your pole off plumb for sure without it.

[joe diamond]

Yup,
Somehow the pole has to be kept from rotating.....dent it with a real big hammer....and then use the same hammer to pound in the concrete. The pole must be plumb. With one or two cables (dual) the spade cut is ok if you are not going to dig in the area or drive on it. I have found that with the required two duals (or 4 singles) you really gotta dig a trench. If you cut the cable you will not find out until you start to tune the equipment..Then you have to find the cut and probably replace the underground portion of the run;TRICKY!
So, if you have the protection plan they offered, give the dish a push. If it moves off signal call them and have it done correctly.

Joe

[JLucPicard]

Install should be warranteed for 90 days. I might give it a little push anyway. Of course, then you'd be without until they could come out.

What would the Installation Department do if ruckrun was to call and explain that the installer did not use concrete with the pole mount and he's read many opinions that concrete is a must for a pole mount. Especially given what has happened about the installer anyway. Would they make it right without having to artificially cause a problem?

[RobertE]

Install should be warranteed for 90 days. I might give it a little push anyway. Of course, then you'd be without until they could come out.

What would the Installation Department do if ruckrun was to call and explain that the installer did not use concrete with the pole mount and he's read many opinions that concrete is a must for a pole mount. Especially given what has happened about the installer anyway. Would they make it right without having to artificially cause a problem?

They should. It would most likely be classified as an incomplete install or a failed QC. D*s QC specs say that any poll mounted KA/KU ODU is to have 150 lbs of concrete.

[joe diamond]

OR,

DTV could say the pole is outside the basic (FREE) installation and contractors are free to set rates for "custom" installation work. You guys have hit on an interesting area........what does the warranty provide?

Anyone?

Joe

[JLucPicard]

I don't think the warranty necessarily addresses anything about price, but I think it's in the interest of DirecTV and the install companies that their installers are somewhat consistent with their pricing - I don't think the installers should have carte-blanche to basically charge whatever they want to.

I do think the warranty guarantees a proper, complete install and if people are right that a pole mount includes anchoring the pole in concrete (which I would agree with - versus just pounding it into the ground), then this install was incomplete and should be rectified.

[Ext 721]

That could have been the case but I have tons of tree's around my house.

I got an HD DVR, a regular DVR and a regular box.


He charged me 200 to mount the pole. Maybe I did get taken advantage of.

did he dig a trench? $100 is pushing it on JUST a pole and concrete, but if he buried 100 feet of cable a foot below ground, that MIGHT be reasonable.

Our policy was clear...pole mount was included if absolutely nessecary for the install, $50 if it wasn't, and the customer just wanted it there ...trenching wasn't ever included, but as a rule of thumb, you'd do it if it was 4 feet or less in soft earth turf. trenching was at $35/hour.

The reason installers are pulling this crap is the job pays so poorly, it's worth the risk to scam.

[joe diamond]

EXT 721, you HSP guy,

There is nothing in the DTV basic installation about a pole or running phone lines or much else beyond getting the cx running. The reason installers are pulling this crap is the money is taken from them by you guys as back charges.
Who are the folks who composed "Our policy...?"

Scam is such a rough word for only one part of "our" ..."industry."

Joe

[rucknrun]

Yup,
Somehow the pole has to be kept from rotating.....dent it with a real big hammer....and then use the same hammer to pound in the concrete. The pole must be plumb. With one or two cables (dual) the spade cut is ok if you are not going to dig in the area or drive on it. I have found that with the required two duals (or 4 singles) you really gotta dig a trench. If you cut the cable you will not find out until you start to tune the equipment..Then you have to find the cut and probably replace the underground portion of the run;TRICKY!
So, if you have the protection plan they offered, give the dish a push. If it moves off signal call them and have it done correctly.

Joe

The manager told me if you pound the pole in the ground deep enough you don't need concrete. But he is going to send me check for $140. At least I got most of my money back $60 is a much better price.

[RobertE]

The manager told me if you pound the pole in the ground deep enough you don't need concrete. But he is going to send me check for $140. At least I got most of my money back $60 is a much better price.

Guess he didn't get the memo or read it. Page 2 dated 5-11-07 "Quality Control Field Guide"

A minimum of 150lbs. of concrete should be used on every pole mount for KAKU ander International Jobs.

:nono2: