[TheTickets]

Hey everyone. I should start off by saying that I'm new and have searched but haven't found anything quite like my problem.

Anyway, on Friday I had an install date and within a few minutes he told me it couldn't be done because of the trees. The apartment about 100 feet down has a standard dish. He said this was the 101. He said mine wouldn't work because I had to hit 3 different satellites for the HD.

So my question: Is there anything that can be done? Could I set it up down by the other dish? I could also put in next the apartment building. I did dishpointer.com and it says the max height can be 160. I'm not sure what to do because I don't want any other service provider.

Thanks for your help.

 

[K4SMX]

Welcome to DBSTalk.com!

Not sure what three satellites he meant. To receive all HD signals requires a rather narrow window these days, way less than a 10 degree slice of the sky, centered on the 101W satellite. This would be the 99W and 103W satellites. Currently available in limited markets, the new Slimline3 dish/LNB may not have been available to your installer. In order for him to get the more common Slimline 5 LNB dish installed and signed-off, he would require a larger slice of the sky, all the way over to the 119W satellite, and perhaps that's why he couldn't do the installation at the location you wished.

100' of coaxial cable is easily in range, so any location that has LOS from the 99W to the 119W satellites will work. Or you could ask if the SL3 is available in your area.

 

[paragon]

Can anybody recommend a good tripod for tailgating with a Slimline? I'd prefer something that doesn't break the bank.

I know that it's much easier to use a standard 101 dish, however I will be tailgating (and living) in State College, who's locals are going to be broadcast from D11 starting Wednesday, so I'd really like to have access to them for the ABC games.

I'm going to try somehow to get ahold of a SL3 to make my pointing easier.

 

[Johnnie5000]

So my question: Is there anything that can be done? Could I set it up down by the other dish? I could also put in next the apartment building. I did dishpointer.com and it says the max height can be 160. I'm not sure what to do because I don't want any other service provider.

Thanks for your help.

You're going to want to talk to your land lord before doing any of this and get permission in writing before a tech will attempt anything like this.

 

[TheTickets]

So is the SL3 the answer to my problems?

I'm so interested in this because if I don't get Direct, I have to get Comcast.

 

[BattleZone]

Understand a few things:

- The SL3 has *just* been released in very small quantities to a couple of the areas that they are intended for, which are: areas where both the HD and SD locals come from 99 or 103. As far as anyone can tell, DirecTV doesn't plan to roll this LNB/dish combo out to most areas at all.

- You can't "request" any dish; DirecTV's ordering system selects the dish its database determines is correct based on your zip code and the receivers and programming you ordered. If you're not in one of the few SL3 areas, the techs won't even be able to get ahold of one, nor are they going to be trained in it. Most won't even know it exists.

- It is expected that SL3s will be available from retailers soon. You may have to purchase one yourself. DirecTV may or may not reimburse you via programming credits. It's a very gray area.

I'm just trying to set realistic expectations for you. DirecTV is releasing a lot of new equipment right now, and have specific plans for it that may not include any particular person or situation, even if that equipment does in fact solve that problem. Strict business rules are the norm for new equipment. DirecTV hasn't publically announced this, or promised anyone they'd get it. From their perspective, the public has no knowledge of it, as there's been no official announcements, so they feel under no obligation to help you get it right now.

Chances are that within 30 days or so, you'll be able to get one from retail if you want it now. Also, chances are good that 6 months from now, once production has stabilized, it will be easier to get one through DirecTV's installation program for free, if you choose to wait that long.

I see a lot of posts here from folks who know about these new options and are genuinely trying to be helpful, who "recommend" them to people without explaining what I just wrote, and it gives people the expectation that all they need to do is call DirecTV and ask for "SL3" and a tech will show up with one tomorrow, all trained and ready to go. That isn't the case.

 

[techrep]

Understand a few things:

- The SL3 has *just* been released in very small quantities to a couple of the areas that they are intended for, which are: areas where both the HD and SD locals come from 99 or 103. As far as anyone can tell, DirecTV doesn't plan to roll this LNB/dish combo out to most areas at all.

- You can't "request" any dish; DirecTV's ordering system selects the dish its database determines is correct based on your zip code and the receivers and programming you ordered. If you're not in one of the few SL3 areas, the techs won't even be able to get ahold of one, nor are they going to be trained in it. Most won't even know it exists.

- It is expected that SL3s will be available from retailers soon. You may have to purchase one yourself. DirecTV may or may not reimburse you via programming credits. It's a very gray area.

I'm just trying to set realistic expectations for you. DirecTV is releasing a lot of new equipment right now, and have specific plans for it that may not include any particular person or situation, even if that equipment does in fact solve that problem. Strict business rules are the norm for new equipment. DirecTV hasn't publically announced this, or promised anyone they'd get it. From their perspective, the public has no knowledge of it, as there's been no official announcements, so they feel under no obligation to help you get it right now.

Chances are that within 30 days or so, you'll be able to get one from retail if you want it now. Also, chances are good that 6 months from now, once production has stabilized, it will be easier to get one through DirecTV's installation program for free, if you choose to wait that long.

I see a lot of posts here from folks who know about these new options and are genuinely trying to be helpful, who "recommend" them to people without explaining what I just wrote, and it gives people the expectation that all they need to do is call DirecTV and ask for "SL3" and a tech will show up with one tomorrow, all trained and ready to go. That isn't the case.

Everything you said appears correct except; the SL3 dish is expected to become the standard dish installed, for those not needing sats 110 or 119 for local or specific programming.

 

[RobertE]

Understand a few things:

- The SL3 has *just* been released in very small quantities to a couple of the areas that they are intended for, which are: areas where both the HD and SD locals come from 99 or 103. As far as anyone can tell, DirecTV doesn't plan to roll this LNB/dish combo out to most areas at all.

- You can't "request" any dish; DirecTV's ordering system selects the dish its database determines is correct based on your zip code and the receivers and programming you ordered. If you're not in one of the few SL3 areas, the techs won't even be able to get ahold of one, nor are they going to be trained in it. Most won't even know it exists.

- It is expected that SL3s will be available from retailers soon. You may have to purchase one yourself. DirecTV may or may not reimburse you via programming credits. It's a very gray area.

I'm just trying to set realistic expectations for you. DirecTV is releasing a lot of new equipment right now, and have specific plans for it that may not include any particular person or situation, even if that equipment does in fact solve that problem. Strict business rules are the norm for new equipment. DirecTV hasn't publically announced this, or promised anyone they'd get it. From their perspective, the public has no knowledge of it, as there's been no official announcements, so they feel under no obligation to help you get it right now.

Chances are that within 30 days or so, you'll be able to get one from retail if you want it now. Also, chances are good that 6 months from now, once production has stabilized, it will be easier to get one through DirecTV's installation program for free, if you choose to wait that long.

I see a lot of posts here from folks who know about these new options and are genuinely trying to be helpful, who "recommend" them to people without explaining what I just wrote, and it gives people the expectation that all they need to do is call DirecTV and ask for "SL3" and a tech will show up with one tomorrow, all trained and ready to go. That isn't the case.

Very well said.

I'll just add that while a lot of posters here have only the best of intentions in recommendations and advice, many should step back and take a look back at what they are saying.

It bothers me when posters set all these expectations that have little to no chance of being fulfilled. Or giving advice on stuff thats not approved and has no guarantee of working (SWM & Diplexing for example).

Many complain about how bad the CSRs, techs, DirecTv in general are. Are they (we) really that bad, or is the user community setting unrealistic expectations where the only possible outcome is disappointment and failure?

We have seen the enemy and that enemy is us.

 

[BattleZone]

It bothers me when posters set all these expectations that have little to no chance of being fulfilled. Or giving advice on stuff thats not approved and has no guarantee of working (SWM & Diplexing for example).

Good, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I'm not afraid to speak my mind here, but it's nice to know that I'm not completely alone. :lol:

 

[Johnnie5000]

Are they (we) really that bad, or is the user community setting unrealistic expectations where the only possible outcome is disappointment and failure?

Good, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I'm not afraid to speak my mind here, but it's nice to know that I'm not completely alone. :lol:

What he said.