[weaselfest]

Been pulling my hair out trying to troubleshoot intermittent MPEG4 problems on my side car dual LNB setup. ( both receivers, not weather related, signal strength reads good when picture breaking up, all new coax, bypassed multiswitch). Problem sure seems related to LNB's.
I argued myself blue trying to get a new slimline dish drop shipped to me so I could replace the existing one myself.
I am a 15 year A/V specialist, certified CATV master installer, and have peaked multibeam dishes up to 4.5m in diameter . regularly get paid up to $80 an hour to clean up D* contractor installs, possess a Birddog sat. meter and spectrum analyzer. long story short, don't feel I should have to take time off work to meet some kid that has been doing this for less than a year, or pay out of my pocket to replace this vital piece of equipment.
Has anyone ever come up with a compelling arguement that has gotten them a replacement dish, cost free, shipped to their house?

 

[harsh]

The only way to find out is to call them. I don't think there are any secret passwords.

I recommend not getting your hopes up.

 

[davring]

Let them send the kid out with a new dish, tip him 20 bucks and send him on his way

 

[weaselfest]

already tried three CSR's on the phone, reason for the post.
The tipping idea might work but lately the local contractor has been preaching the charge back against service calls to their troops so it is rare to get one to just drop his load and be on his way.
(PS, if I have to meet him at my house, kind of defeats the purpose of trying to avoid taking off work doesn't it?)

 

[weaselfest]

dialed back my indignance, called customer service again, am supposed to get a call from the local contractor to schedule dish replacement, no charge.
My try a variation on the tip idea: $20 if no transponder is under 86 on any sat. and the cabling is left in a clean, workmanship-like manner.

 

[beavis]

You could probably get the installer to have you sign a waiver stating that you will do all the installation work after you take possession of the dish. That releases the installer from liability. If they'll even do that.

 

[curt8403]

You could probably get the installer to have you sign a waiver stating that you will do all the installation work after you take possession of the dish. That releases the installer from liability. If they'll even do that.

under the new rules that won't happen

 

[PANCHITO]

stop a directv van and offer him $20 for a lnb.

 

[weaselfest]

this is why I get so frustrated with the D* contractor in this area. still waiting for a call to schedule appointment to install new dish. was supposed to hear from them by Sept. 2nd. still no contact. New remote I ordered at the same time has already shown up. Could be up on the roof right now resolving the situation without bothering anybody else, but NOOOOOOO.

 

[Bill Broderick]

I know that you shouldn't have to do this. But, rather than getting frustrated with DirecTV's dish policy, I'd just spend the ~$70 that it would take to buy a dish on ebay and not bother with DirecTV.

Your other option is to schedule a service call on the day that you want to do the installation yourself and let the installer sit there and watch while you install the dish.

 

[tweaked]

Been pulling my hair out trying to troubleshoot intermittent MPEG4 problems on my side car dual LNB setup. ( both receivers, not weather related, signal strength reads good when picture breaking up, all new coax, bypassed multiswitch). Problem sure seems related to LNB's.
I argued myself blue trying to get a new slimline dish drop shipped to me so I could replace the existing one myself.
I am a 15 year A/V specialist, certified CATV master installer, and have peaked multibeam dishes up to 4.5m in diameter . regularly get paid up to $80 an hour to clean up D* contractor installs, possess a Birddog sat. meter and spectrum analyzer. long story short, don't feel I should have to take time off work to meet some kid that has been doing this for less than a year, or pay out of my pocket to replace this vital piece of equipment.
Has anyone ever come up with a compelling arguement that has gotten them a replacement dish, cost free, shipped to their house?

I was in a somewhat similar situation in that I've always been a do-it-yourselfer and would have (and should have) installed an AU9 Slimline myself. Short story even shorter... it was poorly installed.

I'd called D*, spoke with an advanced case specialist and explained my situation. It was agreed that a new dish would be delivered by my local HSP (not drop shipped via D*) and a work order written that stated it was to be a customer install. Once the correct parts got here, it worked like charm; a definite improvement over the original dish, thanks DirecTV.

I'd replied to another member who was wanting to do his own install as well, explained my experience with D* and suggested that he give it a shot. It apparantly wasn't allowed in his case. I guess it's a matter of who you speak to, at least in part. With your extensive experience, I don't know why they wouldn't okay it.