[mtm]

I just wanted to post what I ran into with having my dish realigned this weekend. All my HDs were out (both 103c and 99c) and the readings on the 101 sat were in the upper 70s and 80s, so not great. This was the 3rd time that someone was out to realign the dish in the past year or so.

The guy that came was really nice but he just wasn't trained on these HD sats. He had never heard of the 99c and had no idea that the rest of the national HDs were on 103c. His meter deal he had didn't give him readings for the 103c so he had no idea how to get it aligned properly. I even showed him some posts from this website to help him out. Eventually he went on the roof and I called him on his cell and watched my signal numbers while he was out there moving the dish around. We finally got everything in the 90s on all sats so I hope the problem is fixed for good now.

I don't blame the guy for not knowing, I blame the company that hires/trains him. Like I say, he was a really nice guy and was very open to trying the things I suggested to him and even said thanks when he was leaving for teaching him a few things. My question is, how can these companies send these guys out without the right equipment and how can he possibly not know about the HD sats???

 

[Mertzen]

As far as I know all HSP technicians these days have to be Ka/Ku trained before entering the field. Was he a sub or did he drive a D* van.
Also not too many techs have meter for Ka sats, but that is not a requirement.

 

[harsh]

My question is, how can these companies send these guys out without the right equipment and how can he possibly not know about the HD sats???

The answer is simple: because they can. As long as DIRECTV doesn't hold their feet to the fire, they'll send out a warm body and hope for the best.

The industry that provides the services is in a really bad way. They pay very little and they often throw their people under the bus when it comes to back charges. It is an unhappy situation for everyone.

 

[harsh]

Also not too many techs have meter for Ka sats, but that is not a requirement.

If you're going to send someone out alone, it seems like a capable meter is imperative. I can't see anyone recommending that you yard a receiver and a display up on the roof.

 

[eakes]

The basic problem is FREE INSTALLS. When you 'give' something away it is not free - there is a cost. The install company whether, Directv, Cableco, DISH or contractors to those folks is pushed to do the effort as cheaply as possible. Thus you do not train employees, you pay them little, resulting in a very high churn rate among your 'professional installers'.

I have never personally dealt with Directv but I have encountered cable TV installers, teleco and U-verse installers. As a group they were nice enough folks, but most knew very little about what they were supposed to be doing!
Recently, I had AT&T reinstall my telephone. The guy they sent out actually removed the gound wire from the NID to the AC service! I didn't notice it until a few weeks later when another AT&T installer showed up to install DSL (old line, experienced installer). He looked at the newly installed NID, looked at me, and asked who did this intall? He did quite a bit of muttering to himself when I replied, AT&T.

 

[mtm]

As far as I know all HSP technicians these days have to be Ka/Ku trained before entering the field. Was he a sub or did he drive a D* van.
Also not too many techs have meter for Ka sats, but that is not a requirement.

Yes, he was driving a D* van.

 

[Mertzen]

I'd call directech which I think is the HSP in Maine and tell then you find it unacceptable. That's about as much as you can do I guess.

 

[Johnnie5000]

I've never even seen a signal meter that actually picks up the 99 & 103. I just set my birdog to 101 and peak it for a few minutes. I get high 90s on the 99 and the 103 everytime.
But as far as the guy not having the know-how to do the job.... I got nothing. Bad/No training? The rookie going solo for the first time brain-fart? Who knows, at least he was nice about it.

 

[Mertzen]

I've never even seen a signal meter that actually picks up the 99 & 103.

Superbuddy and Accutrac3.

 

[Johnnie5000]

Superbuddy and Accutrac3.

I didn't say the don't exist, I just said I've never seen one. The only thing they give us are Birdogs and PicoSats.

 

[Mertzen]

I didn't say the don't exist, I just said I've never seen one. The only thing they give us are Birdogs and PicoSats.

Dang, free bridogs ?:eek2:

 

[Johnnie5000]

Dang, free bridogs ?:eek2:

Issued, with a solid you-break-you-buy policy.

 

[gquiring]

I had the exact same issue with my 99 and 103. Installer left with the signal levels around 45. He blamed the trees. My friend came over with a laptop and we used netmeeting to watch the DVR on the roof. Well if it was the trees we managed to get the 99sat to read 89. And my other bands are now high 90's where he had them at low 80's. So the D* installers are clueless.