Quest for HD with D* is Over

4883 Views 61 Replies 21 Participants Last post by Mixer, Oct 28, 2006

Mixer

Discussion Starter · Oct 25, 2006

Well after waiting almost a month for installation and having to uy my own HR20 from BB online my attempt to have HD through D* is over.

The installer was out here today and our current dish is pointing right at the 101 so he said there is no way we have the clearance with the trees to be able to hit the 119.

I am considering keeping D* and the HR20 with SD and then maybe some luck in the future will allow me to add the HD. I have already recived the credit for the HR20 so there is no cost there.

Thoughts?

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1 - 20 of 62 Posts

Guindalf

· #2 · Oct 25, 2006

Two options.

1. find another location for the dish that CAN see 119, or....

2. Go to your local Home Depot and buy a chainsaw!!!

litzdog911

· #3 · Oct 25, 2006

It's not that bad if your site cannot "see" the 119-deg satellite. You'll only miss out on three HD channels .... ESPN2-HD, HDNet and Discovery HD.

Check here to see which channels are beamed from each of the DirecTV satellites (99, 101, 103, 110 and 119-deg W) ....
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/america.html

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 25, 2006

1) We were able to find a location on the front lawn

2) He stated that at least 10-15ft of the tops of the trees would have to come down and they are not my trees. I have talked about the posibility with my neighbor but I doubt he would be cool with 15 ft off the top of three trees.

Guindalf said:
Two options.

1. find another location for the dish that CAN see 119, or....

2. Go to your local Home Depot and buy a chainsaw!!!

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 25, 2006

Wait so are you saying that I will be able to get HD Locals on 101 or some other sat that I might be able to see. That is really all i wanted this for and I certainly dont care about the three channels you mentioned.

litzdog911 said:
It's not that bad if your site cannot "see" the 119-deg satellite. You'll only miss out on three HD channels .... ESPN2-HD, HDNet and Discovery HD.

Check here to see which channels are beamed from each of the DirecTV satellites (99, 101, 103, 110 and 119-deg W) ....
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/america.html

outerub

· #6 · Oct 25, 2006

Mixer said:
1) We were able to find a location on the front lawn

2) He stated that at least 10-15ft of the tops of the trees would have to come down and they are not my trees. I have talked about the posibility with my neighbor but I doubt he would be cool with 15 ft off the top of three trees.

One word .... " Roundup ".

glennb

· #7 · Oct 25, 2006

What do you mean location on the front lawn ?

Why not try mounting it on the roof of the house ?

litzdog911

· #8 · Oct 25, 2006

Mixer said:
Wait so are you saying that I will be able to get HD Locals on 101 or some other sat that I might be able to see. That is really all i wanted this for and I certainly dont care about the three channels you mentioned.

Correct. There are 5 satellites used by DirecTV (99, 101, 103, 110 and 119-deg) for their main programming. Most all of the common standard definition channels, and your local SD channels, are beamed from 101-deg W (where your current round single LNB dish is pointed). If your installer's site survey shows clear view of the other satellites, except for 119-deg, then you would be able to receive the new MPEG4 HDTV Locals from 99 and/or 103-deg W, and the other HDTV channels beamed from 101 and 110-deg W.

It's even possible to combine together two dishes at different locations on your house to "see" all 5 satellites.

Me thinks you had a rather lazy installer.

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 25, 2006

He was saying that there is no HD on the 101. Is that wrong. Can you tell me which channels are on the 101. Also will the 99 be higher above the trees than the 101 and if so what HD channels are on that sat

litzdog911 said:
Correct. There are 5 satellites used by DirecTV (99, 101, 103, 110 and 119-deg) for their main programming. Most all of the common standard definition channels, and your local SD channels, are beamed from 101-deg W (where your current round single LNB dish is pointed). If your installer's site survey shows clear view of the other satellites, except for 119-deg, then you would be able to receive the new MPEG4 HDTV Locals from 99 and/or 103-deg W, and the other HDTV channels beamed from 101 and 110-deg W.

It's even possible to combine together two dishes at different locations on your house to "see" all 5 satellites.

Me thinks you had a rather lazy installer.

outerub

· #10 · Oct 25, 2006

litzdog911 said:
...... Me thinks you had a rather lazy installer.

((( DING ))) ((( DING ))) ((( DING ))) !!! Exactly !

If those guys even have to climb a ladder they'll balk ! I'm pretty sure they are payed by the job so the more they can get done in a day the more they make. If he has to spend a day at your place he makes the same amount of money.

litzdog911 is 100% correct ..... try another installer.

LameLefty

· #11 · Oct 25, 2006

I'm with the other guys. The installer should've considered the roof.

And let me just add, as a total aside, I'm really glad I live further south and not just because of the weather. We get higher sightlines to the sats so it's REALLY unlikely a tree will grow up in the way of my dish, at least not in my neighborhood and not in my lifetime.

litzdog911

· #12 · Oct 25, 2006

Mixer said:
He was saying that there is no HD on the 101. Is that wrong. Can you tell me which channels are on the 101. Also will the 99 be higher above the trees than the 101 and if so what HD channels are on that sat

Check the Lyngsat site link that I provided ....
http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/america.html

DirecTV's main satellites are at 99, 101, 103, 110 and 119-deg W. Shows you the channels beamed from each satellite.

tstarn

· #13 · Oct 25, 2006

Mixer said:
Well after waiting almost a month for installation and having to uy my own HR20 from BB online my attempt to have HD through D* is over.

The installer was out here today and our current dish is pointing right at the 101 so he said there is no way we have the clearance with the trees to be able to hit the 119.

I am considering keeping D* and the HR20 with SD and then maybe some luck in the future will allow me to add the HD. I have already recived the credit for the HR20 so there is no cost there.

Thoughts?

Yeah, your installer is lazy, or scared if heights. We had a great guy, who by himself climbed his ladder up to a three-story roof, carrying everything he needed. We have no other choice, as it sounds, neither do you, if you want to get D*'d full programming HD package.

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 25, 2006

My round dish is already on the roof so I am not sure. I just called him back and he is stating that his supervisor said he can not install it unless he can see all satelites and I have to call D* if I want to try and do something else.

I aksed him how he could tell that he would not have the line of site when he never went on the roof and he said his meter can tell.

LameLefty said:
I'm with the other guys. The installer should've considered the roof.

And let me just add, as a total aside, I'm really glad I live further south and not just because of the weather. We get higher sightlines to the sats so it's REALLY unlikely a tree will grow up in the way of my dish, at least not in my neighborhood and not in my lifetime.

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 25, 2006

He was saying that from the roof there would be trees in the way. From the ground on the front of the lawn he was saying that it was far enough to the left that it would around the trees that would be blocking from the roof.

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 25, 2006

I am once again on hold with D* retention and they are saying that the installer should have installed it even without the 119 if I requested it. When I called the Installer back earlier he said that D8 had to make that call. They are now in the proocess of getting a lead tech out here to survey for the 99 sat, which the first guy never even bothered to do and in fact stated that the 99 isn't even launched yet

Earl Bonovich

· #17 · Oct 25, 2006

Mixer said:
... in fact stated that the 99 isn't even launched yet

Well... yes an no... There is a functional sat at the 99 slot.
But there is to be a second one launched... next year.

Mixer

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 25, 2006

Earl what do you suggest I do. I am still on hold as retention tries to get the lead tech back out to my place for a survey of 99. Any other sadvice from anyone is greatly appreciated.

Earl Bonovich said:
Well... yes an no... There is a functional sat at the 99 slot.
But there is to be a second one launched... next year.

Canis Lupus

· #19 · Oct 25, 2006

Dude - don't give up. Make D* deal with the installers to get it done properly. Tell them you want every option exhausted "on-site". You are an existing D* customer. If they want your 10 bucks more a month ad nauseum, they have to put in an effort. The installers move past you quickly as soon as there's a challenge. They need to get to the next job to get paid - as was stated above.

Earl Bonovich

· #20 · Oct 25, 2006

Mixer said:
Earl what do you suggest I do. I am still on hold as retention tries to get the lead tech back out to my place for a survey of 99. Any other sadvice from anyone is greatly appreciated.

I would definently try again, to see if you can get an installer that will do what they can.

Unless these trees are SERIOUSLY tall, and very close to your property... you should be able to get the signal... somewhere on your roof.

If not... 99,103, 101 are going to be the core important ones going forward.
110, 119 are going to be nice to have... as there will be something there..

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

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