Question regarding upcoming Install and Receiver Swap

653 Views 4 Replies 2 Participants Last post by aphex, Aug 17, 2008

aphex

Discussion Starter · Aug 17, 2008

I'm a current DirecTV customer and just bought a new house and am moving. I called up DirecTV to let them know I was going to move. I currently have:

HR21-700
HR10-250
R10
DSR6000 (ancient)

I asked for another HD-DVR and they said they would give me one. The order says "Swap Replace HR20 IRD" - does it matter which receiver in the house they take? Can I give them the R10 or DSR6000? I'd rather keep the HR10-250 until it completely obsolete.

Also - do the installers carry SWM with them? There is only 1 coax receptacle in each room and the two rooms I want the HR2x receivers in are on interior walls. DirecTV said they can't tell me whether they will be utilized or not until the time of install.

Lastly - do you guys tip on installs? Is it worth mentioning that I'll kick a few bucks the installers way if he makes it extremely clean? Also - if you guys do tip - what do you think is an appropriate amount? (On the flip side I've had installers try and shake me down twice now so I'm hoping this doesn't happen again).

Thanks in advance!

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RobertE

· #2 · Aug 17, 2008

aphex said:
I'm a current DirecTV customer and just bought a new house and am moving. I called up DirecTV to let them know I was going to move. I currently have:

HR21-700
HR10-250
R10
DSR6000 (ancient)

I asked for another HD-DVR and they said they would give me one. The order says "Swap Replace HR20 IRD" - does it matter which receiver in the house they take? Can I give them the R10 or DSR6000? I'd rather keep the HR10-250 until it completely obsolete.

Also - do the installers carry SWM with them? There is only 1 coax receptacle in each room and the two rooms I want the HR2x receivers in are on interior walls. DirecTV said they can't tell me whether they will be utilized or not until the time of install.

Lastly - do you guys tip on installs? Is it worth mentioning that I'll kick a few bucks the installers way if he makes it extremely clean? Also - if you guys do tip - what do you think is an appropriate amount? (On the flip side I've had installers try and shake me down twice now so I'm hoping this doesn't happen again).

Thanks in advance!

As for the swap/replace, it doesn't matter which one gets "replaced'. Despite being instructed otherwise, you stand a good chance of the installer leaving you with whatever box is deactivated.

Don't count on a SWM. For the most part, HSP only have the SWM LNBs in some areas. It hasn't gone national yet. Also, it's still designated for new customers only, although your HSP may bend the rules. To add, only your HR21 and whatever HR2x the installer brings will work with the SWM LNB. The others will be bricks at that point.

So, if you want to keep the others running (HR10), you will either want to go the traditional route, ie cables ever where, or procure a SWM8 third party and have it before your install.

As for the tipping, thats a touchy subject for some. I'll just say if you want to tip, give what you think the time & effort put forth is worth and what falls within your budget.

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aphex

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 17, 2008

RobertE said:
As for the swap/replace, it doesn't matter which one gets "replaced'. Despite being instructed otherwise, you stand a good chance of the installer leaving you with whatever box is deactivated.

Don't count on a SWM. For the most part, HSP only have the SWM LNBs in some areas. It hasn't gone national yet. Also, it's still designated for new customers only, although your HSP may bend the rules. To add, only your HR21 and whatever HR2x the installer brings will work with the SWM LNB. The others will be bricks at that point.

So, if you want to keep the others running (HR10), you will either want to go the traditional route, ie cables ever where, or procure a SWM8 third party and have it before your install.

As for the tipping, thats a touchy subject for some. I'll just say if you want to tip, give what you think the time & effort put forth is worth and what falls within your budget.

Robert - thanks for your response, a few more questions

I see. I didn't know that the SWM LNB will work with HR2x ONLY and anything else is dead. I figured it was on a per run/receiver basis. Theres absolutely no way to have SWM and non SWM receivers on the same SWM LNB? (other than installing 2 dishes?) I don't require any of the other DVRs to use both inputs.

As far as lines in interior walls - I know installation methods will vary widely but whats the general rule of thumb? Drill through the closest exterior wall and run a cord across the floor (the house is on a slab)?

If I were to purchase a SWM8 and have it before the installer arrives - will he use it despite the fact that its not on his work order from DTV - and is the SWM8 the only way to have HR2x and non-HR2x receivers share the same dish?

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RobertE

· #4 · Aug 17, 2008

aphex said:
Robert - thanks for your response, a few more questions

I see. I didn't know that the SWM LNB will work with HR2x ONLY and anything else is dead. I figured it was on a per run/receiver basis. Theres absolutely no way to have SWM and non SWM receivers on the same SWM LNB? (other than installing 2 dishes?) I don't require any of the other DVRs to use both inputs.

As far as lines in interior walls - I know installation methods will vary widely but whats the general rule of thumb? Drill through the closest exterior wall and run a cord across the floor (the house is on a slab)?

If I were to purchase a SWM8 and have it before the installer arrives - will he use it despite the fact that its not on his work order from DTV - and is the SWM8 the only way to have HR2x and non-HR2x receivers share the same dish?

The SWM (& SWM8 on SWM ports) will only work with D12, R16, HR20, H20 or newer receivers. On the SWM8 you also have three legacy ports for, well, legacy equipment.

So your HR10 would still need two lines if you want to use both tuners regardless of where you put it.

For lines on the interior walls, unless there is access from above (attic) and are willing to pay for wall fishes, then yes, through exterior wall and cable on the floor. Not pretty by any standard, but gets the job done.

The installer should be able to use the SWM if you purchase it. However, he could also not be trained on it and might be hesitant to do so. Just going to depend on who you get. It would be easy enough for you to swap it out when he is done also.

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aphex

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 17, 2008

RobertE said:
The SWM (& SWM8 on SWM ports) will only work with D12, R16, HR20, H20 or newer receivers. On the SWM8 you also have three legacy ports for, well, legacy equipment.

So your HR10 would still need two lines if you want to use both tuners regardless of where you put it.

For lines on the interior walls, unless there is access from above (attic) and are willing to pay for wall fishes, then yes, through exterior wall and cable on the floor. Not pretty by any standard, but gets the job done.

The installer should be able to use the SWM if you purchase it. However, he could also not be trained on it and might be hesitant to do so. Just going to depend on who you get. It would be easy enough for you to swap it out when he is done also.

Robert - I can't thank you enough for your (quick) responses to this. My installs going to be on Wednesday so I'll order a SWM8 from Solid-Signal to arrive by then and then go from there. Hoping the installer is trained on the SWM otherwise (I think I saw Reno listed on another forum as a market they were testing SWM in earlier this year), as you said, changing it out should be simple enough. Figuring the install will be 'standard' by directv terms it shouldn't matter what dish, etc they use since the SWM8 will take over from there?

On a related note - have DTV *ever* done a residential install with < 8 receivers and used a SWM8 or is that strictly reserved for commercial installations?

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