[daytoday]

When I upgraded the entire house to Satellite, D* recommended the following items.

Qty 1 - HDR20 Receiver
Qty 2 - Standard IRD Receivers
Qty 2 - HD20 Recievers (Expanded HD Prog. Capable)
Qty 1 - DIRECTV 5-LNB Multi-Satellite Dish
Qty 1 - DIRECTV Satellite 18" Round Dish
Qty 1 - Standard Professional Installation

When the installer came out I noticed that he did not install a new 18" Round Dish? I called D* while he was finishing up the installation to see if there was any difference in equipment and they told me to make sure he installs the dish, since he is getting paid to do this. So, I ask the installer about the new dish not being replaced and he explains to me that that the older (9 yr old) RCA dish was actually better then the new 18" round dish. He goes on to state that he did changed the head?

Can anyone confirm what I was told is accurate?

Thanks!!!

 

[adkinsjm]

When I upgraded the entire house to Satellite, D* recommended the following items.

Qty 1 - HDR20 Receiver
Qty 2 - Standard IRD Receivers
Qty 2 - HD20 Recievers (Expanded HD Prog. Capable)
Qty 1 - DIRECTV 5-LNB Multi-Satellite Dish
Qty 1 - DIRECTV Satellite 18" Round Dish
Qty 1 - Standard Professional Installation

When the installer came out I noticed that he did not install a new 18" Round Dish? I called D* while he was finishing up the installation to see if there was any difference in equipment and they told me to make sure he installs the dish, since he is getting paid to do this. So, I ask the installer about the new dish not being replaced and he explains to me that that the older (9 yr old) RCA dish was actually better then the new 18" round dish. He goes on to state that he did changed the head?

Can anyone confirm what I was told is accurate?

Thanks!!!

Why do you need a round dish if you have the 5-lnb dish? Anyway, back to the original question, it really doesn't matter how old the dish is, all the matters is that the LNB(Head) works

 

[bobnielsen]

Perhaps daytoday needs the round dish to get locals at 72.5 deg.

 

[Mavrick]

My 9 year old RCA dish was made completley of metal the only plastic on it was the lnb. The new dish the put up last year so that I could get my locals from 72.5 had alot less metal in it I think that the new ones are made of mostly composite materials and are not quite as durable as the older ones.

 

[daytoday]

Why do you need a round dish if you have the 5-lnb dish? Anyway, back to the original question, it really doesn't matter how old the dish is, all the matters is that the LNB(Head) works

D* said I would need the 18" Round dish to receive locals. They mentioned that when my locals become available in HD I would not need the extra dish.

The installer did mention that he just installed the new head. From what I can tell, the head on the dish is white? I don't remember what the old RCA head looked like?

I don't really care if the new 18" dish was installed, even though the installer probably got paid to install it. All I'm really concerned with is that I have the best available equipment that will provides me with the best picture.

Thanks!!!

 

[litzdog911]

D* said I would need the 18" Round dish to receive locals. They mentioned that when my locals become available in HD I would not need the extra dish.

The installer did mention that he just installed the new head. From what I can tell, the head on the dish is white? I don't remember what the old RCA head looked like?

I don't really care if the new 18" dish was installed, even though the installer probably got paid to install it. All I'm really concerned with is that I have the best available equipment that will provides me with the best picture.

Thanks!!!

If it's working fine then there's really nothing to worry about. The old RCA dish is just as good as a newer 18" dish. What are your signal levels on the 72.5-deg satellite?

 

[daytoday]

litzdog911,

I'm not sure how to get the info for 72.5-deg satellite? As, you can tell I'm pretty green at this. Here is what I found on my HD20 receiver. Let me know if you need any more info.

Signal Strength: 80%
Transponder: 2

1-8: 78-80-77-38-77-80-77-76
9-16: 76-83-77-00-77-80-77-76
17-24: 75-00-75-57-78-76-75-76
25-32: 74-73-76-00-80-77-74-75

Thanks for your help!!!!

 

[Kevin Dupuy]

litzdog911,

I'm not sure how to get the info for 72.5-deg satellite? As, you can tell I'm pretty green at this. Here is what I found on my HD20 receiver. Let me know if you need any more info.

Signal Strength: 80%
Transponder: 2

1-8: 78-80-77-38-77-80-77-76
9-16: 76-83-77-00-77-80-77-76
17-24: 75-00-75-57-78-76-75-76
25-32: 74-73-76-00-80-77-74-75

Thanks for your help!!!!

It looks strong to me, and yes, you pretty much have all you need. Although, do you have 2 dishes up, the 18'' and the 5 LNB, or just one?

 

[daytoday]

It looks strong to me, and yes, you pretty much have all you need. Although, do you have 2 dishes up, the 18'' and the 5 LNB, or just one?

I have (Qty 2) Dishes up. 1 is a 18" Round (Locals) and the second is a 5LNB. The installer mentioned something about not getting a good reception on my HD20. He said it would show a better reception on my Standard IRD Receivers? He said that this was common and not to worry about it? He also was in a HUGE rush to just get out the door, so I wanted to verify that he was providing me with the correct info?

Thanks!!!

 

[Mertzen]

I think that the new ones are made of mostly composite materials and are not quite as durable as the older ones.

They are still all metal.

 

[Kevin Dupuy]

I have (Qty 2) Dishes up. 1 is a 18" Round (Locals) and the second is a 5LNB. The installer mentioned something about not getting a good reception on my HD20. He said it would show a better reception on my Standard IRD Receivers? He said that this was common and not to worry about it? He also was in a HUGE rush to just get out the door, so I wanted to verify that he was providing me with the correct info?

Thanks!!!

Well, I'm not sure why it would show better reception on a certain reciever. A reciver is a reciver is a reciver. Whether it's standard, HD, or DVR, it still has a tuner and still gets the same reception. Other than that, everything on your system is probably OK. Are you actudally having problems or do you just want to make sure everything is cool with your setup?

 

[litzdog911]

Well, I'm not sure why it would show better reception on a certain reciever. A reciver is a reciver is a reciver. Whether it's standard, HD, or DVR, it still has a tuner and still gets the same reception. Other than that, everything on your system is probably OK. Are you actudally having problems or do you just want to make sure everything is cool with your setup?

It's because the H20's signal meters display lower readings than other DirecTV Receivers and DVRs. Seems to be a unique issue with the H20, and it generates lots of questions here from H20 owners concerned that their signal readings are too low.

 

[daytoday]

Well, I'm not sure why it would show better reception on a certain reciever. A reciver is a reciver is a reciver. Whether it's standard, HD, or DVR, it still has a tuner and still gets the same reception. Other than that, everything on your system is probably OK. Are you actudally having problems or do you just want to make sure everything is cool with your setup?

Keven,

My local stations appear to not be as clear on Sat as they where on Digital Cable. I still have Digital cable and Sat, so I can switch back and forth to compare pictures and speed. The speed is also much quicker on Digit Cable.

I was concerned because the installer that did my original install took every short cut possible so he move on to the next job. It made me nervous just watching him, because his only motivation was to get a picture on the TV and move on to the next job. I'm not very educated on Sat, but I swear I had more experience then he did about running lines. Or maybe it was that I cared and he could care less?

After reviewing many post about so many people being lied to and cheated out of money, I just wanted to make sure that my installer what C* sent him. My next concern is that I'm using the right coax, since he used my existing Cable TV coax.

Thanks!!!

 

[Kevin Dupuy]

Keven,

My local stations appear to not be as clear on Sat as they where on Digital Cable. I still have Digital cable and Sat, so I can switch back and forth to compare pictures and speed. The speed is also much quicker on Digit Cable.

I was concerned because the installer that did my original install took every short cut possible so he move on to the next job. It made me nervous just watching him, because his only motivation was to get a picture on the TV and move on to the next job. I'm not very educated on Sat, but I swear I had more experience then he did about running lines. Or maybe it was that I cared and he could care less?

After reviewing many post about so many people being lied to and cheated out of money, I just wanted to make sure that my installer what C* sent him. My next concern is that I'm using the right coax, since he used my existing Cable TV coax.

Thanks!!!

Well, I'm not sure about what type of coax Cable uses, I've never had cable, so I can't answer that. Now, as for the locals, digi cable probably does look better, since I believe DIRECTV uses a lot of compression on their channels.

Let me ask you this: Do you subscribe to the DIRECTV Protection Plan? If you do, it may not cost you anything, or atleat much, to get DIRECTV to get your local install co. out to your house to double check that your install went correctly. If you explain to the CSR what you're concerned about, and about the Installer that could care less, they will probably send out another installer to make sure everythings alright.

If they won't, try looking your install co. up in the phone book (they'ed be under TV or sattelite) and give them a call. Again, explain your situation to them, and they should send someone out. I sure hope that helps!

EDIT: It appears that cable uses RG6 coaxial cable, which DIRECTV does too, so you should be okay at that part.

 

[bobnielsen]

Some very early cable installations used RG-59, but RG-6 has been the standard for at least 25 years.