Hey everyone, we have no other choice for TV but satellite right now. We are looking at DirecTV. I am considering doing the install myself, doesn't look too bad if you know how to read a compass, but am not sure. My question is: who has paid to have the satellite installed and what did it cost?

The installer here wants $1000 for the install alone, that seems really high to me for a few hours maybe of work. Any info?

Thanks a lot

 

It sounds like somebody is trying to take you for a ride. Around here direct tv, and dish are allways advertiseing really good deals for new customers. Some times you might be asked, to sign a one year contract.

 

Directv doesn't charge for install. I've never paid for it and nobody I know has ever paid for it, not even for dish upgrades or adding another Tivo line or adding new receiver lines.

Are you still in Northpole? I didn't think you could pick it up that far north?

 

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global...ssetId=2700001

From the page before the one linked...

GET DIRECTV® SERVICE IN ALASKA OR HAWAII TODAY!

NEW CUSTOMERS in Alaska or Hawaii can enjoy digital-quality entertainment and amazing value with our current offer. Sign up today. Click for details.

Call 1-877-897-8131 to order

CURRENT CUSTOMERS can upgrade their current DIRECTV® System or add another receiver to the mix by calling 1-800-DIRECTV.

ALASKA AND HAWAII HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
For DIRECTV CHOICE programming (along with premium packages and seasonal sports subscriptions), you will need one (1) 1.2-meter DIRECTV® Dish.

International
For DIRECTV CHOICE programming (along with premium packages and seasonal sports subscriptions) and International Programming, you will need one (1) 1.2-meter DIRECTV® Dishes and one (1) 87-centimeter DIRECTV® Dish.

HD Programming
For DIRECTV CHOICE programming (along with premium packages and seasonal sports subscriptions) and HD Programming, you will need two (2) 1.2-meter DIRECTV® Dishes.

 

I didn't want to be locked into a contract with Dish, so I bought my reciever, and the install was $150 for 1 reciever/ 2 tv's, 1 antenna w/ HD, and pay month to month. All I missed was HBO... sorta

 

I know I don't have to pay directv for that, but I am not sure how else I get the equipment. That guy is the local directv retailer and installer.

Can you just get your own dish and buy the receiver, then you just need to subscribe to directv? I thought I understood, but I got a little confused now.

Can you just get a dish and receiver and get channels on your own? Or is it scrambled sort of, so you need to pay directv to get access, regardless of how you got the dish?

Either way, I think a grand for the install is crazy.

 

I had Direct about 10 years a go and bought my system through ABC wherehouse. Uncle put the dish on the roof since I was laid up. I think the trick is the installer already knows where to point it without trial and error.
Take a look here a little before you spend anything. I could've used a little info from here regarding my set up.
http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay....une=365&page=2

 

Yes you can buy your own equipment, me for example am a DISH customer, but I don't like to lease the equipment so I buy the specific receiver that I like from Ebay, there are refurbs and new there. Also you need to determine the programming you want by looking the providers website, if you want HD you need to buy the correct receiver and dish antenna. All you need to know as far as setting the dish up is South, per your zip code you can determine the elevation/skew to preset the dish antenna before mounting on the mast, once the dish is mounted, you move the dish left to right (up to 180*) to search for the satellite, watch the signal meter on the TV until you see the desired satellite, it will lock in.

 

$1000 is crazy. If you can change the oil in your truck - you can do this yourself very easily.

 

So I install my dish, does the receiver then need to be specific to the service
(directv)? Or when does the signal get decrypted? Is there like an inline filter?


If I install, what does the monthly fee go to? How do they control access then?

 

DISH Network and Direct TV have different dish antennas, you need the specific provider dish antenna. Once you have installed everything, you call the provider, arrange method of payment, they will send a signal to your card to make it work. Your monthly fee is not affected if you install. The smart card controls what you are able to view (based on your subscription package).

 

Do not pay those satelite installers to do your install, they get paid by the install so the more they do in a day, the more they can make- that should tell you about the quality of their work, unless you like rg-6 draped over the front of your house and your windows or walls drilled through!!
find the chase in your house that the main vent runs up to the attic in and run a rg-6 from basement to your attic, dish needs to point southwest i believe, tuner/reciever has a built in aiming/ signal strenght program,other end of rg-6 across basement to reciever-real easy- you can do it yourself without someone hacking up your house!!!!

 

Thanks, I plan on doing it myself. Buy the equipment online?

Only concern is being this far north, will the angle be low enough I might not clear the trees in back? I can look up the numbers and check it out, any recommended vendors for the dish and receiver?

 

I got my original Dish network equipment for free (with one year commit) through a radio shack promotion in 1997 when they were still Echostar and hurting for customers (I was the first in our area). The install was easy. I had scored some free eight inch drill pipe to mount it on.
Just remember, where you are at, do not go with the small dish (whether directTV or Dish) or you will lose the signal every time it rains. Perhaps the $1000 you were quoted was for the price of the extra large dish and heavy duty weather install! We get really hard winds where we live and frost heaves can be a problem (if the dish isn’t mounted on the house) so the heavy duty adjustable mount was needed. Also, if you have the time, drive around some and see what your neighbors are using.
Nobody in our area used DirectTV for a long time because their sat signal was not as strong as Dish. However, I now see some DirectTV dishes in use around here so they must have gotten the bugs worked out.

 

I favor Dish Network myself, mainly because of the programming and local channels they offer here.

Also, as someone mentioned earlier, make sure and use RG-6 cable from the dish to the receiver, not the standard RG-59 I believe it is that most stores sell. Friend of mine is an installer for Dish Network and he told me that the RG-59 will burn out. It's fine to use it from the receiver to the tv, just not the receiver to the dish.