Professional installation...how 'professional'?

BoB-O TiVo · 07-29-2006, 02:18 AM

Hey all,

I'm really anal about wires drilled through my wall, so I installed my DTV system myself. I have a single round sat, dual LNB. Anyhow, I installed the dish on the corner of my house and hid the wires behind the drainpipe. At the ground, I buried them slightly to get them over to and behind a hedge. From there, I connected it to the grounding block (already behind the hedge). From the grounding block, I ran the wires into a vent into our crawlspace (tight squeeze) and over and up into the wiring closet.

Now, as a NFLST subscriber for 5 years, I'm gonna try and get the free HDDVR. That said, when they come to install the oval dish, what do I have to do to get them to match my installation? I've seen some of the 'professional' installs around here and I haven't been impressed.

Thanks,
BoB

Arcady · 07-29-2006, 02:50 AM

Run the extra two lines yourself and just let the installer put up the dish. They don't care how it looks.

LlamaLarry · 07-29-2006, 07:26 PM

I have 6 DirecTiVos of varying models, installed one at a time. The only thing an installer has ever done is remove my 2LNB dish from the mount and pop on a 3LNB when I got my DirecTiVo. I've read too many horror stories to leave the install up to them.

They definitely appreciate coming in and all they have to do is hook up the cables to the TiVo and activate the unit. If I could figure out how to stop them at the door and take the box I would do that too.

durl · 07-31-2006, 07:51 AM

I took advantage of pro installers when I moved and and a little later when I got the HR10-250. I was very happy with both jobs. Outside, the wires were well-hidden and the cable runs through the walls were very clean. No complaints from the guys in my area. I had done a couple of installs myself and actually enjoy it, but when we moved into our new house last year, the setup was a little intimidating. I was nervous about someone else doing it, but they did a very good job.

TyroneShoes · 07-31-2006, 09:22 PM

I talk to the installer before the Big Day even comes, explain what I want, and ask them how realistic that sounds to them. If they say "OK", fine. If they say "No way", I talk to DTV and explain my concerns. If they seem only somewhat hesitant, I make it worth their while. I also go over everything in detail with them as they come through the door for the first time. And I stay with them pretty much every step of the way. A "Jefferson" sometimes helps to grease the skids.

BoB-O TiVo · 08-01-2006, 12:14 AM

Well, I pulled the wires myself today. I'll tie them down to grounding blocks and let the "professional installer" take it from there. I'm getting the 5LNB dish. I ran 6 wires; is that enough?

thepackfan · 08-01-2006, 08:33 AM

I think you ran a couple extra.

Arcady · 08-01-2006, 11:56 AM

You only need 4 wires running to the dish.

mr.unnatural · 08-01-2006, 12:59 PM

Actually, he'll only need two lines since the oval dish has a built-in multi-switch, but since he's getting the HR10-250 he'll need at least one line for the OTA antenna. If he's in an area that gets two markets or the OTA towers are spread out he may want to put up more than one antenna, so six lines sounds about right to me. OTOH, you can always combine the outputs of multiple antennas using a splitter/combiner and then run a single line to the HDTivo. I've got two UHF antennas on the roof pointed in opposite directions and this setup works great for me.

The OP didn't indicate if he had more than one receiver or other requirements for additional lines so we don't know exactly how many lines he really needs. Still, having the extra lines from the dish run up front allows for greater ease of expansion later.