The pay rate for a service call sounds about right. When I left D* for E* a service call paid $17...So it is not a mystery as to why the techs that came out ddin't want to do what was needed. $17 for a couple hrs work is slave wages..It is difficult at times for D* techs to be granted custom work status on a job such as yours...The thinking by D* is if the customer has to pay a penny, they will cancel...This is the number one reason why I left the D* HSP I worked for..It sucks for the techs and it really sucks for the customers..Igator: it's hard to tell from pics, but I have the same sort of situation with a small clearing between trees where all the sat's other than 119 are located. I lost 119 when the leaves came in.
What is the total length of cable run that you have from dish to receiver? Did you use RG6 or something better? Did you use conduit?
I've had a procession of installers too who, all of them so far would not do the needful: site survey and relocate the dish. I was actually told by a D* rep that they got paid only $15 (is that possible?) for an instal, so I can see why the 3 that came out to fix things left without doing so. I'm told that my next visit will be setup as a custom instal and that more time (read payment?) will be allocated to do the job. I asked for a call by the supv. before they come out for them to go over what I think is needed to ensure that they can do it. So far no call, but instal is this Friday and I hear that the job gets allocated on the day of the instal. So I'm wondering if I would be better off to get someone locally and get assurance or wait and find out once again that they won't do it.
I would gladly pay for a custom install, but what astounds me is that D* will happily continue to schedule service calls without meeting the customer's needs and without any communication with their installation company. I still don't understand why a phone call to D*'s install desk cannot create a service call that will provide exactly what you are asking for. It seems to be left entirely to who comes out on that day and what he might decide to do or not do.
You stated that you'd be willing to pay for custom work..That's great!...Sadly you are an extreme exception to the norm...Most people want everything free of charge...Because of the perception amongst a majority of customers that labor and materials should be provided free of charge many good people are no longer working directly for both D* and E*. Or they may be leaving the business entrely. Many of the skilled knowledgable people are working for themsleves and will not touch warranty work...
Bottom line is this...The old premise that you get what you pay for is coming home to roost in the satellite bsuiness..For far too lpong both E* and D* have tried to control programming fees on the backs of the people who install and service the EQ....The backlash is beginning...