Horrible Installation Experience

[gcrantstl]

Hello, I am new to the forums but I have been reading for awhile now. I would like to share my experience and maybe get some advice from you guys. I have been trying to get HD services from Directv now for a month. I live in St. Louis and our local installer is Premier Communications. So, two installers have been out. I have a two story house and they told me that the roof was my only option. Of course, neither installer had a big enough ladder. I called Directv to complain. The lady was very helpful, she set everything up and even called Premier with me on the line to confirm that the installer would bring a large ladder with him. I'm scheduled for an install next Monday.

I am still very nervous about the whole thing. I have a flat roof and I just feel that they will find some other excuse not to install anything. What would you all recommend I do to ensure that I get installed on Monday?

Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[MikeD-C05]

Couldn't you request a pole mount instead of a roof mount? I already had a pole in the ground from my first Directv dish and when I upgraded to hd I asked them to do the slimline dish on the same pole. She included those instructions on the install and when the guy came out he had a bigger around pole that slipped over the existing pole and he then screwed it to the existing pole. He mounted the slimline over it and it worked just fine. I don't want anything on my roof since I have a manufactured house:trailer. It costed me $75.00 that I had to pay to the installer for my "free install" from Directv but it was worth it.

 

[gcrantstl]

I wouldn't mind a pole install. The second tech that came out told me that the only place I could get a signal would be on the roof. I did have Directv before and they placed the dish on the side of the house about 8 ft. up, if only they could install the HD dish in that same location.

 

[charper1]

What is your guess of why they are making excuse? I have heard of this on things they think are very troublesome or dangerous, but a 2-story flat roof sounds like cake. Can you give some details about the job?

 

[gcrantstl]

Well, I have cable service now so the cable is already run into the house. I have asked for two standard receivers and one high definition. Both installers that came out began telling me things that I would need (which they did not have) and they were very interested in rescheduling before attempting anything. I don't know that they were making excuses but it looked very suspicious that they were trying to pass the work to someone else. I keep thinking they'll come out now and tell me they need some kind of mount and they'll want to reschedule again. The installation company is already aware of the two attempts as well as the two story flat roof info.

 

[charper1]

I think you may be right; maybe they are not very experienced yet and somewhat intimidated?

 

[Wizard777]

Non Pen Mount

If the roof is the only place to get a line of sight - have them bring out a Non Pen Mount and hole it down with cinder blocks

This way no holes get drilled into the roof

might have to pay about the same as you would for a pole mount but a better location for the line of sight except for high winds

 

[Van]

Without seeing the house its hard to tell wether they would have had the right ladder or not, anyone that installs knows that theres a diference between a two story and a two story with a raised floor plan and half a basement below the ground and a raised ceiling plan on each floor. Theres also a diference between a flat roof and a flat roof thats actually a modest sloping roof.

All of that said I have noticed that more and more installers are going out with a simple step ladder and a 16 - 20ft ladder and fewer are going out with a 28ft ladder and a 40ft ladder, when I was installing I had for the longest time a step ladder, 16ft ladder, and a 28ft ladder and sometimes had a 40ft ladder on there as well as the others.

 

[gcrantstl]

Thanks for all the help guys! I would prefer not to have the cinderblocks go up there but I realize that is probably the only option. I will give them a call and make sure they bring that out.

 

[Van]

If your roof is a true flat rubber membrane roof then a non pen with 8 cinder blocks is nothing to worry about, I've done about 50 of them and the roofs are designed to hold a great deal more weight than a standard sloped roof will.

 

[dishcomm]

Without seeing the house its hard to tell wether they would have had the right ladder or not, anyone that installs knows that theres a diference between a two story and a two story with a raised floor plan and half a basement below the ground and a raised ceiling plan on each floor. Theres also a diference between a flat roof and a flat roof thats actually a modest sloping roof.

All of that said I have noticed that more and more installers are going out with a simple step ladder and a 16 - 20ft ladder and fewer are going out with a 28ft ladder and a 40ft ladder, when I was installing I had for the longest time a step ladder, 16ft ladder, and a 28ft ladder and sometimes had a 40ft ladder on there as well as the others.

I am scratching my head over this ladder thing. At our company, a 28 ft ladder or the ability to purchase one it is a pre requisite for employment. No 28 footer, look elsewhere for work. I use a stabilizer. Best pruchase of an accessory I have ever made....40 footer is a bulky and tough to handle ladder. We use two men on that detail.. Cust pays for the extra guy if there are other location options.

 

[Mike500]

If your current mount is solid, you might try this adapter that one of my fellow satellite subcontractor developed and sells on eBay;

DirecTV AT9/AU9 KA/KU Adapter for old 1-5/8" pole - eBay (item 150222824619 end time Mar-12-08 17:27:32 PDT)

We have used it on hundreds of installs without issue.


Just make sure that your current mount is securely fastened and that the two necessary monopoles are installed.

 

[gcrantstl]

My house has half the basement above ground as well as high ceilings (about 12ft.). I am also unaware about if the roof is truly flat having never been up there myself. If I had to guess I would say that it has a small grade from front to back. It can't be a big slope, the front is probably about a foot or two higher than the back. I don't know for sure. Would that adapter work even to mount the dish on the wall? If I could receive a signal with the 3lnb dish, could I get the HD signals in that same location?

 

[Mike500]

My house has half the basement above ground as well as high ceilings (about 12ft.). I am also unaware about if the roof is truly flat having never been up there myself. If I had to guess I would say that it has a small grade from front to back. It can't be a big slope, the front is probably about a foot or two higher than the back. I don't know for sure. Would that adapter work even to mount the dish on the wall? If I could receive a signal with the 3lnb dish, could I get the HD signals in that same location?

If the wall mounting is secure, and you add two monopoles placed horizontally and secured to the two adjacent wall studs into the wood securely, to form a tetrahedron, it would be very strong and would support the new 5lnb dish. If you can upload a photo, we can look at it more carefully.

If you are getting a good signal with the three lnb dish, chances are is that you will get good signal strength with the new 5lnb dish. Just make sure that there is a little extra room in the sky for the 99W position.

 

[gcrantstl]

It shouldn't be a problem with the extra room. I also should mention that the house is brick. Would that make any difference. I just want to make sure that if I were to purchase the mount that it would work properly and that the installer that comes out would know what it is and actually attempt to use it.

 

[Mike500]

It shouldn't be a problem with the extra room. I also should mention that the house is brick. Would that make any difference. I just want to make sure that if I were to purchase the mount that it would work properly and that the installer that comes out would know what it is and actually attempt to use it.

Brick should make it much easier. Just make sure that you have 1/4x2 inch or longer Tapcons and a 3/16" masonary drill bit ready, in case the installer doesn't have them. I'd buy them from Lowe's or Home Depot. You can take them back, if you don't need them.

Two Tapcons into the brick for each "monopole" will not even be noticable with the small 3/16" holes, if they were ever removed. Just don't let them drive them into the motar joints, which are likely to be weak.

 

[gcrantstl]

Thanks for your help, is this something the installer will actually do. I wouldn't even mind doing this myself just to get the dish on the wall instead of on the roof. What would you recommend I do, try and let the installer work with your tips (which, if the installer is anything like the last two, they'll just roll their eyes) or try and get the equipment and do it myself. I only fear the actual aligning part of the install, which seems very difficult. Thanks again for your help!!

 

[Mike500]

Thanks for your help, is this something the installer will actually do. I wouldn't even mind doing this myself just to get the dish on the wall instead of on the roof. What would you recommend I do, try and let the installer work with your tips (which, if the installer is anything like the last two, they'll just roll their eyes) or try and get the equipment and do it myself. I only fear the actual aligning part of the install, which seems very difficult. Thanks again for your help!!

Actually, aligning the dish is not that tough, even without a special satellite meter.

Install the dish with the OLD non-HD receiver and peak it for 101, 110, and 119.

The, install the HD receiver. Use the fine adjustments of the dish mount to fine tune for 99 and 103.

Here is a link to the slimline manual.

http://www.solidsignal.com/manuals/Slimline_Dish_Installation_Manual.pdf

 

[chadzx11]

Brick should make it much easier. Just make sure that you have 1/4x2 inch or longer Tapcons and a 3/16" masonary drill bit ready, in case the installer doesn't have them. I'd buy them from Lowe's or Home Depot. You can take them back, if you don't need them.

Two Tapcons into the brick for each "monopole" will not even be noticable with the small 3/16" holes, if they were ever removed. Just don't let them drive them into the motar joints, which are likely to be weak.

Tapcons are approved now?

 

[dishcomm]

Tapcons are approved now?

heck yeah....They hold great as long as they are in the brick/block and not in the mortar..actualy they hold pretty darn good in the mortar too.