Non-Penetration Installation of DirecTV

[MikelSS]

This is my first post, so hello everybody!

I've been searching and have not found a similar questions being asked, so here it is: We moved and when the Tech showed up to install at the new home (condo, so no penetration installation), he told us that he could not do it as it required mounting the antenna on a pole and bracing it to the balcony railing, so he suggested getting it installed by a contractor (I'm guessing an authorized installer/retailer?).

Given the situation, can I install the post and have the hole ready for the cable, and then call DirecTV to come and install the antenna and connect / activate the receivers? Or can I buy an antenna, install it and then have DirecTV connect/activate receivers?

I just thought about this: Do I even need to reactivate the equipment if I install my own antenna? is the equipment just plug & play if I move it from the previous home and the Tech says that he can't install the antenna himself?

Thank you!

 

[raoul5788]

to Satelliteguys MikeISS!
Do you have an area to install a pole that isn't considered a common area?

 

[MikelSS]

to Satelliteguys MikeISS!
Do you have an area to install a pole that isn't considered a common area?

Yes, I can put it on my balcony with a pole clamped to the railing.

 

[Claude Greiner]

Tech could have done it if he wanted to.

You could install your own pole, but you need to get the pole from a retailer like me since it’s not a standard size you can get from Dome Depot.

 

[HoTat2]

Well. ..

Guess with all the cutbacks and other deterioration of service by AT&T. They no longer do even "slightly" custom installs any longer. ...

Sheesh. ....

DIRECTV Deck and Balcony Rail Mount for Slimline Satellite Dish (SLMTRM) from Solid Signal

DIRECTV Deck and Balcony Rail Mount for Slimline Satellite Dish (SLMTRM) This DIRECTV Slimline rail mount secures Slimline dishes to decks and balconies. The non-penetrating installation kit can be attached to 2x4, 2x6, or 4x4 wood/decking posts or metal railings. This mounting kit is ideal...

www.solidsignal.com

And you don't even have to look hard to find them. ...



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[Jimbo]

Well. ..

Guess with all the cutbacks and other deterioration of service by AT&T. They no longer do even "slightly" custom installs any longer. ...

Sheesh. ....

DIRECTV Deck and Balcony Rail Mount for Slimline Satellite Dish (SLMTRM) from Solid Signal

DIRECTV Deck and Balcony Rail Mount for Slimline Satellite Dish (SLMTRM) This DIRECTV Slimline rail mount secures Slimline dishes to decks and balconies. The non-penetrating installation kit can be attached to 2x4, 2x6, or 4x4 wood/decking posts or metal railings. This mounting kit is ideal...

www.solidsignal.com

And you don't even have to look hard to find them. ...



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Wow ....

No where does it say they are not doing custom installs ...
Could be the guy was lazy ...
OR they could have been OUT of the Custom Mounts needed ...
I'm SURE that not every tech carries this mount on thier truck.

Btw, I can't just run over to the Home Depot to buy things like this for my job ...

 

[HoTat2]

Wow ....

No where does it say they are not doing custom installs ...
Could be the guy was lazy ...
OR they could have been OUT of the Custom Mounts needed ...
I'm SURE that not every tech carries this mount on thier truck.

Btw, I can't just run over to the Home Depot to buy things like this for my job ...

No my "Wow" was regarding the fact that the tech was just dismissive after claiming the dish had to be secured to the rail as though that couldn't be done. Without at least explaining to the customer the need to call and setup a custom installation on a rail mount.

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[whitewolf8214]

to Satelliteguys MikeISS!

 

[Jimbo]

No my "Wow" was regarding the fact that the tech was just dismissive after claiming the dish had to be secured to the rail as though that couldn't be done. Without at least explaining to the customer the need to call and setup a custom installation on a rail mount.

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Unfortunately, you really don't know what conversation actually took place.

 

[HoTat2]

Unfortunately, you really don't know what conversation actually took place.

Correct, as admittedly I can only go on the assumed veracity of what the OP claims the tech. told him.

So if the tech. really said that a railing mount would require a third party installer, and considering the way AT&T is cutting back on DIRECTV everywhere nowadays (and seemingly wants everyone on AT&T TV anyway). I thought they might not be doing custom installations any longer.

Not even for something as relatively common as a railing mount install, which I've seen DIRECTV do in the past many times.



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[raoul5788]

Correct, as admittedly I can only go on the assumed veracity of what the OP claims the tech. told him.

So if the tech. really said that a railing mount would require a third party installer, and considering the way AT&T is cutting back on DIRECTV everywhere nowadays (and seemingly wants everyone on AT&T TV anyway). I thought they might not be doing custom installations any longer.

Not even for something as relatively common as a railing mount install, which I've seen DIRECTV do in the past many times.



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Could it be a regional issue? Maybe some places aren't doing custom work anymore.

 

[TheTechGuru]

I always install my own. Solid Signal has everything you need.

BTW, if you don't want to drill any holes though any walls and don't have a pre-wire to use you can use a flat cable adapter to run though a window.

 

[Claude Greiner]

Wow ....

No where does it say they are not doing custom installs ...
Could be the guy was lazy ...
OR they could have been OUT of the Custom Mounts needed ...
I'm SURE that not every tech carries this mount on thier truck.

Btw, I can't just run over to the Home Depot to buy things like this for my job ...

A lot of that stuff even we don’t carry.

Each one of those mounts has a cost associated with them.

If I put them in technicians trucks they use them and don’t charge the customer. Or they try to charge the customer, they call the office complaining and get it for free anyways.

So If we don’t carry them, they don’t cost us money.

It’s the same thing with the stupid prepaid gift cards.

I’ll spend like $2,500 in prepaid gift cards to use as closing tools.

A month later, my sales people go through them all.

So I don’t order any, the next month, there is none to give away. They close the exact amount of sales as they did the month before.

So I just wasted $2,500 on prepaid gift cards!

The only time they worked when I was selling Dish Network to satelliteguys members. They where already going to get dish, so the $125 I was offering was just taking a save away from someone who would have ordered from Dish directly.

 

[Claude Greiner]

I always install my own. Solid Signal has everything you need.

BTW, if you don't want to drill any holes though any walls and don't have a pre-wire to use you can use a flat cable adapter to run though a window.

Just use the high quality flat adaptor. The cheap ones will catch on fire.

 

[MikelSS]

Thank you all for the comments, and sorry for the late reply, it was a very busy weekend!

To clarify: The Tech was very nice, and the reason he gave us for not installing is that the pole he had (for the non-penetration base) was not tall enough, I need it around 8' tall as my balcony faces north, so the antenna dish needs to clear a gutter I have to be able to face south over the roof.

I did see the Solid Signal rail attachment and I think it's perfect, and I also saw that they sell the antennas which is what prompted me to ask the question about doing the installation myself instead of having an independent installer take care of it.

So, back to my original questions:

- If I do the installation myself, do I just plug in the receivers and I'm done, or do I need to have DirecTV come and install/activate the receivers?
- If I need to have DirecTV (or independent installer) come anyway, can I have the holes drilled and the pole for the antenna in place and ready and have DirecTV come and install the cable and the Antenna?

Sorry about all the questions and, again, thanks for all the help!

 

[Jimbo]

Thank you all for the comments, and sorry for the late reply, it was a very busy weekend!

To clarify: The Tech was very nice, and the reason he gave us for not installing is that the pole he had (for the non-penetration base) was not tall enough, I need it around 8' tall as my balcony faces north, so the antenna dish needs to clear a gutter I have to be able to face south over the roof.

I did see the Solid Signal rail attachment and I think it's perfect, and I also saw that they sell the antennas which is what prompted me to ask the question about doing the installation myself instead of having an independent installer take care of it.

So, back to my original questions:

- If I do the installation myself, do I just plug in the receivers and I'm done, or do I need to have DirecTV come and install/activate the receivers?
- If I need to have DirecTV (or independent installer) come anyway, can I have the holes drilled and the pole for the antenna in place and ready and have DirecTV come and install the cable and the Antenna?

Sorry about all the questions and, again, thanks for all the help!

I have back in the day, set up my own stuff, fine tuned and was getting the preview channels, which tells you that you are pointed at least at the 101 Sat ... thats where you want to be anyways, but theres more to it now than it use to be.
I then called in and said I have the previews and everything is set up, can you activate service, they didn't like to do it, but they did.

So it can be done, but it was many years back when i last activated service, when I set it up.

I have done plenty of addl. set ups for people at Cottages or second homes, but they already have service set up, so you don't normally need to call.

 

[Claude Greiner]

Thank you all for the comments, and sorry for the late reply, it was a very busy weekend!

To clarify: The Tech was very nice, and the reason he gave us for not installing is that the pole he had (for the non-penetration base) was not tall enough, I need it around 8' tall as my balcony faces north, so the antenna dish needs to clear a gutter I have to be able to face south over the roof.

I did see the Solid Signal rail attachment and I think it's perfect, and I also saw that they sell the antennas which is what prompted me to ask the question about doing the installation myself instead of having an independent installer take care of it.

So, back to my original questions:

- If I do the installation myself, do I just plug in the receivers and I'm done, or do I need to have DirecTV come and install/activate the receivers?
- If I need to have DirecTV (or independent installer) come anyway, can I have the holes drilled and the pole for the antenna in place and ready and have DirecTV come and install the cable and the Antenna?

Sorry about all the questions and, again, thanks for all the help!

The tech will not install it as it’s not a stable mount.

Too much chance Of the wind catching it and you need to request a tech to come out to realign it.

I have done a few installs like that.

Generally I won’t install on an 8 foot pole on a north facing balcony

Install on a tree

Install through a window.

Install on a non pen mount on the ground or with a bucket on a porch.

Granted I did all these types of installs before, but it’s having to come back later to realign when the dish moves is not worth it.

 

[Claude Greiner]

Last time I did a tree install we sold a guy Dish Network for his home in Detroit.

Sold an additional dish for his cottage 3 hours away.

He finds a local guy, says NLOS for Dish and sells him a Directv system for his cottage with an additional Dish for his home in Detroit.

Customer calls me up wanting to cancel his Dish Network and for me to switch it to Directv for the house in Detroit.

Basically the reverse of what I was trying to do for his cottage.

OH HELL NO.

I end up driving to the guys cottage, find a LOS on a tree and had the guy disconnect the Directv account.

I had a similar situation where customer wanted a second dish at their campground. Only did it because they where co side ring cancelling the whole account if they couldn’t get it to work. That one had to go in a tree with 200 feet of overhead wire.

Had 2 other people call me trying to get me to do theirs the same way. One guy kept bugging me for weeks because nobody else would do it.

Finally had one I did through a window, but only because landlord would not allow on balcony

 

[TheRatPatrol]

Finally had one I did through a window

I guess that really works?

 

[HoTat2]

Last time I did a tree install we sold a guy Dish Network for his home in Detroit.

Sold an additional dish for his cottage 3 hours away.

He finds a local guy, says NLOS for Dish and sells him a Directv system for his cottage with an additional Dish for his home in Detroit.

Customer calls me up wanting to cancel his Dish Network and for me to switch it to Directv for the house in Detroit.

Basically the reverse of what I was trying to do for his cottage.

OH HELL NO.

I end up driving to the guys cottage, find a LOS on a tree and had the guy disconnect the Directv account.

I had a similar situation where customer wanted a second dish at their campground. Only did it because they where co side ring cancelling the whole account if they couldn’t get it to work. That one had to go in a tree with 200 feet of overhead wire.

Had 2 other people call me trying to get me to do theirs the same way. One guy kept bugging me for weeks because nobody else would do it.

Finally had one I did through a window, but only because landlord would not allow on balcony

And I take it these were Dish Network installs you did on trees at the time?

As I can't imagine doing that for a DIRECTV Slimline dish. Whatwith the tight aiming tolerances needed for the Ka band.

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