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Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV General Forum
What is going on at DirecTV lately?

Their customer service seems to be going to hell in a handbasket quick...

Here is another report from a FOX station in Maine. I do believe that DirecTV is in the wrong here.

MyFOXMaine.com | DIRECTV Won't Let Woman Out of Contract

Your thoughts please?

Come on DirecTV get your customer service back in line.
36 Replies · 4153 views
sddtvtech
first off.. HOW did the tech get LOS to begin with and say.. "hmph, no LOS, well no matter, lets just set it up, tell her it will work, if not call dtv customer service and i wont have to worry but get a paycheck!"


WHOA! what? no, if you cant get line of site, then you cant install! bottom line. (in tough tree areas, i do take 18 inch dish and stand on the ground where i think i will moount it on the roof much higher, i can tell if i can get los and how strong the signal)

so this is a TECH error setting up a dish in a LOS area not once but 4 other times and still not getting service but billed for it. If you say to no LOS, they dont get billed...


as a senior tech for my area, i would not allow it no matter what the job would pay you in your pocket... its not worth the hassle bc if you have to go back and fix YOUR error, you do have to pay for it and it automatically comes out of your paycheck. think before you install in a LOS and just say, oh well.
J
first off.. HOW did the tech get LOS to begin with and say.. "hmph, no LOS, well no matter, lets just set it up, tell her it will work, if not call dtv customer service and i wont have to worry but get a paycheck!"


WHOA! what? no, if you cant get line of site, then you cant install! bottom line. (in tough tree areas, i do take 18 inch dish and stand on the ground where i think i will moount it on the roof much higher, i can tell if i can get los and how strong the signal)

so this is a TECH error setting up a dish in a LOS area not once but 4 other times and still not getting service but billed for it. If you say to no LOS, they dont get billed...


as a senior tech for my area, i would not allow it no matter what the job would pay you in your pocket... its not worth the hassle bc if you have to go back and fix YOUR error, you do have to pay for it and it automatically comes out of your paycheck. think before you install in a LOS and just say, oh well.

Last winter someone (tech #1) could have hit a signal of some kind thriugh the trees. As the season changed and the leaves appeared techs #2-#5 had no luck.
Betya someone who arrives in November will have good luck.

Joe
sddtvtech
Last winter someone (tech #1) could have hit a signal of some kind thriugh the trees. As the season changed and the leaves appeared techs #2-#5 had no luck.
Betya someone who arrives in November will have good luck.

Joe


yah i know that is possible... but every tech should know from training. when spring comes around, will you lose line of sight? I always check that sort of thing before installing or worst putting holes in a roof where you could be liable for it later.
grydlok
nobody got the gist of it. She can receive a signal for the 101, but her locals are on the 119. Directv is saying just because you don't get your locals is not a big deal. Any area that has their locals on the 119 like mine will run into this problem. D* doesn't care about your locals they care about the core programming which she can get.
J
yah i know that is possible... but every tech should know from training. when spring comes around, will you lose line of sight? I always check that sort of thing before installing or worst putting holes in a roof where you could be liable for it later.

See, that is where you differ from these turkeys,

They note the leaves are off the trees and go sell every NLOS they can find...things work well all winter. When spring arrives with all the leaves...they are gone and so is the signal.

Add this to new move ins who do not yet realize their tree problem and you get a picture of a small but constant problem.

Joe
J
nobody got the gist of it. She can receive a signal for the 101, but her locals are on the 119. Directv is saying just because you don't get your locals is not a big deal. Any area that has their locals on the 119 like mine will run into this problem. D* doesn't care about your locals they care about the core programming which she can get.

The local channel aspect was not stressed in the TV NEWS piece. The customer herself mentioned the locals. Still looks like a case of "the trees" ,,,which will get better this winter.

People change from DISH to DTV & the other way because of one channel all the time.
Directv is charging her more than the tech was paid for the installation.

Joe
sddtvtech
See, that is where you differ from these turkeys,

They note the leaves are off the trees and go sell every NLOS they can find...things work well all winter. When spring arrives with all the leaves...they are gone and so is the signal.

Add this to new move ins who do not yet realize their tree problem and you get a picture of a small but constant problem.

Joe


I know it. i know a tech in my area that did that all winter and came spring.. service calls for majority of the installs just so they can make a paycheck. (it was a policy where once an install is done, 3 months form there if no problems presist, you are free from any tech error and dont have to pay for it) now its changed, its any thing that is repaired first season comes. (for example installed winter, come spring it causes problems due to tree leaves)


there are lots of bad techs out there that just wanna get in and out just to make a buck.

that then makes me as a senior tech a bad name. we hired a new training person (which im good friends from when we both started out in DTV and he'll definately make sure they do their job. however, for other parts of the state/nation.. i dunno what to say. its hard to find honest hard workers these days.
J
I know it. i know a tech in my area that did that all winter and came spring.. service calls for majority of the installs just so they can make a paycheck. (it was a policy where once an install is done, 3 months form there if no problems presist, you are free from any tech error and dont have to pay for it) now its changed, its any thing that is repaired first season comes. (for example installed winter, come spring it causes problems due to tree leaves)


there are lots of bad techs out there that just wanna get in and out just to make a buck.

that then makes me as a senior tech a bad name. we hired a new training person (which im good friends from when we both started out in DTV and he'll definately make sure they do their job. however, for other parts of the state/nation.. i dunno what to say. its hard to find honest hard workers these days.

Directv & their HSP pals just can't win,

Sure they get screwed by the NLOS thing...but they also charge techs for failed equipment, customer incompetence, customer failure to have a landline...anything that comes out of the telephone could cost a tech $100.00. First the honest & competent guys move on without problem leaving the unemployable. Then even the dregs quit leaving a need for someone...anyone to get out there. So the druggies and idiots and crooks get jobs.

(Oversimplified)

Joe
sddtvtech
Directv & their HSP pals just can't win,

Sure they get screwed by the NLOS thing...but they also charge techs for failed equipment, customer incompetence, customer failure to have a landline...anything that comes out of the telephone could cost a tech $100.00. First the honest & competent guys move on without problem leaving the unemployable. Then even the dregs quit leaving a need for someone...anyone to get out there. So the druggies and idiots and crooks get jobs.

(Oversimplified)

Joe


well im the ONLY actual directv in my area. the other 2 are contracted employees and they do a crap job and i do an extensive service calls to fix it. but again, if its a recent job, i get their paycheck bc it will be taken from them into mine to fix it.
J
well im the ONLY actual directv in my area. the other 2 are contracted employees and they do a crap job and i do an extensive service calls to fix it. but again, if its a recent job, i get their paycheck bc it will be taken from them into mine to fix it.

That part is only fair,

Most states require some sort of do-over period before refused work can be redone and payments back charged. If General Motors rejects a batch of gears the supplier can send more corrected parts if it wants to be paid. With satellite installation the "contractors" are often individuals that are paid like contractors but treated like employees. These guys move around in order to avoid being caught with their crappy work discovered. But if they refuse to fix defective jobs they should get no pay.

It is a hard system to operate.

Some systems send out the clowns with the knowledge that the crappy work will have to be fixed but the daily installation schedules get met, sort of.

Paying well for good work and getting rid of ineffective performers promptly works better.

Joe
sddtvtech
Paying well for good work and getting rid of ineffective performers promptly works better.

Joe



that i do get indeed!!!!... and its very very nice paycheck on a regular install/service calls.


I remember when i was a HSP, when my company filed bankruptcy, directv had been calling me for 2 months trying to get me on board... finally i got an agreement with payroll and been happy with my pay since and i get first pick of work orders that come and the rest goes to the two existing HSP techs in my area.
grydlok
The local channel aspect was not stressed in the TV NEWS piece. The customer herself mentioned the locals. Still looks like a case of "the trees" ,,,which will get better this winter.

People change from DISH to DTV & the other way because of one channel all the time.
Directv is charging her more than the tech was paid for the installation.

Joe

You know what funny the Directv is playing in the background on the TV.
TRG
TRG
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Now that I'm retired, obviously I have different health care insurance. I take 2 prescriptions. With my old insurance I didn't have to pay for either of them, now I do. It's not a huge amount but it led me to dig a little into the cost of prescription medications. I have been using Walgreens for the longest time. But what I found was that Walgreens price is 4.8 times more for one of my prescriptions and the other is 2.3 percent more compared to the lowest price pharmacy. If you pay for prescription medications you might want to have a look at trumprx and see if you can get a lower price.


Screenshot from 2026-10-22 15-43-53.webp
Screenshot from 2026-10-22 15-23-34.webp
2 Replies · 18 views
comfortably_numb
I run them through several different providers to see who has the lowest cost

Usually it's Walmart or Sam's + GoodRx

Also...


You can also price them through the CareCard and WellRx apps.

Sometimes Amazon Pharmacy is cheapest.
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K
I am fortunate that the couple things I take end up being no cost to me. So far!

I get shipped 90 day supply automatically by CVS via my Medicare Advantage plan.
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N
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
My OTA is not working anymore. This started after the latest update. I have the OTA dongle with a OTA antenna that I've been using for years. My hopper does not recognize the dongle anymore and when I go to the OTA setting, it has a screen that says to plug a dongle into the USB. I tried unplugging and plugging back, in the same usb port and other ports. The Hopper does not recognize it. Anyone have same issue?
202 Replies · 5257 views
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B
Anyone heard any updates on this, I'm still having the issue so thought I'd check in.
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Almighty1
Anyone heard any updates on this, I'm still having the issue so thought I'd check in.
No updates but if you can get DISH Technical Operations to roll you back to H710 or earlier even though H708 would be best because it also eliminates another problem like in this comment, you will also no longer have the problem as long as you don't update manually or forced to any new version until the problem is fixed as the problem started in H711 and still exist in H712 and H713.
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dishstaller
Installed an off-air antenna a couple days ago for a customer who had just cancelled his Dish service. He had a dual off-air adapter and gave it to me. Cool. I'll keep it on the truck....might come in handy. Got to admit I don't watch anything as far as live tv goes anymore. Even if we have severe weather, our local channels will have a live feed on Youtube.
navychop
In other news, it was announced that the software fix for the two tin cans and a string will not be forthcoming. A hardware fix is required. However, that fix will let you receive stations from a gazillion miles away.

Truck roll charges may apply. Two year commitment required.
brittanygarden
Hi all. If you were using a single tuner USB OTA adapter that is no longer working, please PM me. Thanks. :)
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dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
9 Replies · 80 views
dfergie
Loose lips sink ships for her...
teachsac
Dang. That had to hurt. I would have not handled it that well. Surprised it wasn't brought up by Heff at the challenge.
dfergie
First rule - if you get a clue follow it immediately, 2nd - keep your stuff with you in a strange place, 3rd - pay attention to your ride... (pre first - don't go if you think you might not want to stay Rob)
teachsac
Loved the tribal🤣
Former member 209992
Last reply · posted in SatelliteGuys Support Center
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
550 Replies · 19059 views
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Scott Greczkowski
Just a heads up... I just patched our PHP to close the major PHP exploit announced this morning.

Now on PHP 8.4.27 (cli) (built: Oct 20 2026 00:00:00)
harshness
More specifically, these:



A more scholarly story is here:

navychop
"WARNING Will Robinson!"
Don in CT
Just a heads up... I just patched our PHP to close the major PHP exploit announced this morning.

Now on PHP 8.4.27 (cli) (built: Oct 20 2026 00:00:00)
When I heard about this exploit I was wondering how quick you would be on it. :D
Scott Greczkowski
When I heard about this exploit I was wondering how quick you would be on it. :D
12 minutes after the patch was release I had it patched. :)
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68572 Replies · 2675895 views
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dishstaller
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Simply Red
Bobby
You'll Always Be Loved By Me - Brooks & Dunn
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sdfntx
You'll Always Be the One - Dinah Shore
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gms49ers
Still the One - Orleans
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long_time_Dish
One Toke Over The Line - Brewer and Shipley
Bruce
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum
I was reading this article


That said this-
Last summer, for the first time, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime claimed the largest share of the television viewing audience, surpassing both cable and broadcast TV. Streaming captured 34.8 percent of July viewers, according to Nielsen data, compared to 34.4 percent for cable and 21.6 percent for broadcast.

And then, sometime in the second half of 2022, cord-cutters became the majority. The share of cable and satellite television subscribers dipped to 48 percent, according to a report from Samba TV, a television technology company.


Now I do not consider those with YTTV and the likes, Cord Cutters, but they still do not have Traditional Cable/Satellite delivered Live TV, so I decided to do the math.

There are, now, 129 Million Households in the United States.

In 2015, there were 100 Million Cable/Sat Subscribers , no streaming Live TV Service.

Today, there are 66 Million Live TV subscribers, including Cable, Satellite and Streaming.

Roughly, Streaming Live TV has 14 Million subs including all of them.

So that means, Cable/Satellite now has, roughly, 51 Million Households

So in just 8 years, lost 49% of their subscribers and by the end of this year, expected sub count to be, roughly, 45 million households.

That means a total loss of 55% since 2015 at the end of 2023.

But out of 129 Million households, 45 million will mean only 35% will get Cable/Satellite Delivered Live TV by the end of 2023.

Imagine what 2024 will be like.
878 Replies · 71362 views
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Bruce
Sony is discontinuing it's last 4K disc player, Panasonic has been rumored to be doing the same, the end of physical media is unfortunately, about to happen.

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navychop
Got a Sony 700 at WM dot commie.

I think.

Ordered, anyway. Amazon let me go thru entire process but then said no inventory.

Hopefully,, WM will come thru.
dishstaller
Sony is discontinuing it's last 4K disc player, Panasonic has been rumored to be doing the same, the end of physical media is unfortunately, about to happen.
Hate to hear that. If you don't physically have something in your hand, you don't really own it.
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Bruce
Hate to hear that. If you don't physically have something in your hand, you don't really own it.
Even a physical disc purchase is considered a license, just extremely harder to pull access vs digital.

But once new players are no longer sold and older players quit working, that takes care of the access to your library.

See LaserDiscs for one example of that happening.
ncted
Sony is discontinuing it's last 4K disc player, Panasonic has been rumored to be doing the same, the end of physical media is unfortunately, about to happen.

I am so done with Sony on so many levels. This is just one small piece of it.
M
Last reply · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info
Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.
9 Replies · 296 views
navychop
DEATH TO NEXGEN!
primestar31
DEATH TO NEXGEN!
star trek GIF


It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.
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navychop
I truly hope you are right.
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Mister B
What bothers me is the total waste of broadcasting spectrum in this very crowded market. It has been almost three years now since KFOX converted their broadcast tower to ATSC 3.0 and moved all of their channels to other towers causing noticeable degradation of the picture quality.
I have a Sony TV with 3.0 capabilities but still use the 1.0 version of locals due to the fact that one or all of the 3.0 channels are often missing or unwatchable. In this city of 800K I doubt that more than a few hundred even know about ATSC 3.0.
The only thing that could motivate me to be interested in 3.0 would be if all of the minor networks (diginets) could be in at least 720P rather than blurry ultra-compressed 480i.
Three years is long enough to waste one of the few available RF frequencies in the area for this trial.
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.
navychop
In this city of 800K I doubt that more than a few hundred even know about ATSC 3.0.

They might notice the hand going into their pocket for their wallet.
navychop
It is time to either move on with this experiment or call it quits.

QFT. Of course, my preference involves a curb and some kicking.
Van
Van
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Who says dinner or lunch has to be the only good meals of the day?

Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
6631 Replies · 379746 views
TRG
TRG
Wound up at the Waffle House this morning. Got the two egg breakfast with coffee.

1622.webp
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dfergie
Speaking of waffles, I'm going to put my mini waffle iron on stove so I'll remember to make waffles in the morning... Had some last week, been awhile.
dfergie
Dos cackleberrys over easy on top of 2 corned beef hash patties fried in skillet... Chocolate milk.
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TRG
TRG
Cold morning today, only 32 degrees. Fired up the oven and made cinnamon rolls (from a tube) and a pot of coffee.
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TRG
TRG
2 egg burrito with bacon and a side of hashbrowns. Coffee.

1645.webp