Best way to handle technican?

[bobvick]

I have a 922 scheduled to come out this Saturday morning. I would have liked it if Dish would have just shipped it out. But they would not, so the tech is coming. Anyway, like a lot of the folks here at this forum, I would rather install the receiver myself. I have things wired in my home theatre in a certain way, and I do not want anyone else fooling around with it. I am sure that like most here I know as much if not more about the 922 than the tech will, so I am confiedent that I will be able to install it myself. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about telling the technician this gingerly, without having to go into a rant about how many satellite receivers I have had since from probably before he was born (the last one they sent out, might have been 19 years old ).

Thanks

 

[boba]

Politely, very politely.

 

[KAB]

Is this an additional receiver or a replacement? If replacement, there's not going to be problem.

 

[Aliens]

I have a 922 scheduled to come out this Saturday morning. I would have liked it if Dish would have just shipped it out. But they would not, so the tech is coming. Anyway, like a lot of the folks here at this forum, I would rather install the receiver myself. I have things wired in my home theatre in a certain way, and I do not want anyone else fooling around with it. I am sure that like most here I know as much if not more about the 922 than the tech will, so I am confiedent that I will be able to install it myself. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to go about telling the technician this gingerly, without having to go into a rant about how many satellite receivers I have had since from probably before he was born (the last one they sent out, might have been 19 years old ).

Thanks

• Don’t prejudge, which you’ve already done.
• Show some respect, it goes a long way when it comes to communication. Not everyone who works for E* is an ignoramus, and they all aren’t your enemy.
• There aren’t that many connections to make; he isn’t there to Feng Shui your equipment, so I think you’re making too much out of it.
• Show some respect.

If you have all of your cables lying where your 922 is going to go, then all he has to do is plug them in. No biggie.

 

[SlowSL]

I had the same situation, I'm a new dish customer and had ordered my 3rd receiver. They wouldn't ship it either, had to have the tech come out & install it. I have a matrix of audio/video going on from the crawlspace up into the attic and everywhere inbetween & didn't want to have to deal w/ explaining everything and what not to touch. What I did was just told him my TV's were on back order & I would setup the receiver myself once they arrived (even though I had them), and all he really needed to do was run the 3rd line from the dish to the junction block in the garage attic. He was very cool about it, he probably got paid for a complete job and only worked for about 1/2 hour, so we were both happy. The two techs I have dealt with seemed to be very cool and knew what they were doing, but I HATE having people rooting around in my house.

 

[bobvick]

I did not mean to come off as I was going to be an a-hole to the tech. The receiver t is a replacement for a 722K. It goes into a very tight space, and I am the only one that knows which cable comes in from OTA, the two from the satellite antenna, and the one that goes out to a second tv, plus the ethernet cable, and the USB from the external drive, none of them are labled and I can tell by the brand of coax that they are, and the connectors on the end. Plus there is a very specific way that the power cord has to be positioned out a hole in the back of the entertainment unit. Perhaps you think I have pre-judged, and maybe I have, but I know what I have to work with and where it all comes from, and he does not. But I will take all of your suggestions to heard, and be polite about it. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

When he comes to the door tell him that you have your stuff wired the way you like it and dont like people messing with your setup. Tell him you would like to hook it up on your own and thank him for coming ou and give him $10 for his efforts.

Most techs will be happy as they are paid per job and your letting them get to the next job quicker, plus you just purchased them breakfast.

 

[jcrandall]

Best way to handle technician?

Physically handling the technicians can result in sexual harrassment lawsuits. Best to avoid

 

[Andrewwski]

I've done the same thing before...most techs won't mind, it's less work they have to do.

 

[cditty]

• Don’t prejudge, which you’ve already done.
• Show some respect, it goes a long way when it comes to communication. Not everyone who works for E* is an ignoramus, and they all aren’t your enemy.
• There aren’t that many connections to make; he isn’t there to Feng Shui your equipment, so I think you’re making too much out of it.
• Show some respect.

If you have all of your cables lying where your 922 is going to go, then all he has to do is plug them in. No biggie.

I agree. Just feel him out. I had a tech years ago that was very knowledgeable. We had a great talk during the quick install that I helped him with.

When I did my HD upgrade, I was forced by Dish to get a tech. He crammed a phone jack into the ethernet line, bending a pin down on my new 722K. I fixed it with a jewelers screwdriver and plugged my cat5 into it. He wasn't too high on my list.

Short of it, YMMV. Most techs appreciate some help and I agree with Scott, they want to move on to the next job. He/She may have a very busy day. Let us know how it goes.

 

[KAB]

and I am the only one that knows which cable comes in from OTA, the two from the satellite antenna, and the one that goes out to a second tv, plus the ethernet cable, and the USB from the external drive, none of them are labled and I can tell by the brand of coax that they are, and the connectors on the end.

If for no other source of intelligence, he/she will know what's what when disconnecting the 722K. USB and Ethernet is obvious. Let them prove ineptitude before you assign it to them. Be their assistant, not instructor.

 

[bobvick]

If for no other source of intelligence, he/she will know what's what when disconnecting the 722K. USB and Ethernet is obvious. Let them prove ineptitude before you assign it to them. Be their assistant, not instructor.

Well, yes I would like to assume that. But I know that I have had a similar experience to cdiddy, I belive it was a DirecTV technican one time that tried to put an ethernet cable in the phone jack, he didn't try to force it mind you, but he was perplexed as to why it would not fit. I think that a large part of it is not the installers themselves, but the quality or lack of traning that they receive. Most of the ones that I have came into contact with are very nice and personable, sometimes they have just not worked with some of the stuff that I have ordered. I know that in May of 2009, when I changed back to Dish Network, the installer that they sent had never installed a 722K before.

 

[navychop]

....and give him $10 for his efforts.

I generally give them $20. If this guy shows up today, and doesn't give me a hard time about dumping the DP34s and does a good job, he'll get $20.

Gotta go - he's here!

 

[jmccurrytech]

Physically handling the technicians can result in sexual harrassment lawsuits. Best to avoid

Gives a new meaning to "Dishin' it up" ROFL

 

[bobvick]

Thanks for all of your suggestions, I appreciate the feedback. I will take it all into consideration. I am sure that it will work out fine. I will let you all know how it goes on Saturday after they bring it out. Thank you again.

 

[navychop]

Guy took less than 90 mins to remove the old dishes and put up the 1000.4 (with supports). Said I "had" to use separators. I think with a DP44 switch I could still use the two coax approach, but I have no problem with separators. He later told me they were having problems getting DP44s working with 1000.4 dishes. Sometimes.

Really nice guy, he even hooked up my third location, even though it's a 508 going out of service. I might move a box to that location one day, might as well have it ready now. One humorous thing- he was real careful to install a grounding block. But not to run a grounding wire. That would be a bear, and I've never had an install that was properly grounded. I'm not going to start worrying about it now. Maybe someday I'll do it.

When I gave him the $20, he seemed shocked. He said it would get him a really nice supper.

 

[Jimmerinwi]

Any tech who would hand you a receiver at the door and say "have a nice day" risks getting a TC on him. I have encountered these types of customers on a monthly basis. I have no problem letting them help me, hell, it's their house I'm in. As far as not letting him hook it up because of your design, I think anyone with a brain cell can transfer lines from one receiver to another, doesn't take a rocket scientist.

 

[Andrewwski]

If the tech watches the customer hook it up they can ensure they don't get a TC, but the customer can do it themselves...at least that's what I've done. There's no way your average Dish tech is going to figure out my media rack - I've got receivers running into a matrix switch with audio distributed to a combination of audio receivers and a whole-house audio system. And quite honestly, I don't want anyone touching anything in there but me. Of course, I don't have the average set up either.

 

[KKlare]

My 722 replacement for a 921 would not be left unless the installer got to replace all the white-core wall mounts/union/splices/feed-thrus with blue cores--thanks for leaving a few extra. (He got very insistent although the existing 622, 722, and 921 were all working.) That would be alright but he and assistant did not remount them in the (Home Depot) square plug mounts in the wall-jack plate--I had to do that later--and just left the cables dangle through the plates.

I'm surprised he allowed that there is no ground wire because the nearest water pipe is 40' or so away. (The dishes are low down off the porch--easy to get to and no lightning problem.) This could have been just wire the 921 connection to the new but he made it a half-day job.

-Ken

 

[mitchflorida]

That would depend if the technician is a man or a woman.