Dish will install OTA Antenna...

[ncted]

but only if "they" decide you are worthy. I've been trying for the better part of a week to get someone at Dish to agree to send a technician out to install an OTA antenna at my house.

First I called Dish. The person I spoke to told me Dish wasn't "currently offering antenna installation promotions in my area." I explained I was willing to pay for the installation, but they said, it just wasn't being offered at all. This seems odd to me for two reasons: 1. I've seen several Dish techs installing antennas in my area over the past few months, and 2. The Dish tech who came out to my house earlier this year to repeak my dish offered to sell me an antenna (including installation). He claimed to have them on the truck, ready to install. In hindsight, I should have just taken him up on it, but I was in a hurry to get back to work.

Next, I tried chatting with Dish, and I got the same response.

I asked around on Nextdoor, and several people said that "Sling" installed their antennas for them, but it was a Dish tech that did the actual installation. So, I called Sling as I am also a Sling subscriber. They said, "yes, absolutely we can install an antenna for you." I thought, "great, problem solved." They transferred me to the installation department, who proceeded to tell me that, since I was a Dish customer (they could tell by my address), I had to order antenna installation through Dish Customer Service. They transferred me to Dish Support, who then proceeded to tell me they couldn't install an antenna for me.

When asked why I would be able to get an antenna installed as a Sling-only customer, but not as a Dish-only or Dish & Sling customer, they CSR told me "the system just won't let me place the order for you." In the good old days, I would assume an error on the part of whoever programmed the system. These days, I assume Dish has an AI deciding who gets what. All I want to do is have a backup source of signal whenever Nexstar or whoever tries to exact their pound of flesh from Dish subscribers the next time around.

If I were more skilled and braver, I would install the antenna myself on my roof, but I want neither a leaky roof nor a broken neck, so I am willing to pay a professional to do the work. I just can't find someone to come out and do it who doesn't want to install a UHF-only antenna in my market with 2 VHF High stations. This is extremely frustrating.

 

[Bobby]

You might try one of these as you said you were willing to pay:

3 Best TV Antenna Installers - Durham NC | Costs & Reviews

 

[ncted]

You might try one of these as you said you were willing to pay:

3 Best TV Antenna Installers - Durham NC | Costs & Reviews

You know, I searched and searched for something like that and never found it. Thank you so much!

 

[Bobby]

You're welcome.

 

[loubon]

I had the same exact experience in NJ. I even explained to them that I bought an antenna and rigged to a high post just to check if I could receive channels (and I could) and they said the same thing. I only wanted it as a backup in case the weather was bad so it looks like the Locast app might solve my situation but I can understand your frustration.

 

[stardust3]

DIY

 

[GPM]

I just called in for another issue with one of our H3s. At the end of the call the CSR asked about installing an antenna. I told her that I had an outside antenna and the reception was a bit spotty on a couple of channels. She persisted and said they thought maybe their antenna was better than mine. So, I'm scheduled for Thursday morning install. I'll be monitoring my signal strength on several channels until then. She said that if they couldn't provide better reception they'd take it all out.

I've received a few emails with the offer and now this exchange. They are sure being persistent on the issue. I guess we'll see what Thursday brings. Seems like a lot of trouble for $12 a month.

 

[ncted]

I am probably going to go with a local installer that Bobby helped me find. At least that way I have someone local to call if I need support down the road.

 

[GPM]

So, as I was getting all excited about a new toy (I'm old, small things excite), my wife asks a couple of questions. We have two H3s, she has her own. Will I still be able to use PTAT? Can I record three OTA channels at the same time? My response, hummina-hummina-hummina.

Antenna installation cancelled.

 

[ncted]

So, as I was getting all excited about a new toy (I'm old, small things excite), my wife asks a couple of questions. We have two H3s, she has her own. Will I still be able to use PTAT? Can I record three OTA channels at the same time? My response, hummina-hummina-hummina.

Antenna installation cancelled.

Personally, I'd still get it to keep the option of recording OTA when the next retransmission dispute happens in your market. Just my opinion of course.

 

[GPM]

Personally, I'd still get it to keep the option of recording OTA when the next retransmission dispute happens in your market. Just my opinion of course.

I already have an outside OTA antenna. The reception on a couple of channels is spotty, CBS which went off Dish yesterday of course being one. I recorded a couple of OTA broadcasts last night and the playback is pixelated and the sound is choppy. For some reason the CSR thought their antenna would be better. I did some research before I bought the one I have and it was basically rated as overkill for my location. Interestingly signal strength for the OTA channels run from low 70's to 100 and all are located on the same mountain about 15 miles north of me.

 

[Bobby]

I already have an outside OTA antenna. The reception on a couple of channels is spotty, CBS which went off Dish yesterday of course being one. I recorded a couple of OTA broadcasts last night and the playback is pixelated and the sound is choppy. For some reason the CSR thought their antenna would be better. I did some research before I bought the one I have and it was basically rated as overkill for my location. Interestingly signal strength for the OTA channels run from low 70's to 100 and all are located on the same mountain about 15 miles north of me.

I wonder if you are overdriving your signal. Is your antenna amplified? If so take that out the equation. If it isn't amplified you might try to put a splitter between your coax and receiver. That would drop the signal a bit but not enough to hurt your reception.

 

[GPM]

I wonder if you are overdriving your signal. Is your antenna amplified? If so take that out the equation. If it isn't amplified you might try to put a splitter between your coax and receiver. That would drop the signal a bit but not enough to hurt your reception.

Great observation. I don't have an amplified antenna, but I do have a channel master amplifier instream. Watching CBS off air this morning the broadcast is clear with no dropouts. Two recordings from last night are problematic. The signal strength shows 100 on the CBS channel right now. I'm going to remove the amplifier and see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.

Edited to add: Without the amplifier the signal strength on CBS dropped from 100 to 87. We'll see how recordings from tonight look in the morning.

 

[GPM]

Just checked my wife's H3. Hers doesn't have an instream amplifier. The signal strength read 87, same as the other H3 without the amplifier. A CBS recording from last night shows the same pixelation and audio drops. So it doesn't seem to be signal strength related, at least not that I can see.

 

[ncted]

Just checked my wife's H3. Hers doesn't have an instream amplifier. The signal strength read 87, same as the other H3 without the amplifier. A CBS recording from last night shows the same pixelation and audio drops. So it doesn't seem to be signal strength related, at least not that I can see.

I wouldn't necessarily expect the Dish antenna to work any better then.

 

[ncted]

Cyberdish came out a day early to install an antenna for me. Short story is I have an attic antenna that seems to work. First he tried a KingJack, which didn't do any better than the Mohu Leaf Glide I had been using, which was not good enough for reliable use. Then he tried an unamplified CM 4221 in my attic. This worked about as well as the other two, but when he added the CM 7778 amp, the big 4 channels all went to 100% and stayed there. PBS is also 100%, but with the occasional error, probably due to it being in the opposite direction and the signal coming through the back of the antenna, and CW is a solid 75%. We'll see how it performs as the weather and seasons change, but it seems like a good solution based on initial performance.

 

[rvvaquero]

I already have an outside OTA antenna. The reception on a couple of channels is spotty, CBS which went off Dish yesterday of course being one. I recorded a couple of OTA broadcasts last night and the playback is pixelated and the sound is choppy. For some reason the CSR thought their antenna would be better. I did some research before I bought the one I have and it was basically rated as overkill for my location. Interestingly signal strength for the OTA channels run from low 70's to 100 and all are located on the same mountain about 15 miles north of me.

I never had a problem with my VIP211K recordings of OTA. I bought a Wally and installed the OTA tuner from AirTV, which is supposedly the same one DISH sells except for color. It worked great for a couple of weeks, then started having pixelation and stuttered sound. I bought two different antennas, now using a Channel Master 2018. Signal on both my TV's are maxed out and have no pixelation or issues on this antenna.

When I run signal strength tests, they are always high. When the AirTV tuner was new, all signals were around 100. Later, they dropped to 85 to 95. Those signals should be high enough, but still get the pixelation.

So, I bought a new AirTV tuner. Work great for the first couple of weeks, then signal strength drops off. Very disappointed in the quality of OTA with these tuners. The tuner is in an open air area, still runs hot. I'm not surprised they're going bad. Talked to AirTV support. They claim they have nothing to do with DISH.

My point is, if you're using the usb OTA tuner, it may be your problem.

 

[GPM]

I never had a problem with my VIP211K recordings of OTA. I bought a Wally and installed the OTA tuner from AirTV, which is supposedly the same one DISH sells except for color. It worked great for a couple of weeks, then started having pixelation and stuttered sound. I bought two different antennas, now using a Channel Master 2018. Signal on both my TV's are maxed out and have no pixelation or issues on this antenna.

When I run signal strength tests, they are always high. When the AirTV tuner was new, all signals were around 100. Later, they dropped to 85 to 95. Those signals should be high enough, but still get the pixelation.

So, I bought a new AirTV tuner. Work great for the first couple of weeks, then signal strength drops off. Very disappointed in the quality of OTA with these tuners. The tuner is in an open air area, still runs hot. I'm not surprised they're going bad. Talked to AirTV support. They claim they have nothing to do with DISH.

My point is, if you're using the usb OTA tuner, it may be your problem.

Could well be. I'm using the same single USB OTA tuners that I had on my HWS receivers. I never paid a lot of attention to them. Mainly used them when weather knocked out the sat signal, or occasionally for live sports as OTA often seemed to give a better picture. Sounds like even if I tried updating to a new tuner I'd still likely have issues.

 

[JSheridan]

Could well be. I'm using the same single USB OTA tuners that I had on my HWS receivers. I never paid a lot of attention to them. Mainly used them when weather knocked out the sat signal, or occasionally for live sports as OTA often seemed to give a better picture. Sounds like even if I tried updating to a new tuner I'd still likely have issues.

I don't have any problems at all with the new DISH dual tuner OTA adapters. I can't say the same for the old single ones.

 

[rvvaquero]

I don't have any problems at all with the new DISH dual tuner OTA adapters. I can't say the same for the old single ones.

I guess I should have bought one of them instead of the two AirTV tuners for the same price. I thought they were supposed to be the same, just white and cheaper.