Ok guys...here's the deal. Forget about leasing the receivers...this is self-install oriented only. I forgot that the 1st receiver would be covered in the main fee, and I wasn't looking for any DVR capabilities. (BTW...I didn't expect the thread to go this far by any means!)
As most others on here, I am a FTA guy as well (Legit FTA...no hack). :up
However, after the stories of Dave in the early 2000's suing ANYONE who purchased a card reader, I am extra conspiracy-minded.
That said, that is my reason for wanting to do the install myself. For all I know, installers must report back to D* any sort of FTA setup they may see....legit or not. I do NOT want to have to take my stuff down, just to have someone come in and install something I can easily do myself. I know I'm being a bit paranoid here, but based on previous actions of Dave, the RIAA, MPAA, etc; I feel justified to have some privacy concerns. (I'd like to stay off Dave's lists!
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I have read (maybe on this forum) that E* has instructed their installers to alert them if they run across a customer with a Disecq switch.
What do you all think?
I have spoken with D* Customer service about this (not FTA, but self-installs). I literally said to the guy: "This is a win-win situation for you guys. I do the work, then you don't have to pay installers/sub-contractors, and then I pay YOU with my subscription. This is free money!"
Of course they WOULD allow it, but even though I would be a new customer, I wouldn't get any of the current promotional pricing....that is what has kept me from doing anything.
I can understand their feelings on having professionals do this, but all I am missing is whatever license/certification they currently require their techs to have. I used to install D* in the 1990's... I used to carry a home improvement license....I am a network engineer, certified by both Microsoft and Cisco. (I realize this may not mean much to them, seeing as though they really don't care, and may or may not even believe me.) But the fact remains that I could do the job just as well as 95% of their contractors.
However, when they push this hard for sending out PAID installers, it gives credence to those that say that part of the installer's job is to sell you extra service(s). (Service that you clearly didn't want to sign up for on the phone, because if they started that "hard-sell" bullsh*t, they'd be stuck listening to a dial-tone.)
Sorry guys...I went on a rant there...it's over now