What are you doing being so close to the installer so he can't get his job done?
It's his house! I'd never leave an installer alone ANYWHERE. I don't know him/her therefore I do not trust them. They can steal, leave the job half-assed. Add to that that there are certain things he is not allowed to fiddle with. No installer has ever hooked up my receivers, just wired up the dish outside, aligned, put out proper cables and I hooked up the receiver because the equipment is my Home Theater is probably more than what he makes in a year!
Or making him so nervous that he just ... "leaves" ???
He wasn't nervous, he was probably lazy! Seems to be common among SOME installers.
Nothing #$%^ 's me off more than to have someone hover and gawk and kibitz when I am working...
Sucks for you, but you gotta take it.
You probably didn't think about that, eh?
He probably did, he just didn't care. An installer is paid to do a job and do it correctly and professionally in a clients home. The client must supervise the installer to ensure the job is completed to their satisfaction. If you don't like that... tough find a new job.
As for the OT. I don't know about your area, but in mine I accepted nothing below 90. I didn't have any problems with the installer though, especially him walking out. If I were you I would raise some serious hell especially for the activation without approval. If need be file a complaint against the installer and installer company with the BBB.
I have installed E* with a friend who was a retailer. I would go and help him out to get the jobs done faster. He had more installes than time. He/I had no problem with someone watching the install. Always went out of the way to make sure the customer was happy. We not only would put in the sat, but would connect it to a sound system if they had one. Made sure the vcr and/or dvd players where connected right etc. We even fixed the convergence and color on a few rp hd tv's. He also carried a tv degausser in the truck to fix problems with older tv's. Always peaked the dish. Always. Customer service matters.
When I switched to Direct I watched the installer. Talked to him, gave him something to drink and even helped out where I could. Needless to say my dish is peaked. I have the high 90's. No rain fade. He was behind on his installs, but took the time to do it right because he cared and I treated him with the same respect I would want when doing an install.
That's the way it should be, but sadly some installers don't feel that way. My experience with the DirecTV installer was a positive one. He did the install, I helped out when needed, hell he even got fed. The only issue was with his call center because they activated me with spanish programming without him even giving them that info. He called said I have two units to activate, gave them the numbers, and the guy hung up on him. Next thing I know I got spanish channels only.
Dish on the other hand was not so positive.