Is there a secret way to request a SWM8 single line LNB

[thework1]

I was trying to talk my parents into upgrading to a HD reciever since they have multiple HD sets and are using them with standard recievers. They have had directtv/dish trading back and forth for at least 10 years and since that time they've paved their driveway over where the cables have been run to the dish and wanted to be able to use the existing cables for the upgrade so they wouldn't have to tear up their driveway to run 2 more cables for the 4 wire LNB. When the installer showed up for the upgrade they informed me that they are not allowed to use the single wire LNB on an upgrade they were only allowed for new customers unless DirecTV authorized it on their work order. I said ok and I got on the phone with DirecTV and tried to get them to update their workorder, 5 different people I talked to 3 of them said they were managers said that the system that determines what equipment the installer is allowed to use is fully automated and that noone in the company has authorization to modify them. Is there some sort of super secret phone number I can call to get DirecTV to install the equipment I want them to?

Also we went thru and installed a coax distribution hub and rewired every room in the house and were doubly dissapointed when the installer came and was unable to do the upgrade, any ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[Zynergi]

Pick up a SWM5 LNB, 21v Power Inserter and 1x8 SWM Splitter and have it ready for the tech. If he decides to use whats on his truck then return it or resell it. I know I would personally go ahead and install a SWM system and get paid (pending the std boxes remaining were R16/R22/D12's) verses wasting time and not getting paid. But if you have RCA/Hughes/Phillips/Samsung/D10/D11 etc boxes SWM wont happen as no tech carries SWM8 Mods and 99% of them have no clue what it is. Sadly this day and age it seems easier to say NO verses YES I least try to be accommodating as much as I can.

What part of NC are you in (pm me if you would rather.)

 

[William1]

Your story sounds similar to the discussions I had with them. However.... after several phone calles I did finally get them to approve install of a SWM-8. My dish is up high on a fairly steep roof and I did not want an installer to go up there unless he absolutely had to. To get the SWM-8, my experience was exactly like Zynergi stated. I bought my own. the first three techs had never heard of it. Each time they brought a 1X8 splitter and a PI-21. Finally, the loack manager of the install company came out. He recognized it, undertstood what I wanted and agreed to get me one.

But for your install, a SWM-8 will not work because you have only two wires coming from your dish (you need all four). Your solution is as Zynergi suggests.

 

[D700]

They are picky who the sell the swm to. The check credit and so forth.

 

[thework1]

If I have to do it the old way

Is there a powered multiswitch that will work with the 4 wire dish, another problem that we might have is that it's a 120' run back to the dish

And I'm in Louisburg NC btw

 

[Zynergi]

120' will be fine pending the cable is in good order. The SWM8 and SWMLnb are powered but again SWM8 needs 4 lines from the dish. You could put the SWM8 at the dish, but that kind of defeats the purpose.

 

[thework1]

I think with some effort i can get 4 wires pulled

the existing wires are run in conduit so possibly if i pull out the old cables i can squeeze 4 cables thru, going to try to do as much work for the installers as i can before they get there so I can actually get the job done the way I want it done.


Iit's a shame that I have to do that, at my house I have timewarner and they bend over backwards to retain customers and keep them happy and it's really hard to stomach that while my parents pay just as much for their service thru directv they(I) have to do so much of the work just to get the job done right.

 

[Jared Twomey]

the existing wires are run in conduit so possibly if i pull out the old cables i can squeeze 4 cables thru, going to try to do as much work for the installers as i can before they get there so I can actually get the job done the way I want it done.


Iit's a shame that I have to do that, at my house I have timewarner and they bend over backwards to retain customers and keep them happy and it's really hard to stomach that while my parents pay just as much for their service thru directv they(I) have to do so much of the work just to get the job done right.

Would time warner run 4 cables under your driveway for free? Just curious

 

[thework1]

maybe

they've redone the run from the pole to my house 3x with no cost, service calls are free and are every time I've called had 24-48 hour turnaround times. In our are DirecTV thru Mastec has 4-6 week waits for upgrades and service calls and they charge you.

 

[randyk47]

I couldn't even get Time Warner to come out to my house to verify I had cable service much less get them to do any install work. I wanted RoadRunner at a minimum and might have gone with cable back when I asked. They said they didn't service my neighborhood though there was a TWC box in my front yard and my neighbors were TWC subscribers. I have AT&T DSL and DirecTV and won't answer the phone when TWC calls.

 

[Zynergi]

they've redone the run from the pole to my house 3x with no cost, service calls are free and are every time I've called had 24-48 hour turnaround times. In our are DirecTV thru Mastec has 4-6 week waits for upgrades and service calls and they charge you.

No Direct cost to you, but have you noticed how much your bill goes up every quarter? It may not cost YOU any extra to have free free free but everyone pays. The wait times are because so many people are switching from Cable to Sat. Know anyone wanting a Job.. Mastec is hiring.