Someone please tell me once and for all if phone lines are "required" for new direct tv installations. My company continuously threatens to fire tech.'s for not hooking up phone lines. Hooking them up is one thing but I'm not bellsouth and I don't get paid to actually install phone lines and jacks. Any insight on this?
phone lines
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From what I hear, D* wants installers to run every phone line to each STB, I have also heard that if they [the installers] do not, and D* finds out that the installer did not put one in, the installer will get a chargeback, it seems as long as the customer signs off on the order and the lines are not plugged in, it seems to be 'ok' (for you and the customer, don't let D* find out), sans the usual caveats wrt not having the line hooked up. YMMV.
DTV knew when i signed up that I did not have a landline and they were totally OK with it. I added an R-15 DVR last November and that works without a phone line as well. My local RSN works fine too. I wouldn't know about sports subscriptions since some are a ripoff.
I had my system hooked up last week and the Tech never once mentioned a phone line. I only got the very basic setup so I could get the MLBEI package and got one standard reciever and one HD reciever, for later if necessary. I am not sure if this is the reason. I have a jack for my Dish reciever so I guess I could put in a spltter and hook the phone line up. Mostly the phone line is for upgrades and PPV movies, right?
I'm sorry if I sound a little hard headed but where does it state that a phone installation is part of the basic installation? I mean I dont mind plugging up the phone line or running it to the next closest outlet... but tapping into the line and putting in a jack? Bellsouth tech.'s gets good money for that, are we supposed to do it for free?!
You only need to connect it to a phone line, you could use Y-adapters to a single oulet, etc, no need, or expectation to run new fishes to new phonejacks.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/faqPage.jsp?assetId=1300027
"What will I get with standard professional installation?
You'll receive a professional installation from a highly trained installer, who will properly mount, align and peak your dish on your roof, balcony or other location within 100 feet of your TV. The installer will only use DIRECTV-approved materials, including RG 6 cable, switches and connectors, and will connect your receiver(s) to your TV and DVR, VCR or DVD player. _The installer will also connect your receiver(s) to a phone line in your home_ and will ground your system to meet local/NEC requirements."
Lan lines are included in the basic installation if there is an existing jack within 15 feet of where the receiver sits. Now if you work for Mastec then thats a different story. As a sub we can charge for them. I do NOT push them on my customers but if they want one I have no problems running one for them. I do try to hook ALL dvr's to a Lan line. When I get the receivers activated I tell the CSR that they are NOT connected and they will disable the IPP. So if the customer want to order a PP movie they will either have to call and order it or do it on the web until a Lan line is connected.
So to answer your question, No a Lan line is NOT required.
So to answer your question, No a Lan line is NOT required.
This, from DirecTv's website, in the FAQ section:
Notice that it says connect to a phone line in your home, as opposed to "install a phone line."
Why can't anyone give me a straight answer about the subject of hooking up phone lines to directv receivers? I just want to know where it states that they have to be connected or I'll be fired! Surely someone knows where to find this rule.
D* always wants you to have a phone line hooked up, that doesn't mean it has to be.
It states in the fine print when ordering any Sports subs that a connected phone line IS required.
Personally, I have my main reciever hooked to a phone line, because I like the Caller Id feature, but the rest of them are NOT hooked to a phone line.
What exactly are you trying to figure out ?
IF you are looking tosee if you get your rec. updates without one, it depends on your rec., most don't require them anymore, but the old TIVO unit do, somehow I don't think thats what your looking for.
Jimbo
darobster1,
I see you have another post with more info in it.
Most of the post are accurate,I don't know what you need to know.
From what I know, what damaged posted (2) is what I have always heard to be correct.
Then again, I am NOT an installer and think that the phone line installation would be between you and the company you work for.
Also post 10 from chadzx11 states right from the D* website.
Not sure what more you want, if your company says put them in or be fired, thats between you and them.
Personally I wish they all would stay OUT of my stuff, the local cable company is the same way.
As for the Bell South Tech you mentioned, HE does not get good money for that, just his basic hourly pay (which may be good) but that money goes to the company, not the indivdual.
Jimbo
I see you have another post with more info in it.
Most of the post are accurate,I don't know what you need to know.
From what I know, what damaged posted (2) is what I have always heard to be correct.
Then again, I am NOT an installer and think that the phone line installation would be between you and the company you work for.
Also post 10 from chadzx11 states right from the D* website.
Not sure what more you want, if your company says put them in or be fired, thats between you and them.
Personally I wish they all would stay OUT of my stuff, the local cable company is the same way.
As for the Bell South Tech you mentioned, HE does not get good money for that, just his basic hourly pay (which may be good) but that money goes to the company, not the indivdual.
Jimbo
so basically if a room doesn't have a phone line in it that's too bad? unless there is a room close enough to tie into using a coupler?
Yes.
But if DTV calls that receiver ind it doesn't respond you will be on the non responder list and the HSP you are working for will take some of your money. They won't fire you as long as you are ok with the charge backs.
Joe
But if DTV calls that receiver ind it doesn't respond you will be on the non responder list and the HSP you are working for will take some of your money. They won't fire you as long as you are ok with the charge backs.
Joe
The only company that I have heard of that requires a phone line is Mastec. I have never heard of anyone getting fired because they didnt hook one up they just get a charge back. If you work for a company that will fire you over it then I would be thinking about finding another company to work for.
satsol,
DirectSatUSA has the same arrangement. They set an arbitrary number of phones that they want connected and they ding installers. They also have the rest of the MASTEC games; long hold times to close work and "lost equipment" back charges. SOS
I wonder if it has ever happened anywhere that one of these HSPs back charged a tech for "loosing" equipment and then back charged him for not connecting the phone?
Crooks, bandits & thieves!
Joe
DirectSatUSA has the same arrangement. They set an arbitrary number of phones that they want connected and they ding installers. They also have the rest of the MASTEC games; long hold times to close work and "lost equipment" back charges. SOS
I wonder if it has ever happened anywhere that one of these HSPs back charged a tech for "loosing" equipment and then back charged him for not connecting the phone?
Crooks, bandits & thieves!
Joe
Yes, they're required, but not to function.
HSP's have a contract with DTV which includes charging back for non-responders. My HSP doesn't charge back, they simply have pay tiers based on non-responder percentages. The low level supervisors catch hell for these percentages in a trickle effect. I understand the financial aspect. 15 million DTV customers x 1 movie per year = roughly $60 million. Personally, I have IPPV deactivated through CSR or ping the reciever from home the night before... careful, if you have a responder that ends up getting door tagged or rescheduled the next day... it could cause a headache. Also, if you run into some J.O. at DTV who refuses to deactivate IPPV, or reactivates after you get off the phone, just call back and tell whoever that the customer only uses cellular service.
HSP's have a contract with DTV which includes charging back for non-responders. My HSP doesn't charge back, they simply have pay tiers based on non-responder percentages. The low level supervisors catch hell for these percentages in a trickle effect. I understand the financial aspect. 15 million DTV customers x 1 movie per year = roughly $60 million. Personally, I have IPPV deactivated through CSR or ping the reciever from home the night before... careful, if you have a responder that ends up getting door tagged or rescheduled the next day... it could cause a headache. Also, if you run into some J.O. at DTV who refuses to deactivate IPPV, or reactivates after you get off the phone, just call back and tell whoever that the customer only uses cellular service.
If DTV were serious about the phone thing they would but a ten cent phone splitter in each box. They did ti for the recorders.
I heard that line about different tiers of payment. I didn't believe them. In fact I suggested that since my cell time was up way over the limits I had because of the long hold tomes at their call center they stuff the phone charge back.
They steal from the personnel they use to represent their big deal national company.
Idiots!
Joe
I heard that line about different tiers of payment. I didn't believe them. In fact I suggested that since my cell time was up way over the limits I had because of the long hold tomes at their call center they stuff the phone charge back.
They steal from the personnel they use to represent their big deal national company.
Idiots!
Joe
darobster1,
What happens if you DO place a jack and they sign off on it, but after you leave, they decide they don't want it hooked up to the phone and unplug it ? Do you still get the charge back even though the sub disconnected it ? No one knows if or when D* might call the rec.
If it's so important to D* why don't they make it mandatory to do a phone test when the inital install is done ?
Let them know at that time if the sub has no land line.
I realize D* does these things for thier own reasons and if you suggest it , it won't go any where, just thinking outloud.....
Jimbo
What happens if you DO place a jack and they sign off on it, but after you leave, they decide they don't want it hooked up to the phone and unplug it ? Do you still get the charge back even though the sub disconnected it ? No one knows if or when D* might call the rec.
If it's so important to D* why don't they make it mandatory to do a phone test when the inital install is done ?
Let them know at that time if the sub has no land line.
I realize D* does these things for thier own reasons and if you suggest it , it won't go any where, just thinking outloud.....
Jimbo
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