Way Off Topoic: DirecTV

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gketell

gketell

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
Dec 15, 2006
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2,772
Location
Pleasanton, CA, USA.
I told them I would spread the word so I am.

My dad was recently moved with very short notice into an assisted care facility. Prior to the move he had signed up for a 2 year contract with DirectTV. The assisted care facility would not allow him to have the satellite dish. DirecTV would only cancel for a $187 "disconnect fee".

So, trying to avoid that and since I've been wanting satellite TV over the sucky cable we get here I had them move the service to my house. Unfortunately 2 different installers said that it was impossible to run the cables to where our HDTV is (bottom floor of a two story, no crawl space access (DirecTV won't do crawl space installs anyway) and no outside wall.

DirecTV's response? "Move the TV" or "Pay the $187" or "You can't run the cables along the floor from the other room?".

I understand the contract but when the other party tries to abide by it and physically can't due to no fault of their own a good company makes allowances. Not DirecTV. We're being forced to pay the $187 and I'm spreading the word.

Make your own judgements. I've made mine!!
GK
 
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Just have them install the dish and run the cable yourself.
Just see if they will leave you the cables. If not you can get it at Bestbuy. Get RG6 cable.

When we upgraded to HD, the guy didn't have the pole to install the new dish. So he left the dish and told me I could install it or I could give him a call and he would come back. I put it up a couple days later. Although, I installed my complete system back when you could buy everything at Bestbuy. Now they want you to let them install everything. It is real easy to do yourself.
 
The problem is that there is NO access to where our TV is. It is the bottom floor of a two story so can't come from the attic without going down through 20ft of wall from the second story attic. It is on an interior wall so we can't come through the wall without laying the cables across the floor of the guest room. The crawl space is too small and too full of heating ducting to get back to where the TV is (I know, I've tried for other stuff).

So the only choice would be to come through the wall 1/2 way down the the 20ft room (other side of the guest room) and then run the two cables along the floor 10 feet to get to the TV. Not going to happen.

According to one of the installers DishNetwork can use existing cable; only DirecTV needs multiple new cables. Which I don't get anyway. Why can't they tie into the existing cable? And why do they need two? Everyone else replicates within their receiver but DirecTV can't do that, you have to run two separate cables to the receiver.

I only tried to get it into my house to try to keep DirecTV happy when my dad had to move into a assisted care facility. Maybe they would have been less hardass if I hadn't tried to be nice. Now they can say "move the tv" whereas before I said to try to install it here there was NO option. *shrug*

GK
 
I don't know about Dishnetwork, but the reason for the larger cable is to transfer all the information. The smaller cable can't handle it. The purpose for two cables is one for the standard digital channels and one for the HD. If you don't want HD you only need one cable. The RG6 cable is only run from the dish to the receiver, after that RG59 can be run from the receiver to the tv for digital. If you want the best picture use component connections, but if you want HD, you will need a HDMI cable. Both these options are a bit expensive.
Sorry about your situation, but I would try to figure something out rather than just paying them.
 
Here is my 2 cents... You only need 2 cables if you want 2 tuners active.. 1 Cable WILL work. If you get an installer worth their salt, they could explain that. The Dish network have some tricks that they can put 2 cables into 1, then back apart. Rumor is that an upcoming receiver for Direct will have that option too.

There may be some other tricks too - Feel free to PM me if you still want other options or ideas.
 
Actually, the two cables are to feed the two receivers on the system. One to watch, the other to record to the DVR so you don't have to watch what you are recording. Either one works for HD and you CAN run only one and it CAN be your existing cable. But if you want to record one thing and watch another then you need 2 cables. And you CAN'T use the existing cable if there is a splitter in it somewhere. Ours is split someplace up in the attic but we don't know where.

HDMI is one of the main reasons I wanted (want) away from comcast cable. HDMI from their dual-HD-tuner/dvr box (only uses one cable) to my Sony TV works great until they download their software. Once a fully working new box is fully loaded with comcast software the HDMI no longer works. Something about the copy protection no longer negotiating properly and we get a nothing but a bright green screen. So I had to downgrade to component video and even my non-HD-loving wife said the picture is noticeably worse.

GK
 
Greg,
I had a similar experience with DirecTV. Ended up paying their fee and went with DishNetwork. DirectTV's customer service isn't - here in CA anyway.
Cathy Sue
 
Just like so many businesses, it all depends on the contractor or franchise owner you are dealing with. I had Direct TV come to install, and the installer said it was impossible to do. I then called Dish Network. They came out the next day and had us up and running in about 30 minutes. But then we had a strong wind and the dish got out of adjustment. I called Dish Network and they sent a different contractor out to reset the Dish than the one that installed it. After over an hour of haggling with him, we finally got our TV service back. I had to call Dish Network again when we had the outside of the house painted. The dish had to be taken down for the painter. This time I got the same outfit that orginally installed the dish. They not only took it down, they stood by while the painter painted the area, and then carefully resinstalled the dish. Same company - two different contractors - great service from the one, and much less than great service from the other contractor.

But even with the disappointing service from the one contractor, a dish is still better than the total rip off lousy non-existent customer service we get in this area from Comcast Cable. Sorry if some of our fellow pen turners work for Comcast, but life has gotten much better for us since we got rid of them.

Now if the networks could manage to produce some entertaining programs and the movie channels would realize how boring it is to watch the same movie 20 times a month, we might find television entertaining again. You know it's pretty boring when you find a cattle auction on RFD TV the most entertaining program on TV.

Bob :D
 
Oh I am. But I'm also letting people know what they might run up against if they decide to use DirecTV in the future.

GK
 
I have never had service with either dish network or DirectTV, all that I know is Cable in my opinion, is so much better. They do not nickel and dime you on the little things that my friends have dealt with. Time Warner just gives me the box and calls it a day. Whenever I need something, Time Warner is there to help me figure it out and I have my phone and Internet service too. DirectTV charges you installs fees and cancellation fees, WHY deal with that. just my two cents
 
Greg, really sympathetic about your difficulties concerning DirecTV. But Bob's post hit the problem right on the nose--the problem lies with the individual contractor, and not DirecTV itself. I have had DTV for about 7 years, now, and have had no complaints with service whatsoever, including calling them out to re-align my antenna, which I probably could do myself, but since I'm paying their $5.95 maintenance service, I figured I'd get the benefit. And, BTW CSue, I live only about 20 miles from you, so its not a problem with DTV in California, or even in Southern California--it is indeed the contractor--ask for a "second opinion"!!!!
 
Greg you are 100% about the 2 receivers in the system.. Thats what I meant by 2 tuners.

Just a warning if you try dish - you will probably have the same problem with them in that yes, it can use 1 cable, but with 1) a splitter somewhere, 2) a long cable run, and 3) rg59 cable likely... You will probably have problems with Dish too..

The types of signals & controls on the satellite talking to the dish are pickier which is why they want to run the better shielded rg6.

Good luck in any of your choice.
 
Ours is the first series dish so it has a seperate LNB for HD, that is the reason for the two cables. They upgraded the dish, so you may be able to use one cable but, to use the DVR you will need a multiplexer. I had to have one before the HD was added. Now I have a line in upstairs and two in downstairs. The only way, at this time, to get HD is the HDMI.
 
I have Time Warner cable with HDTV and DVR but uses only one cable. I can record and watch something else at the same time. I love DVR :D

I used to have DirectTV for 6 years and they worked well with us including when we moved last year. Only reason we changed service is the apartment complex we moved to won't allow dish installations. Part I hate about dish in general is losing signal when the weather is bad...which for me, is when you needed it most.
 
Sorry to hear it Greg.
I am up against a similar thing with my alarm company. I was conned/bullied/tricked into signing a 5 year contract and they "will not" cooperate with me "at all". I asked them if there was a cancellation fee I could pay. I told them, "I want to be fair and offer you compensation for my desire to end this contract". There response is,"the only way to get out of the contract is to either transfer the contract to someone else, or pay off the entire 5 years of service". Thats almost $3000. When I signed the contract, the salesman told me, "this contract is just a formality, I've seen them let folks out of the contracts before, don't worry about it". I told them this and they still absolutely refuse to cooperate. The real pain is, it comes out of my bank account.

Sorry, didn't mean to high jack your thread. Sorry to hear of your situation. Cell carriers are notorious for this too. Hate em all!!!!!!:(

By the way,,,,,,have Dish and love em. Had them from the beginning, since Primestar.
 
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