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Dealing with DTV
This thread has 12 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 12:35
burtont62
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Would you rather do the directv install yourself and have somebody put up the dish if you don't have the time or sat meter?

Or would you just rather have directv show up and do the whole thing?
Post 2 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 12:43
Impaqt
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DirecTV puts up Dish and gets boxes working connected directly to TV's.

We then come in and put them where they need to be.
OP | Post 3 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 12:47
burtont62
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Follow up questions.

Is it Directv or a Directv retailer?

Do you have to call for the client or does the client call?

Are you there when Directv shows up or not?
Post 4 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 12:55
alihashemi
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Always there when DirecTV arrives on site. We tell them where to put their switch and have a small TV next to the rack that they can use for testing. Once all of the boxes are working they leave and we then put everything into the rack.

Client usually calls DirecTV and they send out whoever.
Ali Hashemi
Post 5 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 18:25
radiorhea
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On May 31, 2017 at 12:55, alihashemi said...
Always there when DirecTV arrives on site. We tell them where to put their switch and have a small TV next to the rack that they can use for testing. Once all of the boxes are working they leave and we then put everything into the rack.

Client usually calls DirecTV and they send out whoever.

This is how we do it also.
Drinking upstream from the herd since 1960
Post 6 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 18:35
Brad Humphrey
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I have been doing sat installs since 1996, including every type and kind out there.
I currently have a Birdog Ultra, so I can do most any type dish out there.

When it comes to DirecTV, I install the dish and all supporting hardware. When the DirecTV guy shows up, all he has to do is plug in the boxes (locally to each TV) and activate. Afterwards I move/install the boxes where they need to go.
I get the new dish, LNB, and hardware back from the installer to use for the next customer.

Sometimes the DirecTV installer tries to play slick and refuses to give me the parts back.
Saying either: "I don't have that on my truck". Me: "Then how were you going to do the install without **** (insert dish, LNB, etc...)"
Or: "I don't have to give you anything". To which I say "that's fine, but I'm charging the customer for the parts you didn't supply and I've already talked to the customer about who to call and complain about you not providing the required equipment."

And yes, I charge to do the install. If customer wants DirecTV to do everything for free, then they can take the chance and pay me afterwards to fix everything. And deal with whatever they might have screwed up (or not done to their preference). Which sometimes can end up costing more than what it would have been for me to do to begin with.

Moving forward:
Now that AT&T's influence is really starting to kick in on procedures and tactics, not sure how future installs will be handled.
Post 7 made on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 18:40
SammPX
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471
This is a business decision for me as it all comes down to how many hours I have in a day. I'm a one-man shop and need to spend time on other things that need my attention versus messing around with Directv infrastructure. It's all about billable hours.

New install - advise client of service offerings. Help with call to service provider for initial installation and account setup. Meet installers and manage them while on-site to install their system.

Existing install - troubleshoot problem, manage tech during on-site visit. Occasionally I will order/replace Directv STBs when I know the box is dead. It's faster and more efficient than waiting for the tech and their 4 hour appointment window.

I sub out my dish service work to a local commercial satellite guy. Advise client of problem, schedule my guy in, complete the work, he bills me and I bill the client.

Now if I had a crew and was looking to fill their day with billable hours I might have a different take on this....
Post 8 made on Thursday June 1, 2017 at 00:08
Ernie Gilman
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On May 31, 2017 at 18:35, Brad Humphrey said...
And yes, I charge to do the install. If customer wants DirecTV to do everything for free, then they can take the chance and pay me afterwards to fix everything. And deal with whatever they might have screwed up (or not done to their preference). Which sometimes can end up costing more than what it would have been for me to do to begin with.

I once knew a guy who advertised that he fixed free installations. He had a pretty consistent business.|
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 9 made on Thursday June 1, 2017 at 09:43
FreddyFreeloader
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I'm not a dealer but for the right clients I just do all of the DTV carp myself even if it means paying more for boxes. They don't care hell I don't even have a meter I just set my old cell phone in front of the TV/meter and FaceTime it with my new phone.
Post 10 made on Friday June 2, 2017 at 00:49
Brad Humphrey
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On June 1, 2017 at 09:43, FreddyFreeloader said...
.... hell I don't even have a meter I just set my old cell phone in front of the TV/meter and FaceTime it with my new phone.

I am more than a little concerned about your method. Especially with DirecTV, the dish alignment on the Ka birds needs to be extremely precise. Using the very course and slow to update meters built into the receiver, is like trying to cut the steak on your plate with a hatchet. It can be done but the end result isn't always pretty.

I have seen many people complain about loosing signal with the slightest rain, when the dish was not peaked out as well as it could be.
Post 11 made on Friday June 2, 2017 at 01:06
FreddyFreeloader
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On June 2, 2017 at 00:49, Brad Humphrey said...
I am more than a little concerned about your method. Especially with DirecTV, the dish alignment on the Ka birds needs to be extremely precise. Using the very course and slow to update meters built into the receiver, is like trying to cut the steak on your plate with a hatchet. It can be done but the end result isn't always pretty.

I have seen many people complain about loosing signal with the slightest rain, when the dish was not peaked out as well as it could be.

Been doing it that way for a long time. It does just as good a job and I would put money on my on screen percentage reading anytime against a meter.

You're right people do justly complain about bad signal and that's what gives satellite a bad name but there are other equally critical factors other than alignment, the biggest one being the mounting surface when it's a roof. I guarantee you 8 times out of 10 the mast-foot is not centered on a roof joist, if it is the center lags are also not centered on the joist. .Guess what over time it's going to fall slightly out of line. That's IF the plywood is new and not rotten, not to mention the lags are all in 1/2-5/8"plywood and completely stripped out. Next most important factor is how meticulously plum the mast is.

Trust me it's not my method you have to be worried about it's the seemingly common sense stuff that I see causing problems just IMO.

Last edited by FreddyFreeloader on June 2, 2017 01:18.
Post 12 made on Friday June 2, 2017 at 01:25
Fins
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I'm very good with a hatchet. I keep it sharpened and well maintained. But, I am a cubscout leader. Not everyone can master my same level.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 13 made on Friday June 2, 2017 at 08:53
bricor
Advanced Member
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This is how I picture Fins.  lol


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