Self installation of Dish network

I have a question. I will be switching from c-band satellite to Dish Network in a few weeks. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of buying the equipment and installing it myself vs. letting a company do it for me. I'm very familiar with satellites, having done most of the repair on my current system for the last 17 years and installed a Dish Network dish for my sister about 5 years ago. They claim free equipment & free installation. I haven't read the "fine" print and was wondering what the catch is. Can anyone give me some advice on this "deal"?
Thanks in advance,
JRF

Free is free.
I let DirecTV install mine for free.
When I moved, I let them install new dish and lnb for $12.00.
Anything under $25 is worth me not falling off the roof or a ladder.

I've seen some free installations, and you really do get what you pay for. If you have the proper tools, you will do a better job because you care about your home. The installer, on the other hand, is thinking about driving to the next job, problems with his girlfriend, his truck payment- everything but doing a really good installation on your house. And, if you don't like the way it looks when he (or she) is done, I'd bet you have a tough time getting them back out to clean it up. Just my 1.5 cents worth.

I have found most permanent tradesmen are proud of the quality job they do and will give you good service despite other thoughts.

IE: they are proud of their work.

Egon

I have put several dishes up on my own houses. It is not so difficult. The hardest part is getting the dish aimed correctly. You will need someone inside the house to watch the screen and yell back out to you when the signal "locks on." A helper is required.

Start to finish, the job takes about an hour, if all goes well. If you have line of sight issues or signal strength issues, it could take a couple of hours. Just move the dish in VERY tiny increments, or you'll move right past the signal. Even 1/4 of an inch is not too small as you work on getting the signal to lock in.

I would not worry about the craftmanship or competence of the "free" installers. They are local tradesmen who will do a good job.

If your roof has extreme pitch or any other issues, why not save yourself the trouble, and let the free workers do it.

You will need to drive some 3 or 4 inch lag bolts into your roof to secure the main dish. So you want to make sure that you seal around them with silicon if you live where the weather gets severe, lots of rain or snow, etc.

Also, make sure you tighten all the fittings on the dish real good. You don't want to have to climb back up there in the middle of NBA playoffs, at 11 at nite, or whatever. [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Enjoy! [img]/forums/images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

The catch is that you have to agree to keep the service for a minimum of 12 months. Anything less and they will bill you for installation. I agree with the idea of letting someone else do it if Dish is willing to pay. Try to pick your own installer, rather than going with the Contractor that Dish uses. Those guys are way too busy, and your own (local) guy is more likely to care more about the job than someone from half way across the State.


Steve

My experience with Dish Network has been great so far. I was a Direct TV customer but after going thru 3 receivers (RCA) just after the "one year warranty", I took Dish Network up on their "FREE" offer. I pay a monthly "rental fee" for the equipment (mine is $5 for the bedroom receiver and $10 for the PVR/DVR--able to record like TiVO). The "plan" is called Digital Home Plan (DHP) or Digital Home Advantage (DHA), depending on what is offered. You can find out all this info in the "fine print" on the brochure. I know I will wind up paying more for the equipment in the long run, but after my experience with Direct TV, I though it was worth it.

My experience was a little different with the "PROFESSIONAL INSTALLER". Direct TV's installer showed up in a pick-up with DIRECT TV all over it. He had just about every piece of equipment they make. When they say "you get what you pay for", the Dish Network "Installer" showed up in his private car with some wire, a monitor, the equipment to be installed, and not much else. NO LADDER. As he gets out of the car he tells me that I am outside the radius of "FREE INSTALLATION" and he "may" have to charge me a "service call fee". FIRST PROBLEM. My old Direct TV Dish was on a pole about a 100 feet from the house. That is when the "second problem" showed up. The "installer" said the "FREE INSTALLATION" only covered 50 feet of cable and anything over that would be "EXTRA". Also, he didn't want to go under the house to run any cable. After telling him to pack everything up and take it back, he made a few phone calls and completed the installation as I wanted it.

I used to loose signals with Direct TV during rain, even light showers. After almost two years I've lost the Dish Network signal once during a storm that included a Tornado WARNING!

I would side with, and agree with, JazzDad and his observations. Each to their own desires tho.

I installed my DirecTV and ran into several decisions that I worked out that would have probably ended up shortcuts to any one else. Delicate places to thread the cable, etc., and all has worked out well. I have yet to be very comfortable with a tradesman working in my house, but with a few exceptions. Painters are the worst. Last one I am sure couldn't see very well. He rolled chunks of gunk on the walls apparently from his paint bucket, and should have strained them out. He didn't fix any nail pops, just rolled right over them. I was glad to see him leave. But, the choice is "I could have done it myself" and the next time, if there is one, I will do just that.

Essentially no problem with Directv in the three years I have had it, with only an occasional heavy rain blocking the signal for a short spell - minutes at most. Thinkin about looking into the TIVo features as well as hooking the computer up to Directway (sp?)

I just had the Dish Network professionally installed. Pleased with the job done by a local small retailler. I arrainged for the service though him and he sowed up on time and did a professional job.

As this was new construction he went in early and ran six cables to the dish location on the roof, we're getting Directway too.

Then he came back on Tuesday and mounted the dish, terminated all the cables, installed wallplate and hooked up the three receivers.

The modem will be installed as soon as I get a computer moved.

Very happy so far. I'd recommend a local retailer/installer who you'll be able to get hold of later.

Thank you very much Gadgetman! You just clinched it for me. I have been debating changing from Direct TV to Dish network for about a month now. I too suffer outages when it gets cloudy with DTVand I have been through three recievers in three months. Hughes brand. Then even though I have the protection plan they tried to charge me seventy dollars for a trip charge because THEIR equipment was faulty. Grrr.

We've had Dishnetwork a little over a year and no equipment problems. We typically only lose signal under two conditions. 1. The power is out. 2. It is pouring rain. The second one always fixes itself within a minute or two and is rarely repeated. The first one takes a little longer. [img]/forums/images/icons/blush.gif[/img]

We do keep the entire TV/Dish/Stereo/VCR/DVD thingy on an APC battery back-up surge suppressor. Just had to change it out last week after the big thunder storm. Forty bucks is cheap insurance.


Steve

Back to itmecindi: My receivers were RCA Brand. Direct TV could not do anything to help me (wasn't their equipment). I got the Direct TV through Wards. After the first receiver problem I went back to them (before they closed) and they advised me to contact RCA direct. No offer of help.

I "bought" the Dish Network thru Sam's Club. They set up the delivery and installation. Several posts recommend purchasing thru a local TV company and based on my "qualified installer" experience, I would second that if you can find one. The packages they sell are almost the same.

Back to itsmecindi II: Also location of the dish is VERY IMPORTANT! The DirectTV installation suggested mounting to the Chimney (for an extra fee of course). As my house is over 100 years old (didn't think the chimney would stand up to the extra pressure) I had them mount it as high on the house a possible. The installer suggested several limbs of a nearby Pecan tree needed to be removed. I was able to remove them. But every windstorm caused outages. I had someone remove more limbs higher up and this helped some.

When an installer showed up to replace the second RCA receiver (at my expense) he suggested placing it on a pole. He went around my property and found the best signal location, gave me a pole, and came back and relocated the dish after I installed the pole. I stilled lost signals during rain but not from limbs getting in the way.

The Dish Network guy used the same pole. Only lost the signal once since then.

Good Luck!

If its free I'd let someone do it. I had DirectTV installed about 8 years ago on my old house. Never had any problems. When I moved, I bought a new receiver and dish and installed it myself. Once temporarily on a 2 by 4 with a 2 by 12 base and some sakrete bags weighting it down. I kept that setup for a year!

Then I installed on the side of the metal building I live in.

Have not had any problems, and now have TIVO.

My daughter has Dish Network with the digital recorder, and they like my TIVO better. I don't know, as I'm not sure what is different about it other than it will record 2 channels at onces and theirs won't.

If your service goes out when its cloudy, the dish probably needs positioning to improve the signal. Mine only goes out a minute or two during heavy rain to the south.

I have never had any problems with receivers, including 2 RCAs and 2 Hughes. DirectTV technical support is excellent. I remember when we moved and were living out of boxes, and I finallly got the temporary setup going with a new receiver, I called them at 10:00 PM on Christmas eve to activate the receiver. No problem, it only took a few minutes.

I never had any problems with Direct TV. They tried everything they could to keep me on the air. When the first RCA receiver went out (said no signal available), I took it back to where I bought it. They hooked my receiver up (the salesman's look said "you just don't know what you are doing) and it didn't work there either. They would not open a box and give me another receiver and called RCA for me. RCA sent me a replacement (rebuilt) receiver with a prepaid address label to send back the old one. After several months the second receiver went out. Of course the warranty had run out by this time (by about two weeks). First RCA claimed I must be doing something wrong, saying it was probably ZAPPED by lightning. After I told them that it was protected by a surge protector that even protected the phone line, they then said I would have to call a local satellite company that carried the receiver to have it replaced. I think they really only did that to "verify" that I wasn't the problem. This guy did a complete check of the entire system, even checking out the surge protection. Everything but the receiver checked out fine. He replaced the receiver at cost.

When the third receiver went out, I called RCA and got a "DON'T CALL US AGAIN". That is when I changed to Dish Network.

Although my recorder only receives one channel, Dish Network now offers a 2 channel digital recorder and, per their web site, now have one with HDTV.

good morning,
Im have DISH TV and my local dealer has already told me when i move, to give him 3 days notice and he will install all new equipment at no charge. He is so busy (2 locations) he is opening a new one shortly. he also suggested some type of new cable [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img] for the house and i called my builder and he said he uses this type of cable [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] . i have only lost signal 4 or five times in the past 3 years due to weather [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
let the dealer do it....he has insurance.......

good luck,
bluebonnet2