A different DirecTV thread (1 Viewer)

[Judge Smails]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time, so she asked him to leave and called DirecTV to say to never send him to our home again. I must have spent 30 hours between the phone and people at my house in the last month. Total train wreck with competency and customer service. Contractors on the phone fighting to close tickets so they can get paid by DirecTV, pissed off when they can't because they haven't fixed or installed anything correctly. If they can't close the ticket then they just take their tools and go. Boxes, packaging, moved furniture left as is - crap everywhere.

As soon as someone else can get NFL games I'm gone.

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

I was supposed to get it in my new house last saturday. They no-showed, and when I called 6 hours later to see what was up, I found out that they have no HD equipment and won't get it for another week. I managed to get a $100 discount out of it, but that's pretty ridiculous.

 

[The Gator]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time...

:screeching halt:

 

[mad sweeney]

They do have an on-time gaurantee and you should be able to get at the minimum $100 back from tDTV, who then takes it from the sub-contracted company. If you had multiple late appts with multiple companies you should be able to get multiple discounts. They want your money and giving you free programming for a while doesn't cost them a thing. Just don't lose your cool on the phone with them and you should be able to get some $$ back.

 

[SanDawg]

Once you get by the garbage they send out to install, it will all be forgotten and you will not regret it. I have 6 receivers as of right now. Thankfully when I built my house I had all but 1 wired. When I had an additional receiver put in the garage it was a nightmare. They would not even drill the hole!!! He said that "it was a different crew who do that" So I had him leave it and had my father in law drill through and I finished the install 2 days later. Good times yes, but having some beers with the boys in the garage was worth it.

 

[ditka85]

I believe you can request Directv to send their own employees to install instead of contracted help.

 

[NYRAGE]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time, so she asked him to leave and called DirecTV to say to never send him to our home again. I must have spent 30 hours between the phone and people at my house in the last month. Total train wreck with competency and customer service. Contractors on the phone fighting to close tickets so they can get paid by DirecTV, pissed off when they can't because they haven't fixed or installed anything correctly. If they can't close the ticket then they just take their tools and go. Boxes, packaging, moved furniture left as is - crap everywhere. As soon as someone else can get NFL games I'm gone.

I feel your pain. I went through it last summer. I still can't get a dvr in the study after countless attempts and no-shows. Yeah, you'll get some freebies/discounts out of it, but it's not worth the hassle that you go through.

 

[Bristol]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time...

:screeching halt:

What size? Are they nice?

 

[playin4beer]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time, so she asked him to leave and called DirecTV to say to never send him to our home again. I must have spent 30 hours between the phone and people at my house in the last month. Total train wreck with competency and customer service. Contractors on the phone fighting to close tickets so they can get paid by DirecTV, pissed off when they can't because they haven't fixed or installed anything correctly. If they can't close the ticket then they just take their tools and go. Boxes, packaging, moved furniture left as is - crap everywhere.

As soon as someone else can get NFL games I'm gone.

of wife's ### ??

 

[avoiding injuries]

I believe you can request Directv to send their own employees to install instead of contracted help.

For a premium wait.I have DirecTV and am moving into a new house in a few months. I will be getting cable. For anyone who has the DVR/HD dish I have to warn you. This dish is so large that any gust of wind or percipitation can knock out the signal. Also, if they bolt this bad boy on your roof, it is only a matter of time for the bolts to come out leaving multiple holes in your roof. On top of that, you'll have to wait an average of 7-10 days for a technician to come out and adjust the dish to get signal back. They will however credit you the time you are without service and if you complain enough they will even throw in a $60 credit broken down into $10 a month for 6 months. Not worth it to me, not even for the Ticket...

 

[crowe1130]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time...

:screeching halt:

What size? Are they nice?

 

[brettdj]

I have always had good luck with them. During my HD install the guy took my old dish(Direcway) off the roof. Ran new cable, mounted grounding to the house, drilled hole into house, and filled holes with sealant. Also ran the cable along the base board, under/through a radiator.

The first installation did not have the grounding or the sealant.

 

[crowe1130]

I believe you can request Directv to send their own employees to install instead of contracted help.

For a premium wait.I have DirecTV and am moving into a new house in a few months. I will be getting cable. For anyone who has the DVR/HD dish I have to warn you. This dish is so large that any gust of wind or percipitation can knock out the signal. Also, if they bolt this bad boy on your roof, it is only a matter of time for the bolts to come out leaving multiple holes in your roof. On top of that, you'll have to wait an average of 7-10 days for a technician to come out and adjust the dish to get signal back. They will however credit you the time you are without service and if you complain enough they will even throw in a $60 credit broken down into $10 a month for 6 months. Not worth it to me, not even for the Ticket...

Hmmm, I've never had those issues. Have had the larger dish for about a year or so with no problems. Have always been happy with the service from installers and customer care.That being said, Verizon's FIOS just landed in my neighborhood. I'll consider switching if/when they get the NFL package, mostly because the quality of DTV's HD channels is really poor compared to just about anyone else. The difference really is noticeable.

 

[Keith Lewis]

I have the ticket, have an HD-DVR.......... The "New" HD requires a Different dish and a different HD-DVR to get all those new channels that are coming soon.

Is this going to cost me to upgrade?

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

I have the ticket, have an HD-DVR.......... The "New" HD requires a Different dish and a different HD-DVR to get all those new channels that are coming soon. Is this going to cost me to upgrade?

Not if you're a halfway decent talker/schmoozer. I have the new HD-DVR and another new HD box coming for installation for free. All I did was act a little stupid (yes, an ACT) and pretend I couldn't believe I wouldn't be getting the new HD channels with my current boxes.

 

[Sopranos]

I work for the Post Office and im offended. Dont make me go postal

 

[sholditch]

DirecTV's service is awfule. When I wanted my HD setup they sent some crackhead who didn't even know to use an HDMI cable. Not only that, the guy trashed my house, left #### everywhere, set up the satellite wrong (got no local HD for about 4 months) and to top it all off actually cut the cable to my internet connection while trying to set this up in the basment. Anyway, I ended up getting free HD for a year and $120 off on top of that. The good thing is they'll work with you when they screw up. The bad thing is it's not if they screw up but when and how bad.

 

[perry147]

DirectTV installation is awful. The no shows and the charging extra for installation is bogus.

 

[kupcho1]

First of all, you shouldn't have to pay ANYTHING for them to get it right. Period.

Secondly, once you get a competent installer (and there are a few), make sure you get a business card, preferably with their DirecTV contractor #, and specifically request them the next time you have problems. Also, if you know who the knuckleheads are, you can avoid them in the future as well.

 

[GregR_2]

I have the ticket, have an HD-DVR.......... The "New" HD requires a Different dish and a different HD-DVR to get all those new channels that are coming soon. Is this going to cost me to upgrade?

I have the replacement plan. Called up and told them that I am having a problem with my service, which was completely true. I've had the problem off and on for 2 years, they switched the box out once but that only made it happen less frequently. Odd problem, if both tuners are on standard def stations or both are on high def, they work. But very occasionally if one tuner is on high def and the other is on standard def it tells me there is no signal on the standard def satellite. I always felt it was a faulty multi-switch out on the dish.So anyway, I called up about that problem and since I had the service plan and was paying for HD and for locals but didn't have the 5 LNB to get the locals in HD, they upgraded the dish and replaced the receiver with the newer HD-DVR. Guys showed up on time (well, 5 minutes late), and were very cool, cleaned up everything, did a good job on the install, etc. Didn't cost me a cent.And, I got to keep my old Tivo HD DVR. Which is a lot more user friendly than the new on, unfortunately, though the old doesn't have HDMI. Giving serious thought to running 2 extra cables into the living room and having both DVRs going there, using the old one for my regular channel surfing and using the new one to record stuff and record the HD channels the old one can't get.Oh, so the moral to my story is... if you have the service plan, and you have a "problem" with your receiver, you at least have a shot of getting the upgrade for free. Probably more of a shot to negotiate it out of them with the service plan than without it.

 

[painkiller]

Just a little bit of information that I didn't see covered here...

The new HD channels will require the 5LNB dish, a specific multi-switch (older ones won't work), and probably a new receiver.

The dish and multi-switch should be paid for under the installation -- if they tell you it costs extra, don't pay them and call DirecTV. The receiver will probably cost you something, depending on how good of a negotiator you are.

I had an install two weeks ago with the new HD dish, multi-switch and receiver. I always "shadow" the installer to make sure they know what I want beforehand and then later don't start drilling holes in the wall where I don't want them.

 

[SCT]

Try being in Alaska and getting Direct. It would take me 40 minutes to write my entire nightmare down. DirectTV can have RICOCKULOUS (more than ridiculous) customer service, but I think Alaska is their worst because they themselves are still not sure who can get it and who can't.

 

[Baron Samedi]

DIRECTV's HD signal is extremely inferior and is really the worst quality out there for all HD output. My signal tiles up constantly, its so annoying and you have to pay $10.00 extra per month for this garbage. If they didn't have the ticket, DIRECTV wouldn't exist period.

 

[JerseyEagles]

Everyone should take heed w/ their "professional" installers. The two guys that came to my house, one installed and kept me busy, while the other one yanked one of my checking account checks and subsequently wiped my account out. Luckily my bank agreed that check fraud had in fact occurred and reimbursed me, so now it's their problem. Philly PD is investigating but w/ the more serious issues they have to deal w/, I'm sure I won't hear anything for about a year.

 

[Furian]

Thank God I know how to do the install myself

 

[avoiding injuries]

Everyone should take heed w/ their "professional" installers. The two guys that came to my house, one installed and kept me busy, while the other one yanked one of my checking account checks and subsequently wiped my account out. Luckily my bank agreed that check fraud had in fact occurred and reimbursed me, so now it's their problem. Philly PD is investigating but w/ the more serious issues they have to deal w/, I'm sure I won't hear anything for about a year.

What!? This one takes the cake. Although you did get your money back, while some of us had to stay home for 8 hours on multiple occasions waiting for these bastards.

 

[JerseyEagles]

Everyone should take heed w/ their "professional" installers. The two guys that came to my house, one installed and kept me busy, while the other one yanked one of my checking account checks and subsequently wiped my account out. Luckily my bank agreed that check fraud had in fact occurred and reimbursed me, so now it's their problem. Philly PD is investigating but w/ the more serious issues they have to deal w/, I'm sure I won't hear anything for about a year.

What!? This one takes the cake. Although you did get your money back, while some of us had to stay home for 8 hours on multiple occasions waiting for these bastards.

Yeah, it was fun. My local NJ police dept. couldn't do anything about it because technically, I didn't see the Direct TV guys take the check. So I had to travel to the lovely Olney section of North Philly where the check was cashed by some woman and file a report w/ the Philly PD, just by the looks of the area I knew my check fraud would take awhile to get solved. (My Direct TV crew was from a Philly installer affiliate). The Philly detective I spoke w/ the other day said "Well, each of us here has about 500 cases on our desk, so it could take awhile". Worst part was that my bank believes the check fraud mistress had a friend working at the bank where she cashed the check, because she withdraw the exact amount of my checking account, to the penny. So my bank should at least be able to find out something. Anyway, a whole lot of this but I figured I should share. Keep your eyes open peeps.

 

[NoFBinLA]

Everyone should take heed w/ their "professional" installers. The two guys that came to my house, one installed and kept me busy, while the other one yanked one of my checking account checks and subsequently wiped my account out. Luckily my bank agreed that check fraud had in fact occurred and reimbursed me, so now it's their problem. Philly PD is investigating but w/ the more serious issues they have to deal w/, I'm sure I won't hear anything for about a year.

What!? This one takes the cake. Although you did get your money back, while some of us had to stay home for 8 hours on multiple occasions waiting for these bastards.

Yeah, it was fun. My local NJ police dept. couldn't do anything about it because technically, I didn't see the Direct TV guys take the check. So I had to travel to the lovely Olney section of North Philly where the check was cashed by some woman and file a report w/ the Philly PD, just by the looks of the area I knew my check fraud would take awhile to get solved. (My Direct TV crew was from a Philly installer affiliate). The Philly detective I spoke w/ the other day said "Well, each of us here has about 500 cases on our desk, so it could take awhile". Worst part was that my bank believes the check fraud mistress had a friend working at the bank where she cashed the check, because she withdraw the exact amount of my checking account, to the penny. So my bank should at least be able to find out something. Anyway, a whole lot of this but I figured I should share. Keep your eyes open peeps.

Hate to tell you, but you may not even hear fro mthe bank. Used to be a Bank of Amercia customer (mistake #1) and right before my wedding, someone wiped out my and my fiance's entire savings account. We got the money back, but even pursuing it with BofA, they never gave us an answer about what happened - especially since the did a fake deposit and got cash back for the amount in our account. When I pointed out that for cash back they need to see ID, the BofA idiots I talked to were like 'huh, yeah that's true. Odd'. And that was the end of it and any account I had with BofA forever./tangentCalling DirectTV now to complain about a software packet they sent to my DVR that wiped out the hard drive and three weeks of shows as well as screwed the machine up for 10 days - I don't expect anything but as it's our first DirectTV experiance, I wanted to lodge a complaint.Better than the service I had with Time Warner cable earlier this year tho.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time...

:screeching halt:

What size? Are they nice?

 

[The_U]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time...

:screeching halt:

What size? Are they nice?

Hey, someone had to say it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ELI2TYREE]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time, so she asked him to leave and called DirecTV to say to never send him to our home again. I must have spent 30 hours between the phone and people at my house in the last month. Total train wreck with competency and customer service. Contractors on the phone fighting to close tickets so they can get paid by DirecTV, pissed off when they can't because they haven't fixed or installed anything correctly. If they can't close the ticket then they just take their tools and go. Boxes, packaging, moved furniture left as is - crap everywhere. As soon as someone else can get NFL games I'm gone.

time to call in a professional to set you up properly. there has to be some high end electronics store that dos custom installations, and I am sure they can deal with directv as well. explore that rouite, then when its fixed call DTV and demand some compensation back.

 

[GregR_2]

DIRECTV's HD signal is extremely inferior and is really the worst quality out there for all HD output. My signal tiles up constantly, its so annoying and you have to pay $10.00 extra per month for this garbage. If they didn't have the ticket, DIRECTV wouldn't exist period.

Mine very seldom tiles up, except for NBC but that's NBC's issue, not DirecTV.How good of a signal you get where you live may have something to do with that though. I get 90-100 on almost all the transponders.

 

[FBGirl79]

Everyone should take heed w/ their "professional" installers. The two guys that came to my house, one installed and kept me busy, while the other one yanked one of my checking account checks and subsequently wiped my account out. Luckily my bank agreed that check fraud had in fact occurred and reimbursed me, so now it's their problem. Philly PD is investigating but w/ the more serious issues they have to deal w/, I'm sure I won't hear anything for about a year.

We had Direct TV come out to our new place to install everything and the contractor shows up half lit(after the first no-show) telling us its going to be a custom install that will cost us $250 in cash that day and wouldn't accept a check made to direct tv (at that point I had no intention of giving him money just wanted to see what he was up to)...even though our neighbors have a dish right next us that isn't a "custom install" and doesn't need to be pole mounted with 40 ft of cable buried. I said no way are we giving you a dime today, if Direct TV wants to bill me they can but they guy wanted cash that day so I told him to get out and we cancelled all together. I will go the sports bar for now. Apparently where we just moved is having Direct TV put up something where all the units can get direct tv without having individual satellites mounted so I'm just waiting for that.

 

[FBGirl79]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time, so she asked him to leave and called DirecTV to say to never send him to our home again. I must have spent 30 hours between the phone and people at my house in the last month. Total train wreck with competency and customer service. Contractors on the phone fighting to close tickets so they can get paid by DirecTV, pissed off when they can't because they haven't fixed or installed anything correctly. If they can't close the ticket then they just take their tools and go. Boxes, packaging, moved furniture left as is - crap everywhere.

As soon as someone else can get NFL games I'm gone.

time to call in a professional to set you up properly. there has to be some high end electronics store that dos custom installations, and I am sure they can deal with directv as well. explore that rouite, then when its fixed call DTV and demand some compensation back.

Does anyone know if there is talk of any other providers getting this package or how long Direct TV has it?

 

[flranger]

The installer we had did an awesome job. 2 weeks, and loving it. Hope they DTV isn't reading this, I'll be calling in 6 months complaining about somthing so I can get some juice.

 

[Raiders37]

Sure, you can say "cancel" and get a great deal. I did. But ever since then it's been an absolute nightmare. I've had no less than 8 different trips by these totally inept installation contractors. First they couldn't get 2 boxes next to each other to work correctly with remotes. Then they had to come back and install the new HD 5LNB dish. Except that it didn't work with the 8X12 multiswitch I had. Tried to Jerry rig that by splicing two together. No way. Then they wanted me to pay for a new multi-switch myself. Uh uh. Won't even discuss the no-shows on some days, 2 guys showing up at the same time on other days, not having equipment with them even though installation person said it was "in the record". 2 guys couldn't speak English. One just stared at my wife's #### the whole time, so she asked him to leave and called DirecTV to say to never send him to our home again. I must have spent 30 hours between the phone and people at my house in the last month. Total train wreck with competency and customer service. Contractors on the phone fighting to close tickets so they can get paid by DirecTV, pissed off when they can't because they haven't fixed or installed anything correctly. If they can't close the ticket then they just take their tools and go. Boxes, packaging, moved furniture left as is - crap everywhere.

As soon as someone else can get NFL games I'm gone.

time to call in a professional to set you up properly. there has to be some high end electronics store that dos custom installations, and I am sure they can deal with directv as well. explore that rouite, then when its fixed call DTV and demand some compensation back.

Does anyone know if there is talk of any other providers getting this package or how long Direct TV has it?

If I remember right, I believe DTV has it until 2010. There was a thread on here back when they signed the new contract. 2 or 3 years ago maybe?

 

[Butters]

I tried to dump Comcast and move to DirecTV last year. The installation guy came, said something about not enough lines running into the house (they need two, apparently), and left. No attempt to solve the issue whatsoever. Jackhole.

So, I suffered with Comcast for another year with a crappy signal. If I plugged in my TV in the living room, I'd lose my picture in the family room. Total

This year, though, when Comcast pulled the NFL Network off of my package and put it into some other "buy up", they'd putzed me for the last time. I called DirecTV again. This time, the guy who came out did a fantastic job. He spent the whole morning here and went the extra mile by running two extra lines through a bedroom to get me hooked up. This guy rocked.

Oh, and to give you an idea about how understaffed the installation crew is, I live in Pittsburgh, and this guy came up from Baltimore for the month to do installs up here.

 

[Judge Smails]

First of all, you shouldn't have to pay ANYTHING for them to get it right. Period.Secondly, once you get a competent installer (and there are a few), make sure you get a business card, preferably with their DirecTV contractor #, and specifically request them the next time you have problems. Also, if you know who the knuckleheads are, you can avoid them in the future as well.

We did this, as actually got 2 competent people out of 8. Still, requesting a technician means someone actually wrote notes in the order (which tech, which equipment to bring, etc). Never happens. I go the original jackass who stared at my wife's ####. And they are good. 36C's. No pics - at least not in this thread...

 

[BoltzNBrew]

The tech that upgraded my dish upgraded the multiswitch at the same time, no charge.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

just had the upgrade to the 5 channel dish & reciever today. the beginning of it was a bit of a nightmare.

it started with a phone call from direct tv, telling me i needed to upgrade in order to get the new hd channels. fine. sounds good. i "press 1" for an installer...5 minutes on hold...10 minutes...15 minutes...16, 17, 18

i hang up. call back, tell person i've been on hold forever, let's get this set up..."hold for an installer please" 5 minutes... 7..8..10! #### this!! hang up. seriously getting annoyed now.

call back, fired up, tell the person to get their supervisor. they ask me what's wrong. for some reason i tell them they say "no problem, hold for an installer".... no motherfing way!!! 1 minute, 2 minutes....2:10 2:12... blood pressure now heading towards the scene in scanners, where the dude's head explodes.

hang up & call back one more time, MOP style. "get me your supervisor, immediately, no i won't tell you what it's about" supervisor comes on the line & i go all MOP on him. not the best course of action, but i was pissed. dude tells me it's going to be $100. i say no ####### way, in the damn recorded message when you called me, it stated that it would be free, there is no ####### way in hell i'm paying for anything with direct tv at this point. dude asks, "do i want it or not" i say yes, but i aint paying. he asks again, rinse-repeat. finally, i just say yes i want it. dude sets it all up & i ask him how much he's going to charge me, fully prepared to ramp up my MOP levels if it's .01..he says "there'll be no charge sir".. nothing?....wtf?? ####### tool.

installers came today & set it up, no problems, other than they didn't know they were supposed to replace the dish as well. they had 1 in the truck. i followed them around as i do with all workmen i am unfamiliar with. they were competent & knew what they were doing. nothing stolen & no charges levied. seems to be working fine.

what is this multi switch? it wasn't mentioned during installation.

& i will be making my yearly call to negotiate for some free crap, because i pay for all the football & HD stuff.

can't wait for sunday. 3 tv's in the living room!!

 

[GregR_2]

On the topic of DirecTV's installation tech quality...

A guy just showed up from DirecTV to check on the replacement dish I had done a week or so ago. He video taped the dish and asked if I'd had any problems.

So it sounds like they are at least working to address issues with installation guys. I personally didn't have any problems.

 

[Jason Wood]

DIRECTV's HD signal is extremely inferior and is really the worst quality out there for all HD output. My signal tiles up constantly, its so annoying and you have to pay $10.00 extra per month for this garbage. If they didn't have the ticket, DIRECTV wouldn't exist period.

I'm stunned at how bad the signal is. We had an installer come out to fix it, only to tell us that the first installer failed to bolt the dish onto the roof (he used ONE bolt instead of four). But since he fixed it, we still get way too many pixelated moments given the supposed quality of the signal.But what really has me pissed is the increased rates for both my core programming AND Sunday Ticket; neither of which were disclosed to me beforehand, at least in any manner that I took notice of.And why do I have to pay an additional $100 on top of the few $$$ hundred I spend for Sunday Ticket to have HD football games? Baffling.

 

[Air Coryell]

When I moved I attempted to have DirecTV installed. The tech shows up(late). Then proceeds to drill from the inside of my house to the outside without looking what was on the other side. He ended up drilling right through the main electrical line in my house, and took out power to the other 7 houses on my grid. Nice way to welcome yourself to the neighbors . The explosion caused damage to my siding. So now I have no power, and the tech says, "I can't do anything else in the dark, let me know when you get it fixed". The installation company was completely shady when I complained to them. It was a nightmare getting DirecTV to pay for damages to my property that were caused by their techs. Adding insult to injury, they would never remove the charge on my creditcard for the equipment, and I had to file a complain with AMEX to get it removed. Needless to say, I never did get DirecTV installed and never will. I look forward to the day that Sunday ticket is available elsewhere.

 

[Rogi]

I don't have DirectTV, but I can get 3-4 games in HD using my cheap rabbit ears. As long as your HDTV has a tuner you're good to go. Looks great and its cheap. Fox, CBS, and NBC had their games in HD.