I'm getting Direct TV installed on Monday. I've been reading various posts here about people with Direct TV problems, and then most people saying that it was due to a bad install.

My current setup is comcast going to 3 TV's via coax, and one comcast cable modem. I'm going to keep the comcast cable modem.

One TV will be set up with HD DVR, the other 2 will be set up with the regular SD non DVR Box.

What can i do during the install to make sure the installer does everything correctly?

What should i look for? Should i check he is installing a certain type of dish? What should i check for to make sure the cable modem still works on the system.

What signal strength should i see? (are there multiple signal strengths i'm looking at?)..

Where should this be mounted for the best stability? I have a brick house with a slate roof. I was thinking about being on the chimney (no used at all.. it's just there on top of the roof)

Please give me all the information I need to make sure this install goes 100% perfectly. I will be here the whole time the install is going on.

I'm getting Direct TV installed on Monday. I've been reading various posts here about people with Direct TV problems, and then most people saying that it was due to a bad install.

My current setup is comcast going to 3 TV's via coax, and one comcast cable modem. I'm going to keep the comcast cable modem.

One TV will be set up with HD DVR, the other 2 will be set up with the regular SD non DVR Box.

What can i do during the install to make sure the installer does everything correctly?

What should i look for? Should i check he is installing a certain type of dish? What should i check for to make sure the cable modem still works on the system.

What signal strength should i see? (are there multiple signal strengths i'm looking at?)..

Where should this be mounted for the best stability? I have a brick house with a slate roof. I was thinking about being on the chimney (no used at all.. it's just there on top of the roof)

Please give me all the information I need to make sure this install goes 100% perfectly. I will be here the whole time the install is going on.

I'll take a shot at this.

You can't run cable service and DirectTV on the same cable plant, so you're going to have to figure out where you want to put the cable modem. If the room that it's in has only one cable drop, and you want to put a TV in there too, then you'll need to run another line.

The HD DVR needs two lines, unless you're very lucky and get the SWM dish, which is only available in a few areas. In a month or two, it will be more prevalent, but not now. If the room where you want to have the HD DVR has only one cable drop, you'll need to run another line to that room.

If your cable plant is RG59, you may have problems with DirectTV. It should be RG6 or RG6Q (quad shield). If not, you're going to have to run all new cabling.

A standard DirectTV installation does not include inside wiring. Some installers will do this for you for an additional fee, others will make you reschedule and have you take care of it. I ran all new RG6Q myself ahead of time and had the installer terminate the lines. That way I didn't have DirecTV installers punching holes in the side of my house.

Signal strengths ideally should be in the 80's and 90's, the higher the better. Some will be zero or very low on one or more satellites, and that may or may not be normal depending on your area and the package you bought. Just be nice to the installer, help him out as much as you can, and ask nicely if he'll peak the dish as best as he can.

The dish should be either a slimline 3 or slimline 5. You should not need a switch as you need four feeds (2 for DVR, one each for SD receivers).

The slate roof may be a problem for some installers. The options available are totally dependent on your site. Nobody here can help you with that. It's up to the installer. I would bet that you're going to end up with a pole installation at extra cost, but that's FWIW.

Good luck.

here is what they say you get for installation from their own web site:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4720076

On the one hand it says they will run Up to 125 feet of RG-6 cable per receiver. but then on the other hand it seems to say they will only run to one receiver for free.

All my TV sets are located on exterior walls of the house, so them punching thru shouldn't be a problem. I think what it all means is that they will no run wire inside, but they will drill holes from the outside wall to reach TV's. And all my TV's are on an outside wall so that should not be a problem.

If the dish will go where i think it will go, 2 of the tv's will be on the very same wall, and one on the opposite side of the house. The cable line currently runs from one side of the house, inside thru the basement, out the other side of the house, and up to the 3rd tv.

I'm nervous. I hope this all goes well.

No i have no idea what the current coax is, but I'd assume to just keep the coax going to the cable modem and have them run all new wiring to all the system just to make sure it's all up to spec.

Now exactly where does it have to point. I have heard to the south and up a bit (how many degrees up exactly). Next door they have a "dish network" dish outside, and if direct tv is anywhere near where that is pointing i will be fine.

I am paying for the $5.99 / month service fee, so i shouldn't have to pay anything extra if something goes wrong. We do have a 3 story brick wall so i'm sure somewhere on that wall would be a good place..

Also just got the phone number of the installation company (iron wood communications)..and called them and requested that i get an HR-22

I am paying for the $5.99 / month service fee, so i shouldn't have to pay anything extra if something goes wrong. We do have a 3 story brick wall so i'm sure somewhere on that wall would be a good place..
It's $7.99 per month for "advanced" equipment like an HD DVR, isn't it?

Also just got the phone number of the installation company (iron wood communications)..and called them and requested that i get an HR-22

If I am not mistaken, the HR22 is not available from D*. It is a purchase model only. the ones they normally carry is the hr20's and hr21's.

It's $7.99 per month for "advanced" equipment like an HD DVR, isn't it?

Used to be that price but it's been $5.99 for a while now.

The HR22 just came out, good chance they won't have them yet. It's an HR21 with a larger internal drive basically.

Used to be that price but it's been $5.99 for a while now.
Ah, so it is. I just checked my most recent statement and it confirms this.

so what's the deal with the HR21 .. i hear they have problems. Did they fixe them yet? Also when they get software updates, do they just come via the sat into your box?

quick question, is there a way to get a local company to do the install, or am i stuck with the iron wood communications people?

so what's the deal with the HR21 .. i hear they have problems. Did they fixe them yet? Also when they get software updates, do they just come via the sat into your box? What problems? I'm using an HR20 which has an equivalent set of software and it it pretty solid. Not like my DirecTivo but it is at least 10 times faster when going between menu screens. And yes, software updates are sent over the satellite.

quick question, is there a way to get a local company to do the install, or am i stuck with the iron wood communications people? You aren't stuck. Hire any company you want but it is not free. You will only get your free install if you go with DirecTV's choice of installation company.

-Robert

by the way, where is the sat located? Meaning in which direction do i need a clear line of site. It would seem this information should be somewhere.. but i can't find it anywhere.

by the way, where is the sat located? Meaning in which direction do i need a clear line of site. It would seem this information should be somewhere.. but i can't find it anywhere.

Go with FiOS.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14492950&highlight=#post14492950

Most would kill to be in that position.

i would if fios had more hd channels. But they don't. So they don't win my vote. Plus i'd have to wait over a month for an install.

by the way, where is the sat located? Meaning in which direction do i need a clear line of site. It would seem this information should be somewhere.. but i can't find it anywhere.

www.dishpointer.com

This should give you a good idea. You will need to choose the 5LNB dish.

actually found a link on direct tv where you enter in your zip and it gives you the cords. Turns out to be about SW and 36 degrees up.

I'm good to go in that direction!

checked that dishpointer guide too.. direction it needs to point is accross the road going down the street.. PERFECT! nothing in the way!

should i be worrying around rain fade? I see some people saying no problems, and others saying it happens all the time? What signal strength should I be happy with?

Meaning can i tell the installer, that 90% isn't good enough and i'd like him to get it better? Should i tip the guy to get him to get it better then 90% ? What is the highest he is likely to get it to go?

I also see people talking about some kinda signal booster that you can buy that almost gets rid of rain fade. And then i see people talking about getting big 30" dishes rather then the all in one small on that they are going to install.

So much confusion.

Here is what i'm worried about, i'm watching lost, it starts raining.. i miss 10 min of lost, the most important part. I'm screwed. How likely is this going to happen? Does their on demand offer downloading the episode again?

At 90% signal strength you should be fine. And with lost you could get an am21 tuner to record your locals off of a antenna. With a proper ota set up you will never get any breakup in signal on locals.

Ok so the OTA thing is a bit confusing to me.

I have to buy a some equipment called the AMA21 correct? And how much is that, where do I get it. And then that has to attach up to another outdoor antenna or does it just use the same dish they put up? If so who puts the outdoor OTA antenna and runs the cable to the AMA21?

Now, assuming I have all this stuff hooked up, my reciever now has 2 sources of my locals, 1 coming from the direct TV sat, and one coming from the OTA. How does it know which one to use? Will it appear as 2 different channels? Or is it smart enough to use the OTA when possible and automatically switch over to the local sat feed when needed (or the other way around).

Sorry to be asking so many questions. All this stuff is new to me, and I really want to make sure I understand it all.

I really do appreciate all the answers you guys are giving me.

It's the AM21. Not AMA21. $50 from D*. It can't connect to the dish. You or someone you hire has to install a UHF, VHF or combo antenna and run the additional cable.

You tell it which channel to use since each will be an independent channel. OTA may be more reliable but it will take up more space. You will also get sub-channels if they are available in your area.

Questions are no problem. Or you can just read up on this stuff for a few years and you will know it like the rest of us.

-Robert

should i be worrying around rain fade? I see some people saying no problems, and others saying it happens all the time? What signal strength should I be happy with?

I also see people talking about some kinda signal booster that you can buy that almost gets rid of rain fade. And then i see people talking about getting big 30" dishes rather then the all in one small on that they are going to install.

So much confusion.

Here is what i'm worried about, i'm watching lost, it starts raining.. i miss 10 min of lost, the most important part. I'm screwed. How likely is this going to happen? Does their on demand offer downloading the episode again?

OK....you are making too much out of this.

Let's be honest. No system is 100%. I've had them all and have had down time with all of them.

24 hours ago FiOS took down HDNET and HDNET Movies for 5 hours right when I wanted to record 2 movies - so nothing will be there 100% of the time. FiOS has booted my STBs literally every week at a time I wasn't thrilled with. Would I give up FiOS? No way!

Will you have issues when you don't want to have issues? Duh. NBC using Ku band distribution had the worse rainstorm/weekend in NYC in like 50 years 2 years ago during the opening weekend of the Olympics and could not keep an HD feed out to their affiliates. Now, in their case, they were stupid not to have backup - but a signal to you from a satellite or cable isn't life or death.

It happens when you do not want it to happen. That's life.

But people who say it doesn't happen just haven't been watching when it does.

It happens. But something always happens on every system. None are 100%.