Just got back into the office here after finishing my conversion from Charlie's Soon-o-Rama to D*. If any of you remember, my first install attempt about a month ago ended because of a probably-clueless installer. This time around was much different.
I was scheduled for the 12-4 window for today. But around 9:30, I got a call from the guy, asking if he could come now. I was floored, and said I'd see him in half an hour, once I got home from work. He arrived right around 10:00, I explained what happened the last time, my install setup (which isn't really that complex. It can just get frustrating), etc.
I helped the guy along, taking down my E* dish, stringing the two additional feeds from the satellite to my distribution box, etc. He was telling me about a massive install he had to do the other day at a house where someone was getting 9(!!!) receivers. All in all, we had a great time.
The only problem we had was getting the Slimline aligned (a massive beast). He could get 119 fine, but couldn't get 101 (or is it 103?). He could when he kneeled down at the ground, but couldn't when it was mounted on the patio pole bracket. About 45 minutes of fudging around with the pole's angle level finally brought everything into alignment.
After that, everything went like clockwork. Then the kicker - while he's filling out my paperwork, waiting for everything to activate, he says my last name the way it's supposed to be pronounced (not quite phonetic). I mention this to him, and he says he had a 6th grade teacher with the name, so he got used to it. A few questions later, I shock him when I tell him that teacher was my dad.
All in all, a cool experience, much better than even the three E* installers I went through a few months back. I tipped him a $20 for lunch and said I'd tell my dad about it.
As for the technical side, I was lucky if I got 70s on 119 for E*, more often 50s or so. 129 was a pain, barely in the 20s. With all five for D*, I get high 80s to mid 90s. And boy is the HD picture gorgeous (yes I *can* tell a difference between equivalent HD channels for E* and D*, not even counting the additional ones I get).
DirecTV and Bluegrass Satellite has been redeemed in my eyes. Thanks Bob and Plasma Concepts for the rebate special, and others who told me to hang in there after the first time around!
--Scott
Another happy convert
I was scheduled for the 12-4 window for today. But around 9:30, I got a call from the guy, asking if he could come now. I was floored, and said I'd see him in half an hour, once I got home from work. He arrived right around 10:00, I explained what happened the last time, my install setup (which isn't really that complex. It can just get frustrating), etc.
I helped the guy along, taking down my E* dish, stringing the two additional feeds from the satellite to my distribution box, etc. He was telling me about a massive install he had to do the other day at a house where someone was getting 9(!!!) receivers. All in all, we had a great time.
The only problem we had was getting the Slimline aligned (a massive beast). He could get 119 fine, but couldn't get 101 (or is it 103?). He could when he kneeled down at the ground, but couldn't when it was mounted on the patio pole bracket. About 45 minutes of fudging around with the pole's angle level finally brought everything into alignment.
After that, everything went like clockwork. Then the kicker - while he's filling out my paperwork, waiting for everything to activate, he says my last name the way it's supposed to be pronounced (not quite phonetic). I mention this to him, and he says he had a 6th grade teacher with the name, so he got used to it. A few questions later, I shock him when I tell him that teacher was my dad.
All in all, a cool experience, much better than even the three E* installers I went through a few months back. I tipped him a $20 for lunch and said I'd tell my dad about it.
As for the technical side, I was lucky if I got 70s on 119 for E*, more often 50s or so. 129 was a pain, barely in the 20s. With all five for D*, I get high 80s to mid 90s. And boy is the HD picture gorgeous (yes I *can* tell a difference between equivalent HD channels for E* and D*, not even counting the additional ones I get).
DirecTV and Bluegrass Satellite has been redeemed in my eyes. Thanks Bob and Plasma Concepts for the rebate special, and others who told me to hang in there after the first time around!
--Scott
Another happy convert
