New installation.

[Cascade]

New installation - Total nightmare

The installer came out Friday and told me I needed a 6"x6"x10' length of wood in the ground to put my dish on, went to Lowes this morning to buy one, took one look at the size of the thing and decided my trusty Escort wasn't up to it and took home a 4x4x10 instead.
Installer calls a few mins ago and tells me anything smaller that 6x6 will twist, I explain to him that the 4"x4" is pressure treated but was told it'd be up to the installer to make that call, I didn't like the prospect of trying to install the behemoth and asked if the installer would do it, I didn't get a straight answer.
I was then told that the 522 wasn't in stock and they were "Supposedly" due to arrive Monday which is my 2nd install date.

The old DTV dish was concreted in a 2" pole for 2 years and although I'd rather have a stable mount I think 6inchesx6inches of wood is overkill for a standard dish.

Any suggestions before I ditch this and go to DTV or back to cable? I get the feeling that this installation won't ever happen unless I do it myself.

Thanks all.

 

[SimpleSimon]

You don't say what kind of Dish is being installed. SuperDish requires a lot stouter mount than a Dish500. There's no way a Dish500 will twist a 4x4.

Also, I've never heard of just putting a wood post in the ground for this. I assume concrete is being used? Why not use a pipe (SuperDish would require a bigger one than Dish500)?

 

[Cascade]

Just a standard Dish install for the Top120 package, nothing special, it's not like I'm getting Jodrell Bank installed at the bottom of my garden.
I've already dug a 2ft deep hold and bought the concrete for it, it's definitely getting a concrete base after last years Hurricane Isabel.

Edit: According to the installer it has to be wood because it needs a 10ft clearance over some neighbouring trees and anything that's made from steel will bend, even if I guy it - apparently.....

 

[SimpleSimon]

Ah - that explains it. A 4x4 would probably still work, but what the heck, 6x6 is better if you can get one long enough.

Steel pipe could still work - with enough guying - after all, they do radio towers over 1000' high. Question is which is easier, and big post probably is.

 

[Cascade]

I guess so, back to Lowes I go - Pray for my old Escort

 

[snathanb]

I don't know about lowes, but home depot has trucks there for lugging stuff home for $19.99 an hour.

 

[PSB]

During the SBCA 1+2 certification tests, they tell us to NEVER install a dish on a wood post, the ONLY time it can be used is if it is also supported from above (like a deck post) as the wood slowly bends/twists over the seasons (very important with a multi-sat dish), if anyone checks this install it will fail QC. But we all know we live in the real world, and it would not stop me from getting satellite!

 

[boba]

From previous experience an unsupported wood post will react to weather conditions. Dryout, swell, twist, a minimum of twice a year it will have to be reaimed. Use a steel pipe.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yes, I concur that the dish should NEVER be mounted to a standalone wood post. I have performed enough service calls for re-alignment in the past to know better. Unless your seasons have the same temperature year round, go with steel.

If height is an issue, get a larger OD pipe - say 2 3/8" and then have it reduced at the top to the 1 5/8" for the dish.

 

[Cascade]

So should I tell the installer his own job when he comes or should I get the wood pole and let it warp?
I'm waiting on a Winegard to go alongside my Dish setup and think a steel pole would be far better but as the installer said, it has to be a 6"x6"x10' wooden job.

This is what's confusing me - all I want is satellite TV!!!


Edit: BTW thanks for the replies, I do appreciate it - it's just exasperating. And if anyone wants to come over and do the install I'm in SE Virginia.

 

[SimpleSimon]

I guess the hurricane reference made me think you were in S. Florida where the minimal temperature changes would minimize the warping. Now, I gotta side with everyone else - wood is gonna be a problem.

No idea why you can't structure mount it - much easier.

No idea what you mean by Winegard - except it's an antenna. They make all types and sizes for many different applications. Without more info, can't make any further recommendations.

 

[Cascade]

The far corner of my garden is the only place I have a view of the sky, we basically live in a forest so mounting it on the house or anywhere else is impossible.

Re: Winegard, it's just a small 76cm dish i'm thinking about using FTA with, it'll probably go on the same pole.

 

[Cascade]

This is a joke.
I called DN who put me through to the Executive Installation Team (Or similar) they sympathised and told me I should have never have been asked to buy my own pole and concrete. The installer called me back this morning to reschedule for the 3rd time however I told them I couldn't get a 6x6 wood pole, they put me onto their manager who honestly didn't give a toss and basically said "Tough luck"
DN just called me back and agreed with PSB about the warping issue, they're calling me back later after they've spoken to the guy/gal who is higher up the chain than the installers manager.

What a ballache, I'm so angry and tired of it all

PSB, I have a spare room at my place, I'll feed you and let you kick my arse at pool if you come over and install this thing

Edit: Pool/billiards.

 

[Oakenshld]

So should I tell the installer his own job when he comes or should I get the wood pole and let it warp?
I'm waiting on a Winegard to go alongside my Dish setup and think a steel pole would be far better but as the installer said, it has to be a 6"x6"x10' wooden job.

This is what's confusing me - all I want is satellite TV!!!


Edit: BTW thanks for the replies, I do appreciate it - it's just exasperating. And if anyone wants to come over and do the install I'm in SE Virginia.

Cascade, I live in Glen Allen, VA, right outside Richmond. I dont know how SE you live, but an installer here did a fantastic job for me, I know they travel a good deal because they are requested often. You might try giving them a call.
:up

Custom Installations
9731 Spring Run Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
804-790-1023

 

[Cascade]

They (DN) called back, told me that I had to get 6x6x 16foot pole (Notice the length keeps going up and up) and bury it 4ft into the ground, to order it from Lowes and have it delivered and they'd reimburse me.
I told them we'd already bought 4x4 the pole and concrete and couldn't afford another $50 delivery and $65 for a longer pole and I sure wan't going to dig a ******* 4ft hole.
They gave the usual "Oh this never happens" even though this is the 1st dish I've ever tried to have installed.

Long story short, I cancelled - I'm expecting a refund on my credit card and I'm thouroughly pissed off and tired of the whole thing. DN obviously can't give that much of a rats ass about their customers so piss on them, I'm going back to cable and installing my own FTA dish, that way I know it'll get installed without too much BS.

Self edited questionable language, heat of the moment stuff. Apologies.

 

[Cascade]

Hi Oakenshld, thanks for the info bud, you must've typed it whilst I was on the phone to Dish.
I'm in Newport News and I think Chesterfield may be a bit too far for them to come out, DN gave me the name of another installer close to me but by that time I'd had more than enough, all I wanted to do was get satellite TV

 

[bcshields]

Did you go through a retailer? I work for the RSP in your area and that doesn't sound like something we'd do. Was the length due to line of sight issues?

Crap, it is our job. I'm on it.

 

[Cascade]

Hi bcshields, I went through Satelliteguys - What's RSP?
Dish just called me back and told me that they'd be getting a field Service manager out to me, he seemed very sympathetic and he'll see what DN can do for me.
Although the initial installer said i'd need a slightly longer pole and that it HAD to be 6x6 wood the DN guy in corporate said that the same pole the DirecTV was on should have been fine.
anyhow, it looks like they're working on something, I honestly don't want DN to look bad, they are doing what they can and it genuinely looks like its the installer with the problem however their reputation is only as good as the faces shown to the public (Such as the installers they pay to get the work done.)

 

[GaryPen]

Cascade - Just curious. If you already had a DirecTV installation in place, why did you decide to switch to Dish?

 

[Frank Jr.]

Man I Feel Your Pain. If an installer called me and was talking about a wood post I would refuse and have Dish find me another installer. I don't know the layout of your house but here is an idea. I'm sure you could find a 12' pole somewhere in your area. You already have the concrete. Go by an electronics store ( Radio Shack if you have too) they sell a mount for a pole that screws into the fascia board of your house. Run a 2x6 on the fascia board between two raftrers. Make sure the screws go through the 2x6 into each rafter on each end. I believe your Dish needs to be pointed south so I hope the south side of your house is in the back or at least on a side of your house. Dig a small hole about 2' deep centered where the pole will fit in the mount. Call an Executive CSR with Dish, maybe they will make some type of allowance for that 6X6 you paid for. This is just fyi. Good luck with what ever you decide.