Phone lines

[firebird]

Does anyone know how to "beat the system" when it comes to hooking up phone lines. From a tech's point of view. Those charge backs are starting to hurt.

 

[ChrisClearman]

charge back?

I don't have my master bedroom box hooked up to the phone. do they charge for that now w/ the HR20?

 

[firebird]

I mean the charge back a tech gets if it is not hooked to a phone line.

 

[iwc5893]

Sent you a PM.

 

[techno935]

Yea I need to know the lowdown on the phone line BS. I don't have my parent's receivers on phone lines. Should I get that going for proper updates?

 

[ChrisClearman]

updates are only through the SAT, not phone.

phone line has never been necessary. one of my DTV TiVo units is on like 575 days without a successful phone call.

 

[Slick Vic]

wireless phone jacks are known to work.

 

[wadethecableguy]

Sent you a PM.

send me one. really tired of the chargebacks also.

 

[memory]

send me one. really tired of the chargebacks also.

I would like one also please please please please please!!!

 

[pilot3100]

Sent you a PM.

Send me the PM too please.

thanks

 

[KE4EST]

Yeah can you send me one also.

 

[Harmony Home Technologies]

Sent you a PM.

Me too, please!

 

[satsol67]

What are you guy doing to get around this problem? Right now its not an issue for me but it might be soon so a heads up would be great if you dont mind.

Are you just putting a wireless jack in place? If so I would think that would get expencive.

Thanks.

 

[ChrisClearman]

I know this is something just for Techs, but can someone explain this? I'm curious.

 

[twoskinsoneman]

Sent you a PM.

I'd like to be let in on it

PM PLease.

 

[Teronzhul]

I know this is something just for Techs, but can someone explain this? I'm curious.

Essentially, whenever a new directv box is installed, directv sends a signal to the receiver telling it to phone home. If the receiver does not do this, then they charge the installer back $5 per receiver that fails to call in. They do this to ensure that the phone lines are connected just in case the customer wants to order ppv.

It is a big pain in the butt for most installers, as it is rare for there to be a preexisting phone line accessible, and running phone lines in a house that has usable cable already installed is time consuming and cost prohibitive. Many installers just end up eating the $5 and saying oh well, but I'm sure you can see that it would add up over time to a lot of lost money for the installer.

Now it says that phone lines should be run as part of a standard installation, but as far as I'm aware D* didn't increase installer pay when they decided they should do considerably more work.

 

[NiFi]

All the companys i do work for only get chargebacks AFTER their phone lines fall below DTV's "acceptable" percentage of activations. I dont remember what it was or if it was even stated.

Wireless isnt an option as the IRD's would require the 56k capable jacks which would cost as much as the install.

I dont eat the jacks but know guys who are forced to so they are using the RG6 that has the phone line piggy backed to it and then just crimping rj11 ends on. That sucks as well though as that wire is almost double stock rg6.

 

[iceturkee]

i just had an hr20 and h10 hooked up today and neither are hooked to a phone line. the installer/tech (who was the best i have ever had from d*) said it wouldn't work with vonage. he added all it meant was that i would have to order pay per view online.

 

[iwc5893]

In response to the slew of PM requests, I'll try to answer each of them as I can. I don't want to post the response for fear that D* will see it and change the way the system works.

 

[cobra2225]

wireless phone jacks are known to work.

why would you want to buy something you don't have to have ,
it works without the phone hooked up