Direc TV - Trouble with local channels only

[Dgtech]

I recently had a problem that has progressively gotten worse. I would call Direc tv to have them fix it but I will be out of town this week. They probably can fix it without needing to get into my house but... I'll address it here as well. Maybe someone else can find this info helpful in the future. Not to mention, the people here are more educated that Direc TV's helpline anyways!! FOR SURE!!!

Here are the main details and possible contributing factors:

Problem: Local channels have little to no video reception. All other (non-local) channels OK.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Weather: Recent wind could be to blame if this is an alignment problem.

If this is an alignment problem, I wish I could do it myself and be done with it - than to call on one of their low level, just out of high school, underpaid, just fired from Wal Mart or Radio Shak, technicians.

The fact that I get the Lifetime channel instead of Sunday Night Football is a MAJOR CONCERN!!

[PlainBill]

Re: Direc TV - Trouble with local channels only

I recently had a problem that has progressively gotten worse. I would call Direc tv to have them fix it but I will be out of town this week. They probably can fix it without needing to get into my house but... I'll address it here as well. Maybe someone else can find this info helpful in the future. Not to mention, the people here are more educated that Direc TV's helpline anyways!! FOR SURE!!!

Here are the main details and possible contributing factors:

Problem: Local channels have little to no video reception. All other (non-local) channels OK.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Weather: Recent wind could be to blame if this is an alignment problem.

If this is an alignment problem, I wish I could do it myself and be done with it - than to call on one of their low level, just out of high school, underpaid, just fired from Wal Mart or Radio Shak, technicians.

The fact that I get the Lifetime channel instead of Sunday Night Football is a MAJOR CONCERN!!

You're really asking in the wrong forum. Most of the people here don't service satellite transmitters. DBStalk.com has the experts, wannabe experts, and just plain folks.

It's probably an alignment problem. Last I heard, DirecTV beams locals from the 119 bird. One complicating factor is the fact you have a SWM.

One final point. It's been my observation if you start by insulting someone who is coming out to help you, the quality of service received is vastly inferior.

PlainBill

[Dgtech]

Re: Direc TV - Trouble with local channels only

It's been my observation if you start by insulting someone who is coming out to help you, the quality of service received is vastly inferior.

PlainBill

I tried it their way with the original installation. After I finished the drywall repairs from thier mistakes, it's hard to let them in again. It took two guys all morning long. They asked me for some tools they could use. After their mishap, I had to tell them to leave and then I completed the install. They use contractors as they too are farming out work to slave labor.

[PlainBill]

Re: Direc TV - Trouble with local channels only

I tried it their way with the original installation. After I finished the drywall repairs from thier mistakes, it's hard to let them in again. It took two guys all morning long. They asked me for some tools they could use. After their mishap, I had to tell them to leave and then I completed the install. They use contractors as they too are farming out work to slave labor.

You mean you didn't pull the cables yourself? The moment they told me they would have to charge me $70 for drilling holes that were already present I knew I was going to do the cabling myself. I also attached the anchor board for the dish mount. But they DO have good signal meters and can aim the dish in a few minutes. And the bright spot - after they screwed up the installation, leaving me without satellite, I complained to DirecTV until they gave me a $100 credit.

PlainBill

[Dgtech]

Re: Direc TV - Trouble with local channels only

I had them install the dish on the roof of my shed instead of the house roof. Boy am I glad I did that. It made a few runs of cable harder (for them) but, saved me the roof damage. They had to run the cables underground from the house to the shed, then branch off to each room (bedroom & livingroom). Once they got the dish cables to the house the guy got pissed cause he wanted to use the existing Comcast cables that were already going room to room but since I still kept comcast internet, I told him no. Also, I think it's a different coax cable type anyways.