Please-I'm begging for an Experienced FTA Installer

misterdk2 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 05:09 PM

Dear Mr. Moderator. I have bought some equipment from you recently. My most recent shipper ID was 9365677 for a Fortec 90cm dish and an Invacom QPH-031 LNBF. All is well with that order. My problem is finding an installer who is experienced with FTA and dishes with H-H motors. I live in Philadelphia. I read in a post on this forum that you may be able to recommend a good installer in my area. I have tried using two companys that I found through "Local Installer" lookups on the web. Both times the results were horror stories. The first guy said on the phone that he had 20 years experience with C-Band and my install would be no problem. The guy was here for NINE hours and all I ended up with was 110 and 119, the same channels I'm already paying DirecTv for. The guy was a complete bust! The second company, I told the guy on the phone, I have a 90cm dish with a motor and I want to get various satellites for FTA reception. He says no problem, hold on for a minute. The next thing I know the receptionist picks up the phone and asks for my address. When the installer comes to my house I show him the equipment and he says "gee the installs I usually do the people don't have motors." It was all down hill from there. After being on my roof for almost 3 hours he comes down and says he can't mount the dish where I want it because it hits the roof at a certain point. Took him 3 hours to figure that out. Then, he says he knows how to fix it but he can't come back for 8 days!! Oh, I forgot to mention that he first disassembled my 18" dish. So now I have NOTHING!!! and must wait 8 days for a guy to return whos never done an FTA install. HELP PLEASE!! For some reason there seems to be no experienced FTA installers in Philadelphia, at least none that I've found. My zip code is 19138. Sorry for the long post but I must let off all the negative energy I'm feeling right now. If you know anyone in my area please let me know. I'm begging...PLEASE. Thank you.

DruzeTito · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 08:43 PM

Hey, have you ever thought about doing it yourself? Are you physically able to do it and have some time on your hands? We can guide you through the whole process.. its really not THAT hard if you follow steps correctly.

satnutwillb · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 09:51 PM

My hat goes off to Druze Tito,Bobcat,vj9999,and the many others who are willing to respond to anyone in need.I wish I knew more where I could help a little more,but I'm just learning from you guys myself. It's folks like you that make a person not so afraid to post,therefore making this forum more popular and informative.I hope I spelled that right,but if I didn't I don't have to worry about being bashed.I hope.; )

misterdk2 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 10:40 PM

Yes, I would love to do it myself but I live in a densely populated neighborhood and my only clear line of sight is from up on my 40-foot high roof. Unfortunately I am afraid of heights, otherwise I'd be doing this in a heartbeat. My brother lives in the country and his house is situated on a hill and his dish is mounted on a pole that's 6 feet high. That's right, the whole setup is shoulder height and you can just walk up to the dish and work on it. I am jealous! A friend of mine lives in Canada and has been doing satellite installs for over twenty years. I'm trying hard to entice him to come down and do my install. So far, no luck. It's hard to believe that in Philadelphia, a city and surrounding area of 5-million plus, I can't find an installer who knows FTA. Everyone around here is used to doing DirecTV installs and that's it. Little 18" dish, no motor, just the same install over and over again. Some of em seem to think that since they can hook up DirecTV then they can do FTA with a motor. They all say, "I have my sat meter, no problem", but when they actually have to do a correct alignment that works from east to west they fall flat on their faces. Yes, let me say thanks to the moderators and other forum contributors for this great Sadoun resource. I've spent many hours reading. If it wasn't for that height thing I'd be watching world-wide tv as we speak. So.........anybody? Philadelphia or southern New Jersey area? EXPERIENCED!!! Gotta be someone out there. Thanks guys.

DruzeTito · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2005, 11:26 PM

arghh.. I moved from New Jersey a year ago.. im in sunny Florida now. I could've took a trip to Philly.

Well i see now why you don't want to DIY. Yes, people who know KU motors are rare because it is not mainstream.

BUT.. I have a suggestion for you. This link is from globecast worldtv: http://www.globecastwtv.com/local_in...NNSYLVANIA.htm

check that out and contact some people. Ask if they know how to install motors and if they are willing to do it.

Admin · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2005, 12:02 AM

Also, I may add have the installer read this (hopefully before they show up at your house): http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Installati...stallation.htm

And, you may want to read this: http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Installati...stallation.htm :mozilla_laughing:

misterdk2 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2005, 01:48 AM

Thanks Admin. I have read that link many times about how to install the motor. A great read and I do thank Sadoun for that and all the other great support pages. You don't find that kind of support from most sellers. If it wasn't for the ladder/height problem I know I could do it myself. But G-D made me a coward when it comes to heights.
Druze, thanks for your replies also. How much is a roundtrip ticket from Florida to Philly? Are you in the mood for a trip? Maybe we can make a deal. See some old friends from Jersey? I'm serious if you'd like to come up I'll pay plane fare and hotel, meals, your labor etc. I did use that Globalcast installer list to get the two installers I have tried so far. I'll be making calls tomorrow again but unfortunately a lot of the companys on that list are either out of business or all they know is DirecTV installs. If anyone out there is looking to start a business I'd say there is a definite need for a real Sat Dealer in this area. How about a Sadoun-East? I can guarantee at least one customer. Thanks again guys. I need help!

DruzeTito · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2005, 12:03 PM

WOW.. I am amazed by your offer. I've never seen anyone do this before. I thank you for your offer but unfortunately I have a regular schedule going to college and besides no one should pay that much just to get a dish installed!!

And hell, I have no idea what my parents will say about it.. im still under their jurisdiction..

Anyway.. id like to ask you to tell me some more info about your residence. A dish doesn't always have to be up high to get signal. You mentioned 40 ft?? are you in an apartment building?

misterdk2 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2005, 01:20 AM

Druze, no I'm not in an apartment, it's a twin home. The DirecTV guys were able to mount their dish on the wall of my house about 12 feet off the ground. But if I want a moveable dish (which I do of course) it'll have to go on the roof to have room to rotate. I found another installer tonight on the web. I talked to him for about a half hour on the phone. He sounds very nice and honest. He said he's only done two motorized installs but he thinks he can get my job done. He said he has a "Bird Dog" which is apparently a sophisticated sat finder which he says works great. So between him and his Bird Dog and all the hours of reading I've done I'm trying to be confident that this time (try number 3) we can get it right. Third times the charm...right? He said if he doesn't get what I want he won't charge me. Sounds cool. At the very least....if all else fails....I'll have him point me at Echo 3 or something so I have something to watch at least. But I'm hoping it won't come to that. The installer that was here on Monday, who said he would call me Monday night to reschedule and come finish the job....he never called back. Unbelievable how some people can run a business. After I'm all set up I will reveal the names of the two loser installers so that others won't waste their time. I'll keep the board posted as to my results. Back to waiting again....hope Sunday comes fast. Thanks again guys for your support.

DruzeTito · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2005, 03:31 AM

all right well best of luck to you. If the installer has a difficult time.. let him read some stuff on the sadoun website and these forums as a reference!! I just did a nice writeup recently about the technical info behind a motor in the HH motor section.. its a sticky :-)