| How can I arrange for a professional installation of my DIRECTV® System? |
| Once you purchase a system, American Satellite & Entertainment will coordinate the installation process for you. You will be contacted by telephone to determine a convenient date and time for installation. |
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| Standard professional installation includes |
- Mounting and grounding your satellite dish on an exterior vertical wall of a single family dwelling
- Every aspect of the installation is in full compliance with the National Electric Code.
- Installing up to 125 feet of RG-6 cable to one (1) DIRECTV® System receiver ("the Primary DIRECTV® Receiver") through one exterior and one interior wall
- Routing of cable through a standard wood frame structure or a single layer of masonry
- All structural cable penetrations are weather sealed with UV resistant RTV silicone.
- Connection of the Primary DIRECTV® Receiver
- Connecting Primary DIRECTV® Receiver to phone jack, if receiver is within 25 feet of phone jack**
- The satellite receiver's remote has been programmed to work with the customer's equipment (i.e. TV, VCR).
- Maximizing signal strength and activating the account for DIRECTV® programming.
- At least 20 minutes of customer training on the operation of their system
- For DIRECTV® DVR or HD DVR orders, a dual run of up to one hundred twenty-five feet of swept tested RG-6 between the LNB and primary TV is supplied by the installer.
*Please note:
- Complex and/or custom installations, including multiple DIRECTV® receivers, special purpose satellite dishes, etc., will result in additional fees. Please contact us for details before ordering.
- Purchasers of professional installation service (or equipment where professional installation is included at no charge) will be assessed and agree to pay American Satellite & Entertainment a $50.00 fee if the professional installer cannot acquire the proper satellite signal due to line-of-sight issues, or if installation service is cancelled after the installer has arrived at the desired location at the agreed upon date and time.
- Pricing for existing customers may vary and certain conditions apply, please call for details.
**A telephone connection is required to receive pay per view and sports programming and is required in all installations.
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| Standard professional installation does not include |
- Install or relocation of additional receivers
- The splitting of existing or new satellite lines
- Extra RG-6 cable over 125 feet per run
- Mounting and grounding the DIRECTV® System 18" mini dish on any surface of the home where a 30' ladder can not reach
- Drilling through more than one exterior and one interior wall
- Providing any enhancements to existing phone system. (i.e. upgrading a phone line to support a 56K modem. There will be an additional charge to customer if no suitable existing connection is available.)
- Connections to stereo, VCRs and/or various audio components that are not co-located with the DIRECTV® Receiver
- Special moldings or other cosmetic hardware used to hide exposed cables
- Non-penetrating roof mount, pole mount or chimney mount (unless required for line of sight)
- Removal and/or repair of previously mounted equipment (without Waiver of Liability signed off by customer)
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| What should I expect when a professional installer comes to my home? |
| The installer will completely install your DIRECTV® System for you. This includes installing a dish on your roof, balcony or other acceptable location (must have open view of southern sky), connecting your receiver to your TV, and a brief lesson on using your system. |
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| How long will it take to get my equipment installed? |
| A professional installer will contact you to schedule a convenient time for your installation.
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| How difficult is a DIRECTV® System to install? |
| Installing a DIRECTV® System yourself is not recommended.
We provide professional installations free for those that require them. Please visit our professional installation page, or call 888-999-7331 for more details
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| How do I install the DIRECTV® System on my RV or boat? |
| You can either purchase a self-installation kit or hire a professional installer. Discuss your desire to install the DIRECTV® System in a non-traditional location with American Satellite & Entertainment during the confirmation call, remember you called 1-888-999-7331. |
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| Where is the DIRECTV® Multi-Satellite dish antenna installed? |
| To allow your DIRECTV® System to receive DIRECTV® programming, your DIRECTV® multi-satellite dish antenna needs a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. Once that is determined, our professional installer will mount the DIRECTV ® Multi-Satellite dish antenna in that viewable area, whether that's on your home or on your grounds.
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| How large is the DIRECTV® Multi-Satellite dish antenna? |
| The DIRECTV® Multi-Satellite dish antenna is round or oval shaped and smaller than you think - only 20" wide by 18" tall. However, if you're interested in WorldDirect programming, that DIRECTV® Multi-Satellite dish antenna is 36" wide.
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| Can I get DIRECTV ® programming if I live in an apartment or condominium? |
| Yes! Many apartment and condominium residents have the dish installed on a private patio or balcony - a clear view to the southern sky is required. Ask for approval from the manager of your home, apartment, condominium or townhouse prior to setup. If management has concerns about this, visit the FCC website (www.fcc.gov) for information on your rights. |
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| Can I use my current home phone number when I hook up the DIRECTV® System or do I need a second line? |
| You only need one phone line. This phone line should be connected to your DIRECTV® System constantly. The great news is that you get to keep using one phone line for your daily use, just like you do now, as well as having that line act as your permanent connection to DIRECTV. The DIRECTV® Receiver simply plugs into your existing phone line and allows pertinent billing information to be sent from the receiver to DIRECTV. Having your phone line connected allows you to watch pay per view movies with a simple click of the remote control. If you have more than one DIRECTV® Receiver, you will only need the one phone line. |
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| Can I use my existing wiring for DIRECTV® service? |
| If the cable in your house is RG-6 coax cable, you can use it to connect your DIRECTV® Receiver to your satellite dish. If your cable is not RG-6 coax, you will need to run new cable. It is important that you use RG-6 cable due to the frequency of the digital signals it must carry.
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| Can I use the existing cabling within my house? |
| Yes, if it is RG-6 or RG-59 coax cable. The cable cannot be running through any cable splitters or cable junction boxes. |
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| I am having a problem getting a signal from the satellite? |
These are the most common problems with not obtaining a signal:
- Do you have a clear unobstructed view to the satellite in the southern sky?
- Is the dish at the correct degree angle? (refer to dish pointing in the DIRECTV® professional installer’s guide)
- Is upright mounting pipe level? (up and down)
- When moving the dish up and down, are you centering the elevation?
- Are you centering the indicator (metal plate) and not the bolt?
If you answered yes to any of these questions and are still having trouble, please call our customer service department at 888-999-7332 or send an email to cservice@americansatellite.com.
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| If I install my DIRECTV® satellite dish outside, will it be stolen? |
| The DIRECTV® satellite dish is the least expensive component of the DIRECTV® System and is basically useless without the receiver. Also keep in mind that the dish is small enough to be placed in an inconspicous location on your home or property. Properly installed satellite dishes are secured to a structure; therefore a thief would need tools and some time to actually take it. |
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| My homeowners' association has some rules about what's placed outside our house. Are there regulations that supersede these restrictions? |
| The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a rule that generally forbids local governments and homeowners associations from preventing installation of DBS dishes one meter or smaller in size (in Alaska, the dish size limit does not apply).
For more information, check the FCC's website at www.fcc.gov
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| Can DIRECTV® be connected to more than one television set in my house? |
Purchasing separate DIRECTV® System receivers for the various television sets in your home allows the flexibility of watching different DIRECTV® programs on different television sets. To do so, you will need to purchase an upgraded DIRECTV® System.
The upgraded DIRECTV® System, allows you to use additional receivers so members in your household can watch different channels or pay per view programs in different rooms at the same time. The second room receivers are sold separately.
If all your DIRECTV® System receivers are connected to the same phone line, then DIRECTV can mirror your subscription package for a nominal fee for each additional DIRECTV outlet.
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