Direct TV/dish network and trees

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

We live out in a rural area and when we moved here 25 years ago cable TV was not available, so we bought one of the great big 12-foot c-band satellite dishes and put it in the orchard (where it was not visible from the house or the street). We have been more than happy with it. Great picture quality and no need to purchase "packages" of programming; all channels were ala-carte and very cheap.
Well, we just got the dreaded phone call from our programming provider that by the end of this year, c-band satellite broadcasts will no longer exist. The small dishes have squeezed them out of business.
I have been looking at the alternatives and my question is this: our house is surrounded by 100 year old maple trees. They are HUGE. Will a small DirectTV or Dish net dish have the signals blocked by the trees? Anyone else have a tree problem with their dish? Otherwise I guess we will have to go with regular cable (now available in our area!)

 

[golfgal]

You don't have to mount the dish on your house so that might be an option. Also, it is possible that the aim of the dish is high enough to get over the trees. Call them and see if they come out free of charge to see if an installation somewhere is possible.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Thanks, Golfgal. I guess I am worried that they will tell me it will be great just to make a sale, even if the reception turns out to be crummy.

 

[marlynnp]

My house sounds like yours - 2.5 story farmhouse that the maples tower over. We had them install the dishes on our barn. Works fine!

 

[sjs314]

I had direct tv come out 4 years ago when I first moved where I am now, prepaid them $50 and when the two men came they said I had no line of sight after using this lil meter thing, because of the trees, my money was refunded but I was disappointed. I would just call and have them come out and check.

 

[blana]

We ad to mount our dish on the tip top of the hosue to clear the trees. Only Direct TV had the satellite at a high enough angle for us to clear it. My brotehr has had Dish out to his house, and been told that they can't get a clear shot at his house. (Told him to try Direct, but haven't heard that he ever followed through.)

 

[gallaj0]

We're in Massachusetts, and had a BIG problem with trees. The further north your are the lower you have to point the dish to the horizon, so trees become a bigger issue than further south.
I had them mount the dish in the best location for signal; it couldn't see the High Definition satellite at all, signal was weak but if the weather was perfect, it worked well enough. Any amount of rain though, and we'd get 20-30 minutes of stuttering, then loss of signal until the rain stopped. The wet leaves and wind blowing put us right out. Winter was fine due to no leaves.
Finally went over to cable; we had to change phone service and the package with TV, phone and internet was better.
Have them come out and check the signal, and try to get them when its raining. That will be the time of weakest signal.

 

[bicker]

For reasons I cannot reveal, I'd be cautious about working with satellite service providers' installation sub-contractors. They are not all as reputable as the satellite service, itself, and the satellite service providers don't necessarily stand behind their sub-contractors, especially in a case like this, where LoS is the issue. If I was facing this choice, I'd find at least one reference for the sub-contractor who eventually didn't get service from them, and verify that they did get their money back.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I appreciate the replies. Our big dish is definitely pointed low on the horizon but works because it is rather far from the house on top of a hill. I remember at our old house when we had cable and a rather small yard, we had decrease in signal strength because of the length of the cable run (or at least that's what they claimed!). The big dish doesn't have that problem, so maybe a small dish could be mounted on top of the barn to avoid the trees. Thanks for the input!

 

[FireDancer]

For reasons I cannot reveal, I'd be cautious about working with satellite service providers' installation sub-contractors. They are not all as reputable as the satellite service, itself, and the satellite service providers don't necessarily stand behind their sub-contractors, especially in a case like this, where LoS is the issue. If I was facing this choice, I'd find at least one reference for the sub-contractor who eventually didn't get service from them, and verify that they did get their money back.

Is this true even if you schedule the installation through DirecTV? I installed on dish myself while living in FL but had the one here in Ohio installed by a DirecTV contractor for this very reason. When I called DirecTv and mentioned that I might have a LoS issue they said as long as I allowed them to schedule the installation themselves they would allow a full cancellation if I was unable to get a signal. Perhaps they just told me that and perhaps they have changed their policy (this was spring 2007).

OP, as others have mentioned it really depends. If you go online to this site for DirecTV or this one for a more detailed calculator you can at least get the elevation and azimuth of where you need to point and can get a rough idea of your LoS obstacles. For me, I would have to aim very low on the horizon for DirecTV HD but higher for standard service. This of course will depend on where you are.

I do have friends who had no LoS from their homes so they installed the dish on their sheds or other parts of their property and tunneled the cable in. I have no idea if there is a limit on the length of fee but you might be able to use the same location your large dish is now and use the existing feed to get the signal into the house.

 

[bicker]

Is this true even if you schedule the installation through DirecTV?

Sorry ... I don't know how deep this goes, but my assumption is that we'd be okay as long as all the agreements we make are with DirecTV itself, and as long as there are no separate arrangements with sub-contractors directly (i.e., the CSR at DirecTV isn't just placing an order "for you" with the sub-contractor).

 

[rapriebe]

For reasons I cannot reveal, I'd be cautious about working with satellite service providers' installation sub-contractors. They are not all as reputable as the satellite service, itself, and the satellite service providers don't necessarily stand behind their sub-contractors, especially in a case like this, where LoS is the issue. If I was facing this choice, I'd find at least one reference for the sub-contractor who eventually didn't get service from them, and verify that they did get their money back.

This is great advice. We were at an RV show in NC and talked to one of the sub-contractors/companies that specializes in installing DirecTv in homes and RVs. We had so many broken promises from him and were told several lies about how the service would work with our existing equipment. After numerous problems, at which point the salesman/installer was nasty, I called DirecTv directly. They explained how dealing with a sub-contractor cut them out of the loop and we were at the mercy of whatever they wanted to charge for additional equipment and services. After they heard about all my problems, they pulled the account away from the sub-contractor and they handle it now. They do sub out work but they stand behind all of that work. They refunded me some of the extra money that the sub erroneously charged me and it worked out well in the end. It was just very fustrating until we got rid of the sub.

So just be very, very careful calling any of these companies directly. I strongly recommend going direct to DirecTv and don't hesitate trying to negotiate some price savings with them. They are anxious to work with customers to get (and keep) their business.