oh come on, I'm all set up and I can't activate?!

  • Thread starter Thread starter I_Want_My_HDTV
  • Start date Start date
After 3 days of troubleshooting every wire and connection to our system, our initial suspected culprit was accurate; the SW44 was hooched. I exchanged it tonight and we want to watch TV tonight. Our instructions from Future Shop say to go to channel 191 and follow the instructions to activate. Well 191 doesn't exist! And 188, the self help channel, doesn't have anything about activation.

So, I called SKY DISH, which the web site says is 24 hours for activation, but it's NOT! They are closed. GRRRR!!!

Is there any channel that allows me to activate this tonight?
 
Just thought I'd update. I just talked to Milan in tech support. He was SUPER helpful and very polite AND he activated our receiver and selected our programming for us! Woohoo! Within 15mins - 2 hours, we'll have HD!!

I was a bit worried because everyone says ExpressVu service is terrible. So far I've had 2 experiences, and although brutal wait times for both, and being transferred around a lot, the person I spoke to in the end was helpful on both occasions!
 
The issue wasn't channel 198, that is DEFINITELY not required for an activation. CSRs are told to perform this task though as it does verify that transponder 11 is working as that is where the firmware update is streamed from. You needed the firmware update, and that requires the unit to be off.

In the end, it is all good. There isn't much point in going into all the little details as it really isn't important for most people as all they want is the tv channels that they pay for. :)

I've never heard of the IR/glass issue before and I have numerous receivers (including a 9200) on glass shelves.....maybe the type of glass used makes a difference? Sounds like you have a simple enough solution though.
 
Yes and no. When you select the option to activate your receiver, you get a recorded message saying that customer service is closed and to call back another day. I called again and selected the tech support option, and eventually got connected and he was able to help.

So, if you follow the "proper" keypad selections for activation, yes they are closed. But tech support appears to be open, although I am not sure of their hours.
 
I personnally know Milan, and I'm surprised that has wasn't able to activate the receiver (althought, at the size of the compagny they could be more than one Milan)...

I agree that lots of on line activation don't work!

When we activate a receiver it always take 15 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours for the channels to be on

You could be at any channel for the activation to take place

There is no channel 191

The only reason we would ask a client to go to channel 198 is if the software version is not up to date...by going to chanel 198 and powering off the receiver it downloads the new version

A little correction to Dosborne post:Channel 198 is on transponder 13, no 11, the one that carries the software updates
 
Update: After 4 hours, we still did not have our subscription, so no TV to watch. So, we went to bed. This morning, still not subscription channels and neither of our remotes will control the 9200. Guess I have to call technical support again. :(
 
191 was the channel for FASTA if I remember correctly.

If thats the case, then the CSR was probably reading from an old script.
 
Nimiq 1 what is that FASTA? I've been at Express Vu for over a year and never hear of that... Nothng in the information system about it so I don't know where the agent would have got that "old script"
 
I've got it all resolved now, and they were really polite, so I'm not totally irked yet. :D When I talked to a woman today, she said everything was active and that I should have had all my programming up and running. Apparently last night I was supposed to leave the receiver on channel 198 (?) but the guy I talked to last night had not told me this. So, she got me to set my signal screen to satellite 91, transponder 11 (IIRC) and power off. The receiver restarted, said it was authorizing and downloaded the proper guide and programming within about 10 minutes.

I was still annoyed about the remotes and then I discovered the issue. We have the receiver on a clear, glass shelf and the IR ports angle downwards towards the shelf. The glass is obviously screwing with the signal and only worked if you had the remote within a foot of the receiver and below it angled towards the IR ports. Even so, most times when you pushed a button, it would get 2 commands. We never noticed last night because we had the receiver pulled forward off the front edge of the glass while we were making sure things were set up. Now that's it's in place, we are experiencing the issue.

For now, I've resolved it with placing the SW44 switch user's guide underneath the IR ports on the glass shelf. The remotes works perfectly now. I'll replace it with something prettier when I've got some time. Crazy that they'd design the receiver with IR ports angles towards a shelf when it's super common for electronics cabinets to have glass shelving.
 
I didnt know the receiver had to be on channel 198 to be activated?
Sounds like a good story though
I heard the remote has to be face up, aimed at the receiver for the channels to download
Methinks your activation wasnt done properly last night, and a little white lie about changing to channel 198 sounded good
Anyways, its working now, so hopefully no more calls to sky-dish
P.S
If you are only using the 9200 on the 1 tv, use the UHF remote, and then no need to prop up the 9200
 
How is the TV? was it from london?. enjoyed your post.
You might have just done the easy portion if billing gets pissed at you.
 
I've had very similar results on several occasions. Over 50% of the time, the automated receiver activation doesn't work. About 50% of the time, EV's customer service is closed. About 50% of the time, the initial activation doesn't work and it needs to repeated. I've had good luck calling tech support after hours. They are more willing to make sure your receiver is activated (the channels should start showing up in less than 5 minutes but it takes longer to get them all.) The regular CSRs often make you wait 24 hours before they will attempt another activation and they don't get it right on the first or second try half the time. :confused:
 
You're probably right, the 198 thing sounded sketchy to me. The guy had just told me to leave it on. I was going to call him back after 3 hours, but it was 2am and I didn't know if tech support was still open then. And I was tired. :)

I think I am actually going to slide this super thin mousepad I have under the 9200. I basically just need to cover the clear glass, I don't actually have to prop the 9200. I'd use the UHF, but we have a nice Harmony that's easy for the kids to use. Maybe it's time to get the UHF Harmony...;)
 
Actually, now we've discovered it isn't the glass. It seems that if we power off, and power back on, the remote will not work unless it is only a couple inches away and pointed right at the IR ports. This is when remote 1 is set to channel 1. If we set it to a channel other than 1, it seems to work, although we are still testing. Unfortunately this makes programming a universal, such as the Harmony, a pain in the butt. Instead of being able to just use the codes off of Harmony's web site, I would have to lean every single command individually, which I haven't found the time to do. The UFH remote of course works fine, because it's UHF. But, our Harmony is a must for the kids.

Has anyone experienced this goofy quirk with the remote? I am wondering if I need to exchange my 9200.
 
too much math in here
thats 150% !!!
Last time I heard a percentage that high, it was a guest on Maury Povich, who was 150% sure John was her baby daddy
I'm sure the disconnect percentage error is a whole lot lower than the activation!
 
Back
Top