I realise you've fully resolved your situation and indeed found the most painless DIY VAST install/setup via Foxtel, but I will add my experience...
I was new to Satellite; albeit 20 years intrigued with the technology, before setting up VAST. Having a mild interest, and being a consummate tinkerer, I setup everything on my own including install without issue. Worked first go. I live inner city Melbourne, in the shadow of a 20-story commission flat. The flat exactingly blocks my line to digital services where I'm clearly a candidate for black spot certification. Like you, I didn't want to throw hundreds of dollars at the project including $certification, just wanted tele and clear reception for the local news, SBS, etc.
A person up the street had discarded a 90cm dish with LNB, mounting posts and hardware (on their nature strip). It had sat for the better part of a week with other rubbish. Each day I walked past it thinking, there's probably not a damn thing wrong with the dish, etc. and if nothing else, the setup would be worth $omething on eBay. Finally picked it up, ordered a UEC4121+Satellite Finder. I think total cost was low $200's in total ($229 delivered best memory). I grabbed a spool of RG6 quad shield cable and fittings from radioparts@ minimal cost. Popped on the roof and with the assistance of free Android apps/GPS & was able to get a ballpark idea of alignment (or could have simply emulated the rough positioning of my neighbours satellite dish) and utilising the sat finder, dialed in signal first go. I didn't know my LNB from my ass, nor how to correctly mount a dish etc. and had strong signal, crystal clear pics without issue. Even ran RG6 from the dish down two storeys through a couple of rooms to my living room TV.
I am registered on a travelers' card and a simple calendar reminder in my phone bi-annually keeps me renewed (manual submission). My total cost was $250 range but better, I had the satisfaction of learning how the system worked. All was painless. First time in my years of 'tinkering' that everything worked 'first go.' Was unbelievable, really and totally painless.
The point of my post is not to disrespect installers, but to encourage tinkerers to have a go. This ain't rocket-science and if you're absolutely clutching straws by the end of it, ring a bloody qualified installer to show you where you went wrong!
Cheers and have fun.
Bookmarks