Chimney Mount for Slimline?

[xtianDC]

New member here with a question that I know has been dealt with on some level here in the past. Thought I would post to get a fresh perspective from those of you here with the knowledge.

So this past Saturday I was scheduled for an installation of the new slimline dish at a townhouse my wife and I just purchased. Since it is a townhouse condominium, the HOA declares that all satellite dishes must be mounted to the chimney.

I had no idea this was going to be an issue. We live in an end unit and it is all brick construction. When I informed the installer that the HOA prohibits anything but a chimney install, he told me this would not be possible. He claimed that the new slimline dishes are too heavy to be mounted securely to a chimeny. The odd thing is that I was able to point my neighbor's chimney, two units down, which has the exact same dish mounted to his chimney. This particular installer told me that it is his opinion that that particular install is a liability and that he would have never done it. He told me that he would have to cancel the install and suggested that I petition to my HOA to get permission to install on the roof right next to the chimney.

So now I am faced with two choices:

1) Call DirecTV back and ask for an installer who WILL mount the slimline to a chimney (is this a corporate policy or the discretion of the install company? Didn't catch the name of the installer who visited me Saturday unfortunately.)

OR

2) Petition my HOA to make an exception to allow for a roof install. I have been told that they have allowed this for others in the past due to reception issues, but I'm not really sure. I don't know what my chances are here and additionally, not sure I want to put in the time of what could be a drawn out affair.

I live in an area that get's occaisonal wind, but nothing consistently powerful or out of the ordinary (DC suburbs). Again, my neighbor two doors down has the slimline dish mounted on his chimney, exactly as I need my mine.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Any guidance here?

[Groundhog45]

I would call D* and ask to talk to the installation support group. They should be able to help you. I had trouble getting the AT-9 installed on the side of a wood framed chimney where the 3 lnb dish had been for years and the 1 and 2 lnb models before that. The installer said it wouldn't hold the weight. I called D* while he called his boss and we worked out that I would sign the installation work order saying they weren't responsible if it pulled off. It's been there for more than a year. It has lag bolts into the 2X4 and both monopoles installed, also into the 2X4. If you have a brick chimney, the mount that wraps around the structure should hold ok with the monopoles attached. Good luck and let us know.

[RobertE]

Will it hold? Probably.

Will you find a HSP that will install it on a chimney? Doubtful. They don't wan't the liability.

Best bet, go to an independant dealer.

[aim2pls]

New member here with a question that I know has been dealt with on some level here in the past. Thought I would post to get a fresh perspective from those of you here with the knowledge.

So this past Saturday I was scheduled for an installation of the new slimline dish at a townhouse my wife and I just purchased. Since it is a townhouse condominium, the HOA declares that all satellite dishes must be mounted to the chimney.

I had no idea this was going to be an issue. We live in an end unit and it is all brick construction. When I informed the installer that the HOA prohibits anything but a chimney install, he told me this would not be possible. He claimed that the new slimline dishes are too heavy to be mounted securely to a chimeny. The odd thing is that I was able to point my neighbor's chimney, two units down, which has the exact same dish mounted to his chimney. This particular installer told me that it is his opinion that that particular install is a liability and that he would have never done it. He told me that he would have to cancel the install and suggested that I petition to my HOA to get permission to install on the roof right next to the chimney.

So now I am faced with two choices:

1) Call DirecTV back and ask for an installer who WILL mount the slimline to a chimney (is this a corporate policy or the discretion of the install company? Didn't catch the name of the installer who visited me Saturday unfortunately.)

OR

2) Petition my HOA to make an exception to allow for a roof install. I have been told that they have allowed this for others in the past due to reception issues, but I'm not really sure. I don't know what my chances are here and additionally, not sure I want to put in the time of what could be a drawn out affair.

I live in an area that get's occaisonal wind, but nothing consistently powerful or out of the ordinary (DC suburbs). Again, my neighbor two doors down has the slimline dish mounted on his chimney, exactly as I need my mine.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Any guidance here?


you just havent had a hurricane lately ..... brick chimmeny mounts will fail over time ... t5he mortar only has strength under compression ... its a NO-NO

[xtianDC]

Well, I've contacted the installation support group at D****** for further info. The young lady I spoke with was unaware of this issue regarding the new slimline's and chimney mounts. She put my hold and contacted the local install company, however, who verified that it was in fact against their policy to mount on a chimney. She gave me a number for MASTEC and claimed that they are the only installation providers in my area, which seems surprising.

My attempts to speak with a knowledgable person at MASTEC were unsuccessful, as I didn't get any further than the clueless person who answers at their call center in Dallas. Reluctantly he gave me the number of the office that handles my area, which oddly enough has a completely unrecognizable area code. I just want to talk with someone skilled and knowledgeable enough to verify everything.

In the meantime I rescheduled the installation (not before having to place my entire order again!) for the weekend after next, with the hopes that I will be able to navigate the issue with my HOA by then and have approval for mounting on the roof adjacent to the chimney.

Man, what a pain this all is. I'd be more pissed if I wasn't heading out of town this weekend...

I also think I might knock on my neighbors door and find out exactly what he had to do to get his mounted to the chimney.

[RobertE]

Stop wasting your time. Go find your phone book, look up "Home Theater". Call them. Explain to them your situation and what you want/need done. They should be able to give you options and costs.

Continuing down the path you are by going through D* and the HSP network will only add to your frustrations.

[silk1234]

You actually have a couple options.

1) HOA's by law (OTARD) " Over the air reception device" can not restrict you from mounting dishes to recieve your desired brand of TV. OTARD is the laws passed by the FCC regarding Satellite Dishes, Cable and Attennas. If the technician cannot or does not feel comfortable installing th KAKU dish onto the Chimney the HOA can be contacted and informed that you will be mounting the dish elsewhere. However this might solve your immediate problem but may cause future problems with your HOA.

2) It is possible to mount a KAKU dish to the chimney if you have an experienced technician with the proper tools. Not all technicians can or able to mount this dish to the brick. ( the best is 2"x1/4" lead nail anchors, obtained at home depot or lowes) Predrill into brick not mortar and use both the mounting bracket and 2 monopoles place to either side.


Your problem is not really not that uncommon but you need the right tech or an agreement with your HOA.


Judd
SBCA Level 3
Mastec

[aim2pls]

Stop wasting your time. Go find your phone book, look up "Home Theater". Call them. Explain to them your situation and what you want/need done. They should be able to give you options and costs.

Continuing down the path you are by going through D* and the HSP network will only add to your frustrations.



"home theater" doesn't mean that they know anything about satellite .... many hire out that part of the install ... there is a huge difference between hanging a tv on a wall and installing a sat system

[xtianDC]

Further update: I seem to be getting further going the HOA route. There is a board meeting tomorrow night that I have been invited to attend. With any luck I will have permission from the HOA to go to the roof.

This brings up a few other questions, however. In my condo docs, it states that once I sell my place, if the new buyer does not wish to retain the dish, I am responsible for removing the dish and restoring the area where it has been mounted to its previous state.

What exactly will this mean for me if I mount the dish on the roof versus mounting it on the chimney? Am I setting myself up for a massive expense and hassle down the line? (We plan on being here 4-7 years.)

Finally, I assume that mounting on the roof means that they will be drilling holes. Do I have to be afraid about potential leaks in my roof?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

[aim2pls]

Further update: I seem to be getting further going the HOA route. There is a board meeting tomorrow night that I have been invited to attend. With any luck I will have permission from the HOA to go to the roof.

This brings up a few other questions, however. In my condo docs, it states that once I sell my place, if the new buyer does not wish to retain the dish, I am responsible for removing the dish and restoring the area where it has been mounted to its previous state.

What exactly will this mean for me if I mount the dish on the roof versus mounting it on the chimney? Am I setting myself up for a massive expense and hassle down the line? (We plan on being here 4-7 years.)

Finally, I assume that mounting on the roof means that they will be drilling holes. Do I have to be afraid about potential leaks in my roof?

Thanks in advance for your responses!


holes in roofs .... of course they can leak down the line

[ubermykeus]

holes in roofs .... of course they can leak down the line

Well holes in the roof causes the leaks because the technician didnt properly prep the mast for mounting. Silcone on the upper parts of the bolt doesnt make the "perfect seal". bishop tape is that the majority of the hsp technicians use and it creates a nice seal on the foot of the mast. Leakage down the lines is yet again.. unprepped installation. some of the technicians out there think that drip looks are an aesthetic that directv pushes to impress the customers and it isnt. the main reason and only purpose of a drip loop is to keep the water from tracking into the walls. the water hits the loop and drips from the bottom. i've seen quite a few installations lacking drip loops and that isnt good.

[xtianDC]

Well holes in the roof causes the leaks because the technician didnt properly prep the mast for mounting. Silcone on the upper parts of the bolt doesnt make the "perfect seal". bishop tape is that the majority of the hsp technicians use and it creates a nice seal on the foot of the mast. Leakage down the lines is yet again.. unprepped installation. some of the technicians out there think that drip looks are an aesthetic that directv pushes to impress the customers and it isnt. the main reason and only purpose of a drip loop is to keep the water from tracking into the walls. the water hits the loop and drips from the bottom. i've seen quite a few installations lacking drip loops and that isnt good.

Is there such thing as a non-penetrating roof mount? That can be installed on a sloping roof? The location is right at the edge, adjacent to the chimney. Not sure if that makes any difference or not.

I must admit, as badly as I want D******, this whole process makes me somewhat paranoid...

[xtianDC]

UPDATE: The HOA is reluctant to give me permission to mount on the roof. I understand; I am reluctant to put holes in my roof as well.

I did talk to a local antenna company who offers installation services. They tell me that they have mounted the new slimlines on chimneys before but would need to make an assesment of my property before committing. Makes sense...

I'm happy to pay an independent company for the installation...but the only hitch is equipment. The prices they want for the equipment are more expensive than what D****** is offering.

Is it possible to schedule an install, but just have the installer drop the dish and recievers off? Then I can call my independent company and pay them to install. Is this gonna fly? Any other recommendations?

I'll be honest, I"m *this* close to just giving up and calling Crapcast. If not for the Sunday Ticket, I wouldn't even be here...

[aim2pls]

Is there such thing as a non-penetrating roof mount? That can be installed on a sloping roof? The location is right at the edge, adjacent to the chimney. Not sure if that makes any difference or not.

I must admit, as badly as I want D******, this whole process makes me somewhat paranoid...


answer yes and yes witrh the right type .... there is a non-pen that straddles the peak of the roof ... it's held in place with concrete block ballast

[glennb]

I'm glad I don't have an HOA telling me what I can and can't do.

[jswilke]

I purchased a DTV chimney mounting kit (2 staps and corner mount) when I installed my original dish years ago. When I upgraded to 3LNB dish I was able to use the same chimney mount with no alterations. I undestand my old chimney mount will not work for the larger mast required for new Slimline dish. Does anyone offer a new DTV Slimline chimney mount that will work?

Is it a bad idea to consider mounting new Slimline dish on steel frame of existing roof mounted Heat/AC unit? That could provide a very strong mounting surface, but what about electrical noise or RF interference?

Thanks,
Jim