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scchang
11-27-07, 11:16 AM
When I called to inquire about getting local HD channels, D* offered to upgrade my HR10-250s to HR21-700s for no charge. After reading all of the advice offered here, I asked my wife to tell the installers to leave the equipment and that I would install myself. Happily, they agreed and I returned home to find two HR21s, Zinwell WB68, and a AU9-S. They also left the HR10s!

My questions are:

1. They left two monopole struts along with the dish. The mounting instructions don't show the struts. I'm curious because the struts are not of the same length. Is it usual to use struts of different lengths?

2. I currently have the 2 HR10s, a Sony SAT T90 and a non-DVR Sony receiver in place. I want to replace the HR10s with the HR21s and replace the other two receivers with the HR10s. I won't be changing the number of receivers and I'm already paying for DVR service so my cost should not increase. Since D* gave me these HR21s to replace the HR10s, I'm concerned that when I call to activate the HR21s and deactivate the SAT T90 and non-DVR Sony, they will give me trouble. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!
carl6
11-27-07, 12:37 PM
1. Usual? I don't know. Will it work? Yep.

2. Should be no problem to do what you want. Hook everything up where/how you want it, then call and activate the two HR20's and deactivate the T90 and Sony.

Carl
bigbw
11-27-07, 01:12 PM
Length of Monopoles should be adjustable..
hiker
11-27-07, 02:57 PM
The 2 monopoles are intentionally different lengths. For proper mounting, the shorter one goes straight back to the structure and the longer one goes at an angle to either side. Makes for the strongest support.
Mike500
11-27-07, 08:07 PM
The monipoles should be mounted so the "J" pole and the poles form a tripod ors structually a "tetrahedron."

The piicture in this eBay listing shows how the support struts should be mounted, although he used SuperDish struts instead of monoples.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150187225239&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=005
Vampyre720
11-27-07, 08:10 PM
The way I noticed on my HD install shows a shorter pole on the side leading up vertically on the roof and the longer side coming down the slope of the roof. But it certainly does offer some better support.
Mike500
11-27-07, 09:42 PM
The way I noticed on my HD install shows a shorter pole on the side leading up vertically on the roof and the longer side coming down the slope of the roof. But it certainly does offer some better support.


I'd have to say that I can't see what DirecTV engineers were thinking, when they designed their "monopoles." Evidently, they thought one was enough, either tension or compression. The three sided "pyramid" or tetrahedral placement provides rigid strength in all directions. Unfortunatelym, the way you describe your setup, there is little sideways support. The structure swings like a "gate."
Vampyre720
11-27-07, 09:48 PM
I'd have to say that I can't see what DirecTV engineers were thinking, when they designed their "monopoles." Evidently, they thought one was enough, either tension or compression. The three sided "pyramid" or tetrahedral placement provides rigid strength in all directions. Unfortunatelym, the way you describe your setup, there is little sideways support. The structure swings like a "gate."

Yeah, I know what you mean there, Mike.

I'm not sure what they had in mind, but I do know this; The Slimline dish has about 35lbs. of "dead weight", and those monopoles have some extra added support but they look awkward a bit, and they do tend to be somewhat of a tedious step in the installation. But, atleast you can say you've got support left and right... but what about on the backend?

- V
hiker
11-28-07, 07:30 AM
The current set of 2 monopoles, one shorter - one longer, were designed with a wall mount of the dish assumed. They are adjustable in length to some degree. A roof mount is a whole different situation and you have to improvise. The official DirecTV instructions for installers only mentions wall mounting of the dish as roof mounting is discouraged. See my post above for DirecTV official method for using monopoles on a wall mount.
Mike500
11-28-07, 02:36 PM
The longer pole supplied with the AU9 is supplied as a multipurpose UNIVERSAL mount. It is designed to clear obstacales in many types of mounting situations.

Actually, the shorter the pole is; the more stable the mount is, as long as it clears the necessary obstacles.

The monopoles are made adjustable so that they might reach a specific solid mounting surface for the holding screws.

To make the installation as strong and rigid as possible, the ends of the braces should be mounted as close to the bottom of the dish's mounting ferule or collar as possible. The other ends would be used to form the second or third leg of a tripod, with the first leg being the mounting mast.

When mounted on the wall, the braces need to be horizontal and one to each side of the mast. The mast would basically have an downward compression load, while without any wind load, both braces would be under tension.


When a wind load is applied to the dish, one brace would be under tension, while the other is under compression.

This should be the prescribed and preferred method.
diggerg56
11-28-07, 09:07 PM
My installation is neither a roof or wall mount. It's an 8 foot post that's bolted (very securely) to the corner of a deck and the mount bolts to a 16" x 16" platform on top of the post. They didn't install the monopoles but I do have them.

Any suggestions on how I should (if I should?) try to install them in some fashion?
Mike500
11-28-07, 09:30 PM
Post a photo, and i will provide you with an engineered solution.
diggerg56
11-28-07, 09:33 PM
Post a photo, and i will provide you with an engineered solution.

I'll try to get one up tomorrow....A little too dark out right now.
bongju
12-01-07, 08:34 PM
The 2 monopoles are intentionally different lengths. For proper mounting, the shorter one goes straight back to the structure and the longer one goes at an angle to either side. Makes for the strongest support.

Hiker,

Are the monopoles intended to be horizontal?
hiker
12-02-07, 07:38 AM
Hiker,

Are the monopoles intended to be horizontal?Yes, if possible.
scchang
12-02-07, 02:25 PM
Here's my current 3 LNB dish on a CommDeck. I plan to mount the AU9-S to the CommDeck and attach the monopoles. I'll be using the two adjustable monopoles which the installers left. Since they are unequal length, I'd like to hear opinions on how they should be placed. Thanks in advance.
carl6
12-02-07, 02:41 PM
Here is what I did on a sloped roof. Dish is solid as a rock.

11137

Carl
Mike500
12-02-07, 03:12 PM
Here's my current 3 LNB dish on a CommDeck. I plan to mount the AU9-S to the CommDeck and attach the monopoles. I'll be using the two adjustable monopoles which the installers left. Since they are unequal length, I'd like to hear opinions on how they should be placed. Thanks in advance.


The mounting screw hole pattern of the Commdeck is different from the mounting plate pattern of the mounting plate of the new mast. You'd either have to replace the current Commdeck with one specifically for the new AT9/AU9 pole. That's why my colleagues developed the mounting adapter to place the new dish mount on the older pole;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150189380905&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=005


Using the adapter, you'd just remove the old dish off of the pole, place the adapter on the pole, and install the NEW slimline, and finally install the monopoles.

It sure saves a lot of hassles.
scchang
12-02-07, 07:08 PM
The mounting screw hole pattern of the Commdeck is different from the mounting plate pattern of the mounting plate of the new mast. You'd either have to replace the current Commdeck with one specifically for the new AT9/AU9 pole. That's why my colleagues developed the mounting adapter to place the new dish mount on the older pole;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150189380905&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=005


Using the adapter, you'd just remove the old dish off of the pole, place the adapter on the pole, and install the NEW slimline, and finally install the monopoles.

It sure saves a lot of hassles.

There are two sets of holes in my CommDeck (purchased 7/05). One set fits the 3 LNB mount and the other set fits the 5 LNB mount. In the attached photo, a 3 LNB dish is mounted to the CommDeck. The outer holes for the 5 LNB dish can be seen containing rubber plugs. The dimensions of the outer holes are approximately 4 7/8" x 7 3/4"
scchang
12-02-07, 07:11 PM
Here is what I did on a sloped roof. Dish is solid as a rock.

11137

Carl

I think I'll be doing the same. Glad to know it is solid. Thanks for the pic.
Mike500
12-02-07, 08:43 PM
There are two sets of holes in my CommDeck (purchased 7/05). One set fits the 3 LNB mount and the other set fits the 5 LNB mount. In the attached photo, a 3 LNB dish is mounted to the CommDeck. The outer holes for the 5 LNB dish can be seen containing rubber plugs. The dimensions of the outer holes are approximately 4 7/8" x 7 3/4"

I wouldn't know if the extra holes are made in the pattern of the AT9/AU9 mount. It may have been made for some other dish. The only real way to tell is to get an AT9/AU9 mount and see if it matches.
scchang
12-02-07, 08:51 PM
I wouldn't know if the extra holes are made in the pattern of the AT9/AU9 mount. It may have been made for some other dish. The only real way to tell is to get an AT9/AU9 mount and see if it matches.

Apparently, the holes match:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=91608
Mike500
12-02-07, 08:53 PM
Here is what I did on a sloped roof. Dish is solid as a rock.

11137

Carl

In one custom install, I did, I replaced a section of a plumbing vent. The mast went through the flashing just the same as the vent pipe it replaced did, except it was connected to a side outlet waste "Tee" turned upside down in the venting position. and an upsweep conduit bend. The mast was reinforced with framing under the roof deck and plumbed from beneath.

The dish was then mounted on the mast outside. The cables went into the mast into the waste "Tee" and up the sweep bend into the attic. Since the cable exit was some six inches above the "Tee" and sealed, no water went into the attic.

I would call this the "POOR MAN's COMMDECK."

And, it would be easier to install, if you already have a flashing. The Commdeck installs just like a roof vent flashing. And, it costs $50 or more.

This method makes for one absoultely neat install. And, if you ever remove the dish, the mast becomes a vent pipe, again.

The Commdeck is not much more than a reinforced square roofing "CAN VENT" like roofers install. It installs the same as one or a vent pipe flashing.