Apartment Hunting (tech question)

[JayeDVXIII]

Hello

I am moving to an apartment complex that I've been to once before but with which am not super familiar.  I have already signed a lease agreement and paid my deposit etc to move in on April 1st but I told them that I want to wait until the end of the month before I agree to choose a unit.

The reason for this is because I want to make sure that the unit I choose has an appropriately-facing balcony or patio to ensure my continued ability to recieve my dbs programming.

Since I'm relatively certain that I won't be able to have an installer with me during my "picking out" of a unit, and because I am wanting to do the installation myself, I need to know what the best tools would be that I could bring with me to ensure I'll have a direct line of sight.  I understand what the terms "azimuth" and "elevation" mean, however, I'm still not exactly sure how I fnd the appropriate angle and what tools I would need to do this. 

Please tell me if I'm going to need to carry my DISH antenna with me and a signal meter as we go to each available unit (or tell me that I won't need it :-)  or let me know if there is an easier way.

I've seen every question possible on this site except this one.  I'm a recent college grad, so I'll be in apartments for a while before I can buy a house, and I don't want to be forced into cable just because I can't get a view.  What does one do ?

 

Thanks

[hyper1]

JayeDVXIII - I am certainly no expert, but everything I've read simply states that you need a clear view of the southern sky.... so I'd just look for an apartment with a balcony facing south...

Of course, you need a clear view so if there are a bunch of trees in the way that could be a problem... the only way to know for sure would be to bring your dish (the dish plus an LNB) and a signal meter and try positioning it on the balcony.

hyper1

[JayeDVXIII]

So this remains the ONLY way to make sure I can get a signal? What about just using a compass? I dont' realy understand how you do this; so an explanation would be great

[Nick]

You don't need to carry your dish with you. Remember, the look angle off your dish is not perpendicular to the plane of the dish.

You can make a sat finder for about $10 from 3 items found at Wal-mart.

- a child's compass with cursor (school supply dept.)
- a navigation compass (sporting goods)
- a small line level (hardware)

Center the sport compass and line level on the child's compass. Glue items together. Using a speedy marker, mark front edge of child's compass with your azimuth and elevation angles obtained from the Dishnetwork website and write the numerical reading on the back of the child's compass.

Hold the finder flat and let the sport compass point due north. Rotate the cursor to the predetermined azimuth angle for each sat you will be using (110W, 119W and/or 148W). Once you've found your az angles, turn your finder verticle and, checking the line level to make sure you have it exactly horizontal, move the cursor to the designated elevation angle for each sat. All the time you are checking for obstacles.

~~~~~~~~~

A word to the wise about getting a suitable apt. unit with a clear sat view. Don't wait until the end of the month to select a unit. Some of the units being vacated will surely be pre-leased. Find out NOW which units are coming up and go take a look from the outside. You can eliminate some simply because the balcony faces the wrong direction. For the units that are currently vacant, ask to visit the ones that are not already leased, walk out on the balcony and use your sat finder, paying attention to any trees and other obstacles in your line of sight.

If you find one or more suitable apts, make your decision as early as practical so you won't be preempted. Keep following up with apt management even if you've committed to a particular unit. Something more suitable may come open.

Good luck, :)

[Tomsoundman]

I have a zip file of the program that was on Dish's site a long time ago.

You plug in your zip code and it shows you exactly where to aim your dish.
I can email it to you if you want.

[JayeDVXIII]

i can't read those types of files sorry :-(

How about Elev. / Azim. and Skew for 97070 (Dish 500)
and Elev./ Azim. and Skew for 148

Thanks

[JayeDVXIII]

NIck..I'm not in the same state as the apt. complex and I've only been there once.

[Tomsoundman]

zip code: 97070

Dish 500= Azimuth 150, Elevation 37, Skew 83

148= Azimuth 195, Elevation 32, Skew N/A

[JayeDVXIII]

so i just need to make sure that I can get a clear line of site to 150 degrees and 195 degrees on a compass?

[JayeDVXIII]

?

[scooper]

Not quite - what you need to check is for the individual 119 and 110 slots, as well as 148. Also check the elevations for each slot.

[scooper]

For Zip code 97070
slot - azimuth - elevation
110 - 144 - 36
119 - 156 - 38
148 - 195 - 32

Dish500 (110/119)
Azimuth -150, Elevation 37, Skew - 83

For reference - 90 - 180 degrees is south east, and 180 - 270 degress is southwest. So, you need the whole sky clear from 144 to 195 degrees.

[JayeDVXIII]

okay what is that tool that i see some sat installers use? It's like some sort of device that they peep through; almost looks like a sexton

[JayeDVXIII]

?