Help, No Line of Sight problem

[innovamage]

Alrighty, here is the info. I moved and got an apt, lots of people have D* here so i fig i would not have a problem...I was wrong. 2 techs come out saying i do not have LOS, but they only checked from my patio and refused to give me the dish to do it myself. Problem is my 2 year is not up till sept 09, and they wanted $180 etf. I want to keep D* due to the awesome HD, but there is the big ass tree thats not on the apt complex property. I have a couple of windows that seem to be able to get line of sight but i'm not 100% sure so here i am looking for help, i have no problem installing the dish myself (once i find one). The complex does not allow ground poles nor holes in the building so i guess i am going to have to attach it to the window(somehow). I attached a bunch of pics here is the description for each:

0359: my office window to the right and the little one on the left is the kitchen window. I think the kitchen window is the best bet.

0367: view from kitchen windows

0360:view from the office window

0361: dining room window

0362: view from dining room window

0363: the patio

0366: view from deck

0364: the bedroom window

0365: view from bedroom windows


Thanks in advanced, let me know if you guys need more info.

Edit to help here is a google map with a pin or 2:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=38.837453,-77.056367&spn=0.001107,0.002497&t=h&z=19&msid=112119659447464454058.00044eca8bbdfeab6009e&iwloc=00044eca8d6fde32087fa

[Justin23]

You can put the dish on the patio and the complex can not restrict you from putting it there. As far as the window installation, you would need the complex's permission.

J

[carl6]

www.dishpointer.com

Select each of the five satellite locations (99, 101, 103, 110, 119) and see the line of sight requirements from your balcony and windows. That's your best bet to see if you have a LOS possibility.

Attaching a slimline dish to a window is going to be a challenge at the very best. I don't think you will get it to work. A tripod on your balcony is about the only viable option.

Carl

[innovamage]

According to D* there is no line of sight on the patio due to the rather large tree, how would a tripod help or a bucket and cement.

[BattleZone]

A few things:

- Installers are not allowed to just leave equipment with you. They are held responsible for the INSTALLATION being up to code if they close the call, and they can only leave equipment on your site and close the call once the receivers are activated.

- You could buy the equipment, do your own install, and then ask DirecTV for some programming credits to offset some or all of the expense. There's no guarantee that you'll get them, but many people have.

- IMO, unless you can get permission to put the dish on the building (if the roof is flat, you may be able to use a non-penetrating roof mount; no holes in the building), you're out of luck. Your patio is your only exterior "exclusive use" area, which is the only area in which you have the legal right to have your dish installed without specific landlord permission.

- The HD dish is large, heavy, and has high wind loading. The Ka-band signals aren't going to work through a window; the dish must be outside. It must be mounted very solidly, as the Ka-band signals are very narrow and require very precise aiming of the dish.

Good luck; you're going to need it.

[litzdog911]

See the links in my signature below to help you find a possible location with line-of-sight to all satellites using the moon's position in the sky. If you truly can't find one suitable location, then the other link provides diagrams to combine multiple dishes at different locations together.

[curt8403]

See the links in my signature below to help you find a possible location with line-of-sight to all satellites using the moon's position in the sky. If you truly can't find one suitable location, then the other link provides diagrams to combine multiple dishes at different locations together.

sadly, the only place he has to work with is his balcony

[toober]

You could also talk very nicely to the apartment owner or manager and let theem know what a benefit it would be for them to install a single dish to feed all apartments in your building. Many building owners will put up one D* dish, one E* dish, and catv access and allow renters to tap into the system of their choice. Seeing as this would benefit both you and the apartment owners, it may be worth trying to sell them on the idea.

[curt8403]

You could also talk very nicely to the apartment owner or manager and let theem know what a benefit it would be for them to install a single dish to feed all apartments in your building. Many building owners will put up one D* dish, one E* dish, and catv access and allow renters to tap into the system of their choice. Seeing as this would benefit both you and the apartment owners, it may be worth trying to sell them on the idea.

ya, almost like a SMATV or MDU setup