site survey for dish install , help needed.

[mattb]

Hello, I am trying to see if Ill be able to get E* at my present location..

The problem is my patio faces north...

here are some pictures for a better visual

http://www.xsk8er.com/dish/

Thanks for any suggestions. I really appricate and enjoy this forum.

[Jacob S]

So it looks like you will be pointing in the SW direction towards the apartment complex. The further back from the apartments the better off you are and also that tree looks like it could possibly block the signal during the warm weather months when it has leaves on it. If you could take the dish to the right of the tree and get a signal above the apartment building (I am not sure if an 8 ft. dish would do that or not) then there is a possibility. This looks like a pretty rough site survey for getting a satellite signal at that apartment.

[waydwolf]

Hello, I am trying to see if Ill be able to get E* at my present location..

The problem is my patio faces north...

here are some pictures for a better visual

http://www.xsk8er.com/dish/

Thanks for any suggestions. I really appricate and enjoy this forum.

1. Does the condo/apartment management forbid bolting to the roof? If not, then having it mounted near the peak and the wires run down to the wall at the patio side is best.

2. If the bolting can't be done, a NON PENETRATING mount may be had and would be easier to win against the management when you combine it with the FCC regs on dishes under three feet. Non penetrating mounts are largely angle iron rectangles with a central bolt hole platform to attach the foot. Six cinder blocks hold it down against the weather.

Generally, those mounts cost around $40 or so but the installer will probably try to charge you $150-$300 for that, the blocks(under a buck each at Home Depot IIRC), and his labor to get them up there.

Just make sure to have the damn thing grounded properly. If there's no way to reach the common building ground electrode, then a metal grounding strap around a metal electrical conduit such as that supplying an outdoor receptacle, can be used.