installation costs for this situation?

[halebop]

i live in an apartment and i'm fed up with cable (don't get me started).

i live on the first floor. there are 3 stories total but my balcony does face south and i can clearly see sky. will it be a problem that i'm on the first floor?

here's my main installation dilemna. the building allows satellite dishes but they cannot be "permanently" installed. by that they mean they can't be attached to the building of the balcony directly.

so that means a pole or tripod installation. i was told that wouldn't be covered with the free installation advertised and would cost $75 - $100.

is that fair? they told me if i bought my own tripod and had it there then it would qualify as free install when the installer comes. i called radio shacks and got confused though. they said they have a tripod for about $25 but no masts and i'd need one.

help. is $75 - $100 right? is there a way i can buy the stuff and have it waiting there for the installer to save money or is it risky?

[bigrick]

one option is to have a 1 5/8in. X 6ft galvanized fence post driven into the ground cost to buy $5(from Home Depot) and have it there or already in the ground when the installer arrives. If he uses his then it's $25 or more. Another option is a sled mount $50 or more if he brings it. You can get a scrap piece of plywood from a construction site and some cinder blocks and put that on the ground(concrete- so the maintenence dude doesn't have to mow around it and you've killed the grass) and have him screw the mount to it. remember if you get a tripod there are limited ways to keep it stable. What kind of patio do you have? concrete? wood? how big? $75 to $100 is only reasonable for a sled and blocks(they are $50 wholesale plus blocks plus the labor to buy them and carry them to your location) Don't forget this guy isn't running around town picking this stuff up for free, it is his way of making a living, not a hobby. post more info and we will all try and help you out.

[Karl Foster]

I've also seen the dish mounted to a board and then mounted to the railing using big "U" bolts to hold it on. This is a very popul method around here for apartment dwellers.

[tivosmart]

Hi halebop. Welcome to the forum.

A friend of mine made his own post and cimented it inside one of those big paint cans. That thing is mighty heave and will hold the dish without problems. I don't know how much he spent, but I believe it was only the price of the cement and a small fence post at home depot. This is an option.

It seems the idea of holding it with the "U" clips is also good, given that it can be imobilized and held on a way that would make it very difficult to move or budge it so you don't loose the satellite lock.