[dloftis]

DirecTV currently has a backlog of about a month in the Houston area... and I'm trying to get my in-laws setup with DirecTV.

I've setup many directv systems, including my own, over the years... up to and including my latest w/ a AU9S and SWM-8.

So... I've setup the new account w/ Solid Signal, and they're sending me everything I need... AU9S, WB616, and 7 receivers.

But... here's my questions.

1> This is the big question - will DirecTV activate the account w/o an installer being here? If I put up the dish, wire everything up, and have all 7 receivers getting a good strong signal... am I going to bet left waiting a month for the installer to come by and sign off on it so that I can activate?

2> I've never done a roof mount install. Do I literally just set the foot on top of the shingle, and drive the lag bolts through the shingle? Do I need to use some kind of sealant?

3> Wires... what's the best way to get the wires to the dish? I'm not thrilled with the idea of drilling a hole in the roof and just sticking wires through, and trying to seal it. Should I just go down to the soffit and run up from there? Go through the ridge vent? Other options?

4> Grounding... can my ground point be inside the attic? IE, the ground wire from the dish runs into the attic and attaches there... or does it have to be grounded outside?

 

[BattleZone]

1. Yes, as long as you are getting good signal to the receivers, and have your DirecTV account number (from Solid Signal), you'll have no trouble with activation.

2. I recommend using Bishop Tape, which is a plasticized asphault-based sealant designed specifically for roofing. Put a strip along the bolt holes on the top and bottom of the foot, and cut a little X in each bolt hole before you drive the bolt through. Make sure you are hitting the rafters on your center bolts, and use 3" long bolts for those. If you don't use Bishop Tape, you can use Henry's roof tar instead, but it's messier to deal with. Silicone RTV isn't designed for roof work and doesn't seal asphault well, so don't use that.

3. Pro installers do NOT install dishes over the living space (exceptions for when you are using something like a professionally-installed Commdeck). If the dish is installed on the roof, it's only installed on the overhang, and the wires come over the end of the roof, under the eaves, and go from there, either into the attic or along the wall.

4. Ideally, it is grounded outside, before the cables go into the house, but DirecTV allows them to be grounded to HVAC power in the attic if applicable.

 

[Grentz]

Adding on to number 3. You really just have to feel out the situation. My dish is mounted right next to a roof vent, so I simply ran the wires through that. Works out great and no chance of leakage from the wire holes.

For mounting, you can get roof caulking. It is messy stuff, but it works well. Predrill the holes, fill up with the caulking, then mount the foot with the bolts, and add more caulking around the bolt heads if there are any spots lacking. I have had dishes mounted this way for 12 years on my roof with never an issue or a leak.

I would have probably gone the commdeck route if I would have known about it at the time, but no reason to do that now that my dish is mounted and has not had any issues for years, plus doing the commdeck would still leave the current holes in my roof, so I might as well leave it as is.