[j3studio]

(satellite newbie)

We're thinking of getting DirectTV, and I keep seeing discussions of taking down trees, etc. We're not in a heavily wooded area (we live in suburban Philadelphia), but we do have some large old growth trees. Is satellite a no go? Are people in similar situations doing fine?

 

[j3studio]

Is it worth asking a reseller to come out and take a look?

 

[webby_s]

Where do you want your dish. Remember that the dish needs a good sight of the southern sky. The dish points south so as long as you have a good LOS (line of sight) of the south sky you are in the 'clear' (pun intended)

www.dishpointer.com Does really well at helping you... just remember to choose the Directv 5 LNB dish.

 

[j3studio]

Where do you want your dish. Remember that the dish needs a good sight of the southern sky. The dish points south so as long as you have a good LOS (line of sight) of the south sky you are in the 'clear' (pun intended)

www.dishpointer.com Does really well at helping you... just remember to choose the Directv 5 LNB dish.

Thanks, webby!

 

[HDTVsportsfan]

Pictures??

 

[j3studio]

Pictures??

None right now - I think I need to go out and do my own site survey...

 

[egould]

Don't be discouraged just because of the trees. I have a lot of trees on my lot and on my neighbor's lot. My installer was able to get a line of sight through an opening in the trees by installing it on my garage roof. A little elevation was all he needed. Not only did he get a good LOS, but the dish is out of sight as well. When he first installed it, he could not get a LOS for the sat at 119, but all the national HD content has been moved to D-11 and I can happily receive it now. If you go in your backyard with a compass and see if there is an opening between 95 and 119 (101 to 110 are the most important for the nationals), that will give you a general idea if it is worth getting an installer to come to your house.

 

[bakers12]

Sometimes you have to get creative about where the dish will go. Some people with tree problems have had poles cemented into the ground if they couldn't get line of sight from their roofs.

I couldn't get the 119 satellite from my house roof, but it was good from my detached garage roof. I twisted the installer's arm to run the cables over my driveway to the house. He did a poor job and I rewired the whole thing.

 

[j3studio]

Thanks, folks!

 

[Jestr40]

I love it when I drive by a house and they have the dish(s) smack dab in the front yard! My wife would have NO tv before she would agree to that!

 

[j3studio]

Went outside and took a long look facing south - it's not looking good...

 

[harsh]

Went outside and took a long look facing south - it's not looking good...

From Philadelphia, the satellites are SSW and southwest. For 119W, the elevation is down to just under 26 degrees which means the trees can only be half as tall as the distance they are from the dish plus whatever elevation the dish is mounted at.

Are there any significant breaks in the trees?

Long term 99W through 103W is going to be where you need to make it happen.

 

[rustynails]

Went outside and took a long look facing south - it's not looking good...

I had los issues with E and D came out and there were absolutely no problems. D's sats are higher in the sky than E. I just wanted D to come out and see if they could get los but I had to sign up for DIRECTV and then they come out to do the install and then found out there was no issue with los. A local installer may come out and check it for you without you having to sign up!

 

[eandras]

Went outside and took a long look facing south - it's not looking good...

Go to www.dishpointer.com and select the option for the slimline 5 LNB antenna and put in your address and zipcode. This will help you to see what trees are actually in the way. The image will give you the reference to look for in your yard. You can also place the cursor any where on your property to get ideas as to where you could place the dish

Ed

 

[harsh]

D's sats are higher in the sky than E.!

Two of the five satellites are actually co-located with E* satellites, so that's not really an accurate statement.

From where I live, three of the five D* slots are actually lower in the sky than any of the E* slots.

 

[litzdog911]

During the next 3 weeks, the sun can be used to help you site a new satellite dish. See the link in my signature below.

 

[curt8403]

Two of the five satellites are actually co-located with E* satellites, so that's not really an accurate statement.

From where I live, three of the five D* slots are actually lower in the sky than any of the E* slots.

the 2 co located slots are used for locals and Spanish and Chinese only now.

 

[rudeney]

I had los issues with E and D came out and there were absolutely no problems. D's sats are higher in the sky than E. I just wanted D to come out and see if they could get los but I had to sign up for DIRECTV and then they come out to do the install and then found out there was no issue with los. A local installer may come out and check it for you without you having to sign up!

Rusty, you are correct. According to dishpointer, my 5LNB D* dish needs 48.3 degrees of elevation, but E* is flower in the sky at 38.2.

The OP is in Philly, so his elevation is 36.7 degrees. Of course you can see why those poor guys up north have more serous issues with trees than we do down here in The South!