[mmckenzie6]

Working on the installation of a SlimLine dish on my balcony and had a few questions:

1. Local fencing company doesn't carry 2" OD poles but does have 2 3/8" and 1 7/8" poles. Figured the 1 7/8" could work, any ideas on that?

2. Local exhaust shop says he has the pole but that its 16 awg and that it may not be strong enough.

3. If I go the pole mount route, how could I ground my dish from my 3rd floor apartment?

4. Planned on using the quick-set cement. Would that hold up with the weight of the dish?

5. Have the "AU9-SL3 Triple LNB Ka/Ku Slim Line SWM" dish and purchased the 21v PI. Is that correct? (have seen conflicting info)

Thanks,
Marlon

 

[jimmie57]

I will answer some of your questions.
1. Do not use the 1-7/8" Tubing / Pipe . It is way too much for the clamp to close up.
2. 16 gage is plenty. If they have it, get something that says "Aluminized" or Stainless Steel. They will last a lot longer before rusting.
3. I can not answer this one, but I would ask, "Isn't your electrical box on the ground floor" ?
And, how far from the building is the dish going to be ?
4. The quick-set cement is fine. The key to putting the concrete around a pole in the ground is that you dig the hole about 2 feet deep. Then the pole has to be plumb / level while the cement dries.

Now, to contradict 1, 2 and 4, DirecTV will do all this for you. I have read that it is a $75 charge for a pole mount. You just need to make them aware that you need a pole mount so that they bring the proper parts with them.

 

[mmckenzie6]

Thanks for the response. This install will actual be done on a 3rd flr balcony and i'll be using a bucket to hold the concrete.

3. Yes, electrical box for the building is on the ground floor. So are you saying the outlet will ground itself?

Any idea if the PI I have is correct? Holding the dish up to the sky last night I was able to hit a few transponders but wasn't sure if maybe the 21v would result in less reception power.

 

[jimmie57]

The 21v power inserter is the normal.

The ground needs to be connected to your electical service. I am not an installer and can't give you a definitive answer as to how and where it will get grounded.

Here is something you might be better off using in place of a bucket of cement.
It works by just sitting there and you get 4 cinder blocks from the local Lowes or Home Depot or similar and set one on each corner. Much more reliable than the bucket.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...Roof-Mount---30-Mast-with-2-OD-(SKY32816-KITC)

 

[revolg]

Wow. First off a non own will not work as ur going to be obstructed by the railing. 2nd off you will not be able to ground. 3rd off ur better using a rail mount which is non penetrating to the railing just clamps itself together. And not one fool that I know off would put a slimline in a bucket.

 

[Shades228]

Thanks for the response. This install will actual be done on a 3rd flr balcony and i'll be using a bucket to hold the concrete.

3. Yes, electrical box for the building is on the ground floor. So are you saying the outlet will ground itself?

Any idea if the PI I have is correct? Holding the dish up to the sky last night I was able to hit a few transponders but wasn't sure if maybe the 21v would result in less reception power.

No bucket you need to get a non penetrating mount and some cinder blocks

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Penetrating-Roof-Mount-satellite/dp/B003L1BCCK

 

[Lord Vader]

As someone who had at his last apt. (3rd floor balcony) a non-pen mount, permit me to say it is a very reliable device. It does take up space on your balcony, but other than that, it is FAR better than a pole in bucket, trust me.

Check out the pics here in this thread.