[430970]

I have an install coming up to replace my existing dish with the new dish and HD DVR and had a couple questions. I live in Seattle, and the install will be handled by Ironwood.

Current setup: Wires come up from a central "utility room" via a flex conduit in my walls and through the roof via a 2" pipe with an upside-down "U" shaped cap on it (prevents rain from getting in). There are actually two of these (one is for the OTA HD cables right now). The existing dish is strapped to the chimney, which I know is a mount method they won't be using for the new dish.

Questions

1) Rather than drill more holes in my roof, is it possible to bolt the new dish to this 2" pipe? Not sure if the "cap" causes a problem or not.

2) If so, and I just buy these for the monopoles: would the installers use them?

http://www.rstcenterprises.com/our_products/strutclip.phtml

3) If not, but related to #2, would the installers be willing to "de-install" the existing pipe and replace with the full Commdeck solution?

http://www.rstcenterprises.com/our_products/commdeck.phtml

Not trying to over complicate this install, just trying to prevent more holes from being drilled in my roof if I can avoid it.

 

[mjtville]

I have an install coming up to replace my existing dish with the new dish and HD DVR and had a couple questions. I live in Seattle, and the install will be handled by Ironwood.

Current setup: Wires come up from a central "utility room" via a flex conduit in my walls and through the roof via a 2" pipe with an upside-down "U" shaped cap on it (prevents rain from getting in). There are actually two of these (one is for the OTA HD cables right now). The existing dish is strapped to the chimney, which I know is a mount method they won't be using for the new dish.

Questions

1) Rather than drill more holes in my roof, is it possible to bolt the new dish to this 2" pipe? Not sure if the "cap" causes a problem or not.

I wouldn't. Without seeing it, it's a hard call from here. Post a pic.)

2) If so, and I just buy these for the monopoles: would the installers use them?

DTV requires at least 1 monopole in most installations. Installer should provide them.

http://www.rstcenterprises.com/our_products/strutclip.phtml

3) If not, but related to #2, would the installers be willing to "de-install" the existing pipe and replace with the full Commdeck solution?

Use the Retrodeck with clips for monopoles. Less invasive and keep your conduit in place.

http://www.rstcenterprises.com/our_products/commdeck.phtml

Not trying to over complicate this install, just trying to prevent more holes from being drilled in my roof if I can avoid it.[/QUOTE

Once again, my 2 cents!

 

[BattleZone]

1) Rather than drill more holes in my roof, is it possible to bolt the new dish to this 2" pipe? Not sure if the "cap" causes a problem or not.

No, they will not (and if they did, you'd end up being very unhappy). Most likely, the pipe is larger than 2" OD. Typically, a 2" pipe is 2" ID, and 2 3/8" or so OD. The cap is another problem; they wouldn't be able to seal the hole if it was removed. And, finally, and probably most important, it is VERY likely that the pole is no where near strong enough to support the dish. The Dish will suffer from very high wind loading due to its size, and must be rigidly stable, or you'll lose signal. Standpipes like what you've got are usually loose and move around, and aren't braced enough to stand up to the wind.

3) If not, but related to #2, would the installers be willing to "de-install" the existing pipe and replace with the full Commdeck solution?

Installing a Commdeck is correctly the job of a roofer. DirecTV contractors will NOT mess with your roof at all; most won't know how, and none will want to be responsible for it. It would be custom work anyway, but again, most installers are NOT qualified to do something like this.

Once you had a Commdeck installed, an installer would be able to use it to do the install. Make sure you also get the extra tabs for the monopoles.

 

[430970]

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to get anyone out to do any of the work on such short notice (couple of weeks) and I'm not qualified to do it myself.

So I guess 8 or so holes in the roof (dish mounting plate, monopoles) it is :-(

Hopefully installers working in Seattle know what they're doing when it comes to sealing things.

Wanted to add that roof is the only reasonable location for the dish.

 

[mjtville]

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to get anyone out to do any of the work on such short notice (couple of weeks) and I'm not qualified to do it myself.

So I guess 8 or so holes in the roof (dish mounting plate, monopoles) it is :-(

Slimline + 2 monopoles = 10 holes, 6 in mounting foot, 2 in each monopole.

Hopefully installers working in Seattle know what they're doing when it comes to sealing things.

I see a lot of silicone used to "seal" the lag screws. :nono2: Bishops tape and pre drill all holes and HIT THE RAFTERS WITH THE LAGS

Wanted to add that roof is the only reasonable location for the dish.

Good Luck

 

[430970]

Good Luck

I'm probably at the mercy of whomever Ironwood sends out. If it's some yahoo, what can I do? There really isn't anywhere other than the roof to install.

Do I say, "dude, be really careful?" or "how are you going to seal these" or "please use bishops tape and hit all the rafters"? I can't imagine them taking kindly to that kind of questioning.

I could go buy a retrodeck + monopole struts (as recommended) but the Ironwood guy isn't going to install that ... then I have to go find some handy-man type willing to come out at the same time, etc...

Argh. Stupid heavy dish!

 

[OverThereTooMuch]

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to get anyone out to do any of the work on such short notice (couple of weeks) and I'm not qualified to do it myself.

Why don't you just change the upgrade appointment?

 

[430970]

Why don't you just change the upgrade appointment?

Look mr, that there's crazy talk.

:lol:

OK, seriously. I'm a little nervous about having someone else install it and Ironwood balking (wrong location, don't like to use other mounts we didn't install, etc). And I'm nervous about trying to schedule two people to come out at the same time, esp. when Ironwood only gives you a 4 hr window.

Any chance Ironwood would install the retrodeck + use the strut clips for the monopoles if I had it available? If they won't use the strut clips then I fail to see how getting the retrodeck installed on my own does me any good anyway (since I still end up with potentially leaking holes due to the monopoles).

 

[Johnnie5000]

Any chance Ironwood would install the retrodeck + use the strut clips for the monopoles if I had it available? If they won't use the strut clips then I fail to see how getting the retrodeck installed on my own does me any good anyway (since I still end up with potentially leaking holes due to the monopoles).

Installing a Commdeck is correctly the job of a roofer. DirecTV contractors will NOT mess with your roof at all; most won't know how, and none will want to be responsible for it. It would be custom work anyway, but again, most installers are NOT qualified to do something like this.

The average installer would look at it for a minute, think about what putting it in would entail, and say no.

 

[BattleZone]

I would be AFRAID of the installer who went ahead and installed something he had absolutely no experience with (read: roofing). I'm a pretty advanced installer, 5+ years experience, plus prior "big dish" C-band work, with plenty of custom and commercial work experience, and one thing experience teaches you is what NOT to do.

Being responsible for "bad roofing work", even if I actually did everything right and something else went wrong that could remotely be blamed on me or my company, makes no sense. I've already had it happen; one of my installers installed a Slimline on a big 2x12 fascia board (NOT on the roof at all) on an old rental house in Oakland with an ancient roof. The roof was leaking everywhere, including on the far side of the house 50' away. The tenants complained about the leaks, forcing the owner to re-roof the house, so the owner put in a damage claim to my insurance via DirecTV, and despite sending in a bunch of pictures that absolutely showed that there was no way we could have been at fault, my insurance company paid the owner and raised my rate.

Lots of companies and individual installers have no insurance, even though they are supposed to. I can *assure* you that no tech is going to be able to afford roof repairs out of the little bit of money he makes, especially if he can't afford insurance now.

I don't mean to scare you; I wouldn't hesitate to install a Commdeck on my own house, and I could do it right and have it up in less than an hour, I'm sure. I'm just not willing to take the liability on someone else's house.

Then, consider that all DirecTV installers are way overbooked and are already looking for any excuse to cancel a job, especially one that is going to cost them extra time or difficulty, or where the customer is picky. Considering that an "easy" install takes 3 hours, and that techs often get 5-6 jobs or more per day, it means nothing for them to reschedule you and leave; they'll still be behind.

If it is important for you to have it done RIGHT, then find a way to have it done RIGHT.