[1953]

Earlier today my insurance agent asked me for help with the following problem.

A father and grown son are die hard Green Bay Packer fans. The son lives in Dallas and has Directv with the sports package so he easily watches many of the Packer games. The father lives in San Antonino and cannot get Directv installed due to (1) the roof of his house is made of clay tiles so the satellite dish cannot be roof mounted and (2) his home owner association does not allow the use of pole mounted satellite dishes. So the son in Dalls is looking for a way to send the Directv Packer game broadcast to his father via computer (or by means of some other device).

Is there anyway to accomplish this strange scheme and if so is it legal? Strange but true. :eek2:

Thanks,
1953

 

[say-what]

Install a slingbox at the son's house and have dad access it via internet during the games.

But the HOA can't unreasonably restrict the installation of the DirecTV Dish

 

[evan_s]

I'd suggest they look into OTARD. The HOA can not prevent the father from installing a sat dish on any thing that is his exclusive access. So if he has a back yard or balcony they can't stop him from installing a dish pole mounted or other wise. You could probably even do an install on the roof with a Non penetrating roof mount. http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=FRM-200

Assuming the father still doesn't want to go that route a slingbox is the most obvious solution altho probably a legal gray area.

 

[bakers12]

Install a slingbox at the son's house and have dad access it via internet during the games.

But the HOA can't unreasonably restrict the installation of the DirecTV Dish

I agree with the Slingbox idea.

You'd be suprised at how little the FCC considers "reasonable" when it comes to installing antennas. This is covered by a ruling called OTARD.

You have to have a private area (balcony, patio or porch) with line of sight to the satellites. The dish can't extend outside of that private area.

OTARD also does not give you rights to drill any holes.

 

[say-what]

You could probably even do an install on the roof with a Non penetrating roof mount. http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=FRM-200

I'm not sure they have a version that works with those clay tiles.

 

[evan_s]

I'm not sure they have a version that works with those clay tiles.

Hard to say since we don't know what they are like but you are right it does need a bit of weight to keep it in place which might cause a problem with the tiles.

 

[bakers12]

And OTARD gives you no rights to the roof anyway.

 

[Radio Enginerd]

I'm not sure they have a version that works with those clay tiles.

Is there a reason why he/she couldn't use an under eve mount other than the HOA?

I agree as well with the Slingbox idea. I wonder if that's a violation of your DirecTV contract though given the fact you're sharing DirecTV with a non subscriber.

 

[evan_s]

And OTARD gives you no rights to the roof anyway.

It depends on the situation. If he owns a single unit house then yes OTARD does apply because the roof is his exclusive access area. If it is a condo or townhome with a shared roof then that is probably communal property and not exclusive access and OTARD wouldn't apply. We no nothing about the fathers situation other than a HoA was mentioned.

 

[EricJRW]

I'd suggest they look into OTARD. The HOA can not prevent the father from installing a sat dish on any thing that is his exclusive access. So if he has a back yard or balcony they can't stop him from installing a dish pole mounted or other wise. You could probably even do an install on the roof with a Non penetrating roof mount. http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=FRM-200

Assuming the father still doesn't want to go that route a slingbox is the most obvious solution altho probably a legal gray area.

I've seen, on actual roofs, something quite similar, but instead of a flat roof, it was sitting where the two roof slopes (I'm sure there's a correct term for that) come togther... So that NPRM is actually hinged at the top and it has two "wings" that fold down and match the roof's pitch. The ones I've seen then use the ubiquitous concrete blocks to weigh the thing down... If the whole thing was painted to match the tiled roof, it would be rather unobtrusive.

But if you both have the bandwidth, Slingbox sounds pretty good... Depends if dad is ever going to want to watch shows that you don't plan to broadcast...

 

[Newshawk]

How about hiding the dish under a rock?
(Disclaimer: I have no interest in this company, nor have I used this product. I found it via a Google search. Caveat Emptor.)

 

[Newshawk]

I've seen, on actual roofs, something quite similar, but instead of a flat roof, it was sitting where the two roof slopes (I'm sure there's a correct term for that) come togther... So that NPRM is actually hinged at the top and it has two "wings" that fold down and match the roof's pitch. The ones I've seen then use the ubiquitous concrete blocks to weigh the thing down... If the whole thing was painted to match the tiled roof, it would be rather unobtrusive.

But if you both have the bandwidth, Slingbox sounds pretty good... Depends if dad is ever going to want to watch shows that you don't plan to broadcast...

I think what you are referring to is a ridgemount NPRM.

 

[Justin23]

It depends on the situation. If he owns a single unit house then yes OTARD does apply because the roof is his exclusive access area. If it is a condo or townhome with a shared roof then that is probably communal property and not exclusive access and OTARD wouldn't apply. We no nothing about the fathers situation other than a HoA was mentioned.

You are correct, sir! I wish more people knew about the OTARD rule because most don't

J

 

[longrider]

The original post did say 'house' so taking that at face value he can tell the HOA to take a hike. Also, what about wall mount?

Stories like this just reinforce my dislike for HOAs. That was one requirement when I moved a few years ago - NO HOA

 

[davring]

I have a tile roof and wouldn't let anyone mount a dish on it. Mine is securely "tapconned" on a west wall(concrete/stucco).

 

[joe diamond]

I've seen, on actual roofs, something quite similar, but instead of a flat roof, it was sitting where the two roof slopes (I'm sure there's a correct term for that) come togther... So that NPRM is actually hinged at the top and it has two "wings" that fold down and match the roof's pitch. The ones I've seen then use the ubiquitous concrete blocks to weigh the thing down... If the whole thing was painted to match the tiled roof, it would be rather unobtrusive.

But if you both have the bandwidth, Slingbox sounds pretty good... Depends if dad is ever going to want to watch shows that you don't plan to broadcast...

I built one like that one time. It worked BUT any other tech has to arrive with a second ladder and be willing to tie off to one vertical ladder and climb across a second horizontal ladder to the dish.

It is still working I guess but a pain even for the money.

Joe

OTARD says no holes? Nah!....If we can hang the leader of a cool Arab country citizens of the USA can drill holes. Just do it.

 

[EricJRW]

I built one like that one time. It worked BUT any other tech has to arrive with a second ladder and be willing to tie off to one vertical ladder and climb across a second horizontal ladder to the dish.

Good point... Did not think of that aspect, unless maybe it was at the very end of the roof, reachable by one ladder, and then the cables could go in through the soffit or gable vent (better)?

 

[paulman182]

Last year the Super Fan option included the capability to view games via computer.

I don't know if the capability is there this year or if it is strictly within the bounds of the customer agreement, but that could be a possible option.

 

[1953]

Thanks to everyone for the great response. I will forward this information on this morning.

Regards,
1953 (Louis)

 

[Newshawk]

Last year the Super Fan option included the capability to view games via computer.

I don't know if the capability is there this year or if it is strictly within the bounds of the customer agreement, but that could be a possible option.

Supercast is available again this year, but it will be subject to the blackout rules for the service address of the subscriiber, IIRC.