DirecTV in an Apartment? 115
Sc00ter asks: "I live in an apartment and I'm seeking advice on how to mount a DirecTV dish without causing damage to the building. I don't have a balcony to put it on, only windows. There are some people that have worked around this by using other types of antennas, but the cost of such a device is too high. I have also seen some window mount type antennas but I don't think I should trust these in the wind. I was hoping somebody out there had been in a similar situation and had a tip or two."
Football Season (Score:3, Funny)
Hail to the Redskins! Joe Gibbs is back!!!!!
Re:Football Season (Score:2)
Spend some time understanding the game then go outside and play some flag football. Once done, come back and tell me it isn't fun.
NFL Football is a 20 billion dollar business. They must be doing something right. I mean, a boring sport wouldn't be able to pull the kind of money in.
Re:Football Season (Score:2)
The reason why the clock stops is because football is the only sport where you have to make full use of all your muscles on every play. No one can play football on a high level without resting. If you really think football is easy sport you're mistaken.
People don't watch football to see people get hurt or for the violence, whatever that means. Ask any
My Case (Score:4, Funny)
if that doesn't work do a kinda ghostbusters 2 movie solution, turn the whole building into a reciving antena.
Make a good case (Score:2, Insightful)
First off, your landlord can specify exactly what they're allowed and not allowed to do when they sign a waiver.
Second, if you approach your landlord in a way that makes it sound like they're getting a deal out of it, they may just say yes. Try pitching it to them like, "I want to upgrade your apartment, free of charge, to be satellite ready!"
Re:Make a good case (Score:2, Informative)
Gee, way to answer a question that he didn't ask.
Thank You Captain Obvious.
I've heard stories of people successfully geting indoor dishes to pick up a good enough signal for satellite TV. Granted, these dishes were pointing out windows and had no curtains in front of them.
NTITE
Re:Make a good case (Score:3, Interesting)
We had a loft on the north wall of the apartment. The apartment had a south-facing window directly across from the loft.
We mounted the satellite dish to the floor level of the loft (I am not sure how to explain it - it was mounted to the vertical side of the loft floor, so that it was visible from the loft but not taking any floor space).
We pointed the dish out the window, and made the minor adjust
Re:Make a good case (Score:3, Insightful)
Wrong (Score:1, Redundant)
Wrong wrong wrong. The FCC says [fcc.gov] that you cannot sign away your right to install a 1M or smaller dish in a non-common area (as in for your exclusive use). Your landlord cannot prevent you. Your city can't prevent you. No one can.
Re:Wrong (Score:1)
The original post isn't asking about convincing his landlord to allow the antenna - he's asking how to mount it without damaging the building.
Ideas (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
Re:Ideas (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Ideas (Score:2, Insightful)
That being said, I seriously doubt you could get signal through a roof. And even if you could, come winter, there better not be any snow on that roof.
Personally, I'd make a small platform to hang out my window. But then again, you have to have windows that face the right direction in the first place.
Re:Ideas (Score:1)
*shrug*
e.
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
Sure, because instead of being an distant 23,000 miles from a geostationary satellite, up in the tallest of inhabitable mountains you might be a mere 22,999 miles away...
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
And I installed it myself, using nothing but a starchart (from Weather Underground [wunderground.org]) and dead reckoning. They make it a really user-friendly process, so long as you've got half a clue.
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
Moisture is not the only substance on the planet that "fucks with" radio waves.
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
- again, no railing since I have no balcony
- That's a good idea
- No neighbors with dishes
- The way our roof is, not a chance...
- Most pro installers will not install in MDU
Re:Ideas (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously!
Works like this:
Put the dish on a large flat padded base, tie 3 or 4 short guy wires from the disk mounting bracket to a couple of large rare-earth magnets (you can get 'em with handy mounting loops and whatnot at Edmund Scientific for a price and most surplus places for a lot less). Then, with a buddy on the inside and you hanging out the window, press the base against the glass, pull each guy-wire out as far as it will go and have your buddy put a matching magent on the inside,
Double pane windows (Score:1)
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
You can get plenty of not too small ones for free by taking apart old 5.25" hard drives.
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
If you tell your landlord that you're willing to pay for the expense, chances are they'll let you do what you want. However, the chance is inversely proportional to the number of units owned by the landlord. i.e. if you're in a large apt building thats one of many owned by a corporation, forget it. If you're in a duplex owned by a guy that
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
Re:Ideas (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Ideas (Score:2)
Not a chance in hell. If heavy rain can block it, a wall definitely will.
A bucket, some cement and plumbing pipe (Score:1, Redundant)
Re:A bucket, some cement and plumbing pipe (Score:1)
Re:A bucket, some cement and plumbing pipe (Score:1, Funny)
Re:A bucket, some cement and plumbing pipe (Score:2)
Talk to your landlord (Score:2, Insightful)
If you're wondering whether they'll agree, there's a good chance your worries are unfounded. Rentals are at a long time low right now with Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac handing out home loans like candy, and most supers will bend over backwards to keep you happy.
Do the damage (Score:2)
Re:Do the damage (Score:1)
I'd say to be careful with this advice. At my apartment complex, the maintenance guys go around every couple of months and pull the dishes off the roofs (not allowed based on the lease). On the bright side, the dishes end up in the dumpsters every so often. Does anyone want me to save them one?
I guess we're stuck with cable.
Re:Do the damage (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Do the damage (Score:3, Insightful)
Now, if you put a dish inside your apt, and had it pointing through a window...and they went into your unit and tossed out the dish. Then they would be in violation.
grumpy
Re:Do the damage (Score:2)
Re:Do the damage (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Do the damage (Score:2)
Those seem to be the single-most expensive/valuable part of the whole system.
Re:Do the damage (Score:2)
Put it on the roof (Score:2, Redundant)
My father works maintenance and a really expensive "assisted living" place. The other day, one of hte tenants comes up to him and says, "I am putting a dish on teh roof".
"Well sir," starts my father, "We are going to have to check w/ management to see if we can do it."
"No, according to section blah blah of FCC code, I can legally do it. I was just letting you know as a courtesy."
And he put it up. The guy was a lawyer and management d
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:5, Informative)
However, the management of the institution would have been well within their rights to deny the resident the privilege of mounting an antenna on the roof, as the roof does not belong to the resident.
The FCC has a very helpful Fact Sheet [fcc.gov] regarding the issue. For those too lazy to click, renters can install an antenna on the private area of their residence (indoors or on a private balcony or porch) but public areas (shared walkways, balconies, and roofs) do not fall under the scope of this legislation. As such, management may impose restrictions on the mounting of such permanent structures as television dishes.
I would highly recommend any renters read the link above. Many apartment complex owners are not aware of the legislation (or even worse, are acutely aware of it!) and will attempt to bully you into submission by flatly prohibiting any sort of dish installation. The FCC order is rather strong ammunition in such cases.
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
I actually asked my apartment manager about installing a dish on my covered patio area, and
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:3, Interesting)
Oh
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:4, Interesting)
If the community offers the same satellite service and the pricing is not unreasonable, they can deny you the right to install the dish. Say you want DirecTV and they have Dish, they can not deny you the right to have a DirecTV dish. If they say thought that you have to pay $20 just for the access to the line then you can install your own.
They can deny you the right to do a penetrating mount. This means no driliing/bolting into a balcony, wall, roof, etc without their WRITTEN permission. This would also include running the line indoors.
Tripod, bucket-o-quikcrete, etc are fine. So is u-bolting to a balcony railing as long as no holes are drilled into their property. As to getting the line indoors, this is the exact reason why inductive couplers for windows/patio doors and flat cable were invented.
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:1)
Actually, they can request that you install your dish in a way that minimizes the aesthetic impact, but only to the extent that it does not interfere with reception.
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:1)
Just to clarify: the point about the regulation is that while it ensures you can have recieving antenna mounted, it doesn't give you the right to install it: the estates management can require you use a professional, and can place some restrictions on where the antenna is mounted (e.g. the rooftop may have a space allocated for antenna mounts, and the estates management will require the installer to put it there, and to run the cable all the way to your apartment, even if it is a long cable run).
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
Many apartment complexes provide a connection to a common VHF/UHF antenna, which may meet the standard of the FCC regs.
Re:Put it on the roof (Score:2)
And to nit-pick, satellite service is an over the air fcc licensed broadcast but I know what you mean.
Put it on the roof-FCC (Score:1, Informative)
The FCC links are about midpoint on the page.
FCC rules dont matter (Score:2)
It would be grounds for having your lease broken if you pissed off the owner.
Tips (Score:5, Informative)
By Law, You Can Install the Dish (Score:1)
I read this information on either the Dish Network or DirecTV website when I was looking into it. I had already given them my location, so I suppose it could be based on state laws.
Why not ask them? (Score:3, Insightful)
The only other thing that comes to mind is getting permission from the property manager to put the dish on the roof and then run some wire down the side of the building through the window, to the receiving unit. If you're in a low-rise unit and/or not far from the roof, this may work but I wouldn't count on running ten stories worth of wire just so you can get your TV fix.
Re:Why not ask them? (Score:1)
Then, a friend of my neighbors checked it out (who happens to do Direct TV installs) and had my service installed in 2 days by simply mounting on my existing antennae
I used a flower pot... (Score:1)
fcc has info (Score:3, Informative)
Landlords and HOAs can prohibit installation in:
common areas
rooftops
outside walls
window sills
so, unless permission is granted from landlord or homeowners associations you can't install there. the nice people at dish network have a landlord [dishnetwork.com] permission form and a diagram [dishnetwork.com] of exclusive areas.
Re:fcc has info (Score:1)
I live in a converted victorian building on the top floor apartment. Monkeys from the 2nd floor decided to climb on the roof one day and install their own antenna, complete with cable that was just strung over the edge and not fastened.
I promptly called the estates management. In the next few weeks, they'd come around to confirm it, then later, the tenants had been evicted and the antenna was removed.
Good thing to. Last thing I want is (a) some shoddly mounted antenna swinging over and into my window duri
Re:fcc has info (Score:1)
Had the antenna stayed, it was much less likely the roof would leak.
Now there's probably 4 unsealed holes in it.
You do the math.
Sorry... but your solution probably didn't net you that gain.
Re:fcc has info (Score:1)
"Had the antenna stayed, it was much less likely the roof would leak.
Now there's probably 4 unsealed holes in it.
Sorry... but your solution probably didn't net you that gain."
Completely wrong assumptions there. Go back to school.
Re:fcc has info (Score:1)
Okay. If it's a penetrating mount, and the dish is removed by someone in anger, you expect the holes to be filled?
If you're so smart, tell me why I'm wrong.
Or did you not go to school either?
Re:fcc has info (Score:2)
Re:fcc has info (Score:1)
Re:fcc has info (Score:1)
They were cool about it. I never
A better place to ask might be... (Score:3, Interesting)
Some of the solutions have been mentioned here, flower pots, getting the landlord to agree to a roof mount, etc.
There are others who simply take the window, open it up, make sure that the window screen is fibreglass instead of wire, mount the dish on what becomes a piece of furniture, pointing out the window. When it gets cold they fill the void where the window would otherwise be, with a couple of pieces of plexiglass. It doesn't even have to be transparent.
Then there are the phased array antenas, which I agree cost too much for most appartment dwellers.
On the other hand, pretty much nothing I can do will help me. Physics is working against my getting sattelite reception from my appartment. Unless someone comes up with a way to position a satelite near the north pole, I have too much building in my way.
-Rusty
Re:A better place to ask might be... (Score:2)
http://zborgerd.freeshell.org/satellite.txt
Re:A better place to ask might be... (Score:2)
There is. It's called a "statite" -- basically, it uses a solar sail to balance against the pull of gravity.
One word: Plexiglass (Score:4, Interesting)
I had line of sight to the primary sat, but the signal would not go through the glass. I just went to good ol' Home Depot and bought a sheet of plexiglass and some 2x4's. After building a simple frame and inserting it into the window I was good to go.
My first attempt involved 2 spaced sheets of plexiglass, but I couldn't get a signal. 1 sheet worked great.
I lost about 10 points of signal, rain fade was hardly a problem.
Re:One word: Plexiglass (Score:2)
seems signals can get through glass ? (or maybe that for he has a large dish)
anyone who has more information if you can put a dish behind a window without problems ?
Re:One word: Plexiglass (Score:2)
As far as I can tell, you won't know until you try...
well, in dorm rooms... (Score:2)
magnets (Score:1)
Re:magnets (Score:1)
An NYC possible solution (Score:2)
Well, this guy didn't have permission from his landlord. He just figured that he would install now, pay later for damages if he gets hassled apologize etc and move if things got too hot. He's an easy going stoner type but majorly stauch about his entertainment resources. what sto
Re:An NYC possible solution (Score:1)
That's what I did. Not much is more true than the axiom: "It's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission."
"It's easier to beg forgivenes... (Score:1)
I used to live in an apartment complex with 7 three-story building full of apartments, and there were many small TV sat dishes installed in varying locations. Pretty much anywhere was OK, as long as it didn't interfere with other uses of the property.
The most obvious example of stupid installers was the one that put their satellite dish post right next to the entry walkway, so that the dish hung at about head height over the walkway (yes, right w
a thought (Score:2)
However, they demand that we purchase a renters insurance policy that would cover, in effect, the entire building, should something go wrong (a lightning strike, for example). The requirement stated some rediculous multi $100k dollar amount.
Re:a thought (Score:1)
That is illegal (Score:2)
FYI, according to the FCC [fcc.gov], that is illegal. Read the part that says
Lazy way... (Score:1)
Enjoy. I've seen this work reasonably well myself. If you're worried about wind, lay 4 more patio stones over the edges of the one you mounted to.
(Note: Don't try this with anything larger than an 18" dish)
Re:Lazy way... (Score:1)
I'd imagine tho, that if too many tennants wanted personally-owned rooftopy antennae, there could be an issue with holes drilled, and neighbors bumping into poles, dishes, and more.
There is the issue of "rain fade", but is there one for "bird-turd-fade"
screw-in Mailbox post (Score:1, Interesting)
The apartment I live in now would have allowed DirecTV proffessional installa
well, since everyone else is doing it.... (Score:2)
Here is a photo [tzs.net].
You can't see them in the photo, but at the bottom of the wood beam there are a couple of rubber feet. The zig-zag shaped metal thingy attached to the side and jammed up under the rail is actually a doorstop (at least, that's what it was labeled at Home Depot).
To
in my apartment complex (Score:1)
The easiest thing... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The easiest thing... (Score:2)
Window sill (Score:2)
It worked well until a tree was planted in front of the window dropping the signal strength to below functional levels with the window closed. With the tree to hide our efforts, th
In my state (NC) (Score:2)
It's all about plexiglass! :) (Score:3, Interesting)
I do have casement windows.
Solution:
One of my casement windows in my bedroom is always open. In its place is a plexiglass sheet that I purchased at home depot. I always keep the blinds closed in the bedroom anyways (sunlight! ick!) so this isn't an eye sore.
The DirecTV signal will go through plexiglass with barely any signal degradation. Apparently plexiglass has a different dielctric (sp?) constant than glass (which absolutely destroys the signal).
I get excellent reception. The only thing that stinks is the "once or twice a year" event where someone bumps the satellite dish. However, since I marked on the dresser the orientation marks, it usually only takes me a few minutes to get it recalibrated.
Ghetto geek yes, but it sure beats AT&T cable!
when I was in the same situation.. (Score:2)
garage was facing south and we had these convinent remote controls. So if you want to watch tv - you just have to use one more remote to fire it up.
use a neighbor's dish (Score:2)
cheap college student way (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:The Real Solution (Score:2)