I've moved into a brand new two-storey townhouse. Covenants state no satellite dishes are to be installed. I already have a Freetoview receiver which I would like to continue to use, and I'm wondering if a 40 cm dish would be small enough to conceal in my courtyard. The TV is situated by a window which is at the other side of the wall where the I'm planning to sit the satellite dish. Will a dish this small give me clear reception?
Hi Vivienne, firstly welcome to GeekZone, a 40cm dish will work however can be more prone to rain fade, if you can fit in a 54cm all the better. Most covernants cannot stop you from installing a dish if its just sitting on your deck (rather than bolted to the deck, wall or roof). So to plant a dish in a garden box or planter thats filled with cement or using a caravan type tripod so that it can be readily removed should not upset the authorities.
Depending on where you are you need a clear view to the north western sky at an elevation of 40deg (can be 36-45deg depending on your location), if you deck affords that then I say go for it.
Hi there. I have been marketing a 45 cm dish on trade me and privately for the last 2 years, and have sold more than 100 of them. I have not had one report of rain fade with this dish when installed and receiving the weaker vertical Test signal, which ensures the satellite is targeted correctly. One simple mount solution is to use a large paint pail, fill with a dricon quick setting concrete, mix water, insert an appropriate pipe into the mix to mount the dish on when the concrete dries. The 45 cm dish is easily targeted to the satellite and because of its small size can be positioned on a patio. I installed one on a balcony at the Scene1 apartment block and it is hiding under a BBQ cover.
If they dont want you installing a dish its probably because the sat is reticulated thru the MATV system so you should be able to just connect to the wall outlet.
Hi all and thanks for your very useful replies. I've just purchased a 46cm dish from Trade Me - Paul - pity I hadn't known you beforehand! I think I will try to mount the dish the way that's been suggested. I have a large plant pot that would look pretty good, so can maybe disguise the dish as an exotic plant! I have Wall Mount. Mounts included. KU Band LNB included. Dish Mount included. I also have a Strong receiver. Am I right in thinking I only need cables? Do I need a sat meter and a compass?
One other question - What's also puzzling me is - why, if they can stand on patios are so many of them mounted on rooves and walls?
Maybe I should just get someone to install it for me!
I'm not sure either if you can get them here. I had a look at the websites and they seem to be very good, but I'm only just getting my head around round dishes so I'll go with the 46cm one I purchased for now and see how it goes.
Ah well, its really the sort of thing you should have checked out before signing up to live there, but you should be ok with a small dish on a balcony.
I know someone whose parents in the states moved into a place where they would tell you what sort of car you could own, and you were not allowed to park yours on the road in the subdivision or outside your garage and all sorts of stupid rules about what you can and cannot do. Thankfully that never started to happen here in the cookie cutter estates like dannymora etc
TV reception was not high on my list of priorties when I looked at this place :-) It's no biggie, if having the dish doesn't work I will have to resort to paying for cable TV.
Hi, yes all you need is cables, compass would help although based on nearby dishs on houses you will soon see roughly where you need to point without a compass. I assume you are in Wellington region (Saturn cable reference) so you need to aim around 316deg magnetic (ie what the compass says) and roughly 40deg elevation, if the mast is dead vertical (by using a level) then the markings (most have elevation markings) on the dish mount should align correctly. Whilst a sat finder would be usefull, if you can see the TV from the deck then I suggest you just use the signal level meters on the STB to alighn the dish.
A 45cm dish has a quite large beam width therefore is pretty easy to find the sat and zoom in on it compared to larger dishes.
PM me if you need cables made, or assistance installing it, will be in Wellington most days next week.
Cyril
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