Satellite Dish Mounting

rjordan392 · 05-26-2009, 11:18 AM

Hello,
The installer came today and I had to turn him away. MY old 15 or more year dish was installed by me using a special mounting bracket for chimneys that uses compression to secure it. The Direct TV installer said he would have to mount it by drilling holes in the chimney. I said that this was not acceptable and I won't allow it. I asked why no mounting bracket like the one I installed and he was not making any sense and trying to explain regulations saying that the dish has to be mounted as stated. I talked to his supervisor and he said the alternative is to use cinder blocks on the roof to secure the dish to.
Am I dealing with HACKS? Maybe their dishes are not designed for use with chimney mounting brackets, but I will not back down on my demand for a chimney bracket that uses compression to secure it. Obviously, they cannot use my existing one. I think I will do a search for an independant to install my dish and equipment. The wiring is already finished. Your Opinions please.

Lew_B · 05-26-2009, 11:44 AM

The dish that Direct TV uses for high def (5 LNB) is much bigger and heavier than the old 18" single LNB. Might be a weight/wind load issue.

rjordan392 · 05-26-2009, 01:02 PM

Yes, it is a bit bigger but how does screws make it more secure then a chimney mounting bracket with steels bands; especially when the bricks are hollow. And the guy who showed up to do the install, barely spoke understandable english. One can tighten up a bracket like mine much tighter then with lead anchors and screws. These can pull out if tighten too much. In my area, even the vhf-fm antenna's that are mounted to the chimney have metal bands to secure them. Now how heavy are they compared to the hd Dishes? Somebody is trying to cut corners.

rjordan392 · 05-26-2009, 08:46 PM

Update on chimney mounting bracket.

I was right. The installing company representing Direct TV trys to cut corners. There is a mounting bracket for chimneys that does not require drilling holes in the chimney. The installer either did not know about the bracket or did not want to install one.
I got this all straighten out by calling tech support. Tech support will also see that the returning installer speaks understandable English. I could not understand half of what the first installer said. Well I will see what happens this thursday for the new scheduled install. I hope theres no more curves to deal with.

cabinetman · 05-27-2009, 06:56 AM

If you were successful installing the first one, why not just do this one, and avoid the aggravation.

rjordan392 · 05-27-2009, 03:00 PM

I have to watch myself more carefully as I develop a form of vertigo, I think, as I have felt very uneasy when exposing myself to heights. I am no spring chicken (69 year old). When I was 20 years younger, I was ok. The trouble with todays contractors is not many are old school. That's why they put "Workmanship" in their contracts instead of craftmanship. I see by your "Icon", is that what they call it; that you are a craftsman. Good for you. I like to see many more. I used the word "MY" refering to the equipment and that is not correct. I will be leasing it once its all installed.

Greg C · 05-28-2009, 08:17 PM

When installing the new HD dish from DirecTV, we always use anchors into brick, and we also use the struts to form a triangle. With the size of the dish, there is alot of force on the pipe. This keeps the dish from moving, and eliminates service calls.

rjordan392 · 05-28-2009, 08:59 PM

I just had a second visit for my install and it again did not happen. I talked at length tuesday night with a tech representative and he assured me a chimney mount was available that did not require holes to be drilled into the chimney.
He said he would re-schedule the install and leave a message with the installer to bring a chimney mount. The installer showed up without the mount. It appears there's a total lack of proper communication between the sales people and the installers.
The reason I want this mount is:
1. I consider it to be a more secure attachment then drilling a few holes and adding anchors and screws.
2. My home"s brick venneer has two or three hallow areas and it would be foolish to try to add anchors in it.
3. The proper way to add anchors to this type of brick is to drill through the mortor joint so that the anchor will expand to grip two bricks for a more secure hold. But the installer did not know anything about bricks with hallow areas in them.
4. I do not want to hire people who are unfamiliar with differant types of materials for home construction.
5. The installer said, up to 10 holes would have to be drilled into my wall if I were to allow them to place it there. TEN HOLES- he has to be kidding.

So for the second time, I turned the installing tech away. I sent an email to a company that sells satellite equipment and hopefully they can provide me with something that will work.

jerryh3 · 05-28-2009, 09:10 PM

This one strong enough for you?

http://www.ronard.com/4424.html

rjordan392 · 05-28-2009, 09:27 PM

A tornado could not rip that off. But I don't think it would work with Direct tv's kaku 5 lnb dish based on how the lower part of the kaku is designed unless I can get assurances something like it will work. Besides all those bands look like overkill. I don't believe my chimney has room for all of them as I also have a vhf-fm tv antenna installed on it also.

Greg C · 05-28-2009, 11:56 PM

That is DirecTV's 5 LNB dish pictured on the link. Again, it is a big sail, which is why you would need the 5 bands to keep it from tourqing due to it being an extention pole on an extention pole.

rjordan392 · 05-29-2009, 06:18 AM

<That is DirecTV's 5 LNB dish pictured on the link.>

Ok, Now if the 5 LNB is also an Ka Ku dish, then it will work. Finally I am getting somewhere with the forums help. Thanks All, especially jerryh3 for supplying the link. I will call the installer to show him a picture of this mount with Direct tv's dish on it to finalize an agreement on its installation. The link shows what appears to be a 4 foot tall chimney. I think my chimney is about 3.5 foot above the flat roof. It also appears that if I have to, those bands (straps) could be placed closer together. Now When I call "Ronard Industries" I need to find out why those bands are 24 foot long. The chimney in the picture appears to be no more then 5 foot in perimeter.

Greg C · 05-29-2009, 08:31 AM

The problem is that if you are using the DTV hacks to install it for free, they will not do it. They do not get paid very much, and what you want them to do is not considered part of a free install. You will have to get an independent guy out to do the install, and pay for his time.

jerryh3 · 05-29-2009, 08:36 AM

Just google "chimney antenna mount" and you can find whatever you need. I believe the bands can be cut down to size. They use crimp on clamps to connect to the adjusting bolts.

rjordan392 · 05-29-2009, 08:43 AM

Thanks again, Greg and Jerry.

05-26-2009, 11:18 AM	#1
rjordan392 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Levittown, Pa. Posts: 480	Satellite Dish Mounting Hello, The installer came today and I had to turn him away. MY old 15 or more year dish was installed by me using a special mounting bracket for chimneys that uses compression to secure it. The Direct TV installer said he would have to mount it by drilling holes in the chimney. I said that this was not acceptable and I won't allow it. I asked why no mounting bracket like the one I installed and he was not making any sense and trying to explain regulations saying that the dish has to be mounted as stated. I talked to his supervisor and he said the alternative is to use cinder blocks on the roof to secure the dish to. Am I dealing with HACKS? Maybe their dishes are not designed for use with chimney mounting brackets, but I will not back down on my demand for a chimney bracket that uses compression to secure it. Obviously, they cannot use my existing one. I think I will do a search for an independant to install my dish and equipment. The wiring is already finished. Your Opinions please.

05-26-2009, 11:44 AM	#2
Lew_B Newbie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 24	Satellite Dish Mounting The dish that Direct TV uses for high def (5 LNB) is much bigger and heavier than the old 18" single LNB. Might be a weight/wind load issue.

05-26-2009, 01:02 PM	#3
rjordan392 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Levittown, Pa. Posts: 480	Satellite Dish Mounting Yes, it is a bit bigger but how does screws make it more secure then a chimney mounting bracket with steels bands; especially when the bricks are hollow. And the guy who showed up to do the install, barely spoke understandable english. One can tighten up a bracket like mine much tighter then with lead anchors and screws. These can pull out if tighten too much. In my area, even the vhf-fm antenna's that are mounted to the chimney have metal bands to secure them. Now how heavy are they compared to the hd Dishes? Somebody is trying to cut corners.

05-26-2009, 08:46 PM	#4
rjordan392 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Levittown, Pa. Posts: 480	Satellite Dish Mounting Update on chimney mounting bracket. I was right. The installing company representing Direct TV trys to cut corners. There is a mounting bracket for chimneys that does not require drilling holes in the chimney. The installer either did not know about the bracket or did not want to install one. I got this all straighten out by calling tech support. Tech support will also see that the returning installer speaks understandable English. I could not understand half of what the first installer said. Well I will see what happens this thursday for the new scheduled install. I hope theres no more curves to deal with.

05-27-2009, 06:56 AM	#5
cabinetman Old School Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: So. Florida Posts: 135	Satellite Dish Mounting If you were successful installing the first one, why not just do this one, and avoid the aggravation.

Satellite Dish Mounting