Tutor
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4 Messages
HOA rules - can't drill thru walls
I just had a Direct TV technician at my townhouse to install a dish on the back patio using a non-penetrating tripod mount (which is within the HOA rules), and then some douchebag member of the association board actually came over to my house in the middle of the install and starts threatening us with penalties and fines if the technician drills a tiny hole thru the wall in order to get the coaxial cable from the dish to the inside of the house.
Has anyone ever had to deal with this problem and found a workaround? Basically we do not own the outside walls or roof, so the HOA can make up whatever BS rules they want to keep people from installing "eyesore" satellite dishes, but I own the doors and windows so I would be allowed to do whatever I want to them. Anyone have any good ideas?
litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
14 years ago
Some installers keep these flat coax cables handy for situations like yours. They're flat and bendable to squeeze through windows or sliding doors.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=WRFC200&d=Eagle-Aspen-FC-300LX-Slimline-Flexible-8-Inch-Flat-RG6-Coax-Window-Cable-(FC-300LX)
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reasonmj
Tutor
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4 Messages
14 years ago
That looks like it might work, although the only review on that site says that they found the flat coax too thick to close their door. The description though says to install thru door frames or window sills. How does that work and still let you close your window/door?
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
14 years ago
That looks like it might work, although the only review on that site says that they found the flat coax too thick to close their door. The description though says to install thru door frames or window sills. How does that work and still let you close your window/door?
My daughter has one at her apartment and can still close the window over the cable. Probably depends on the window. It's surprisingly bendable. And it sounds like you don't have much alternative if you want DirecTV.
Some folks also will juryrig a piece of wood (2x2) that can be mounted vertically in the window opening (for a sliding window), then drill a hole through the 2x2 for the satellite cable. Then the window can be closed against the 2x2.
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tomgourley
Tutor
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4 Messages
14 years ago
I have used the flat cable in a window in my RV until I redid the cableing to bypass a non satellite passing splitter. They work.
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irishntn
Guru
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535 Messages
14 years ago
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TexasBrit
ACE - Expert
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14.1K Messages
14 years ago
SWM makes no difference at all as far as using flat cable is concerned. Either the cable is OK or it is damaged, it does not matter if it's SWM, HD or whatever. But as litzdog says, if you can use the 2x2 approach you can use normal cable anyway.
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
14 years ago
If I were in this position, I'd make sure the flat cable came under a window that I could leave closed permanently then the cable could be expected to last a good long while.
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floridarv
Mentor
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58 Messages
14 years ago
Is there room to drill a hole in the frame of the window or door?
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dlm64
Teacher
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28 Messages
14 years ago
a HOA can really keep you from drilling a hole in your own house? wow, Id have a problem with someone telling me what i can or cant do on my own home.
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floridarv
Mentor
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58 Messages
14 years ago
a HOA can really keep you from drilling a hole in your own house? wow, Id have a problem with someone telling me what i can or cant do on my own home.
It sounds like he is in a townhome or condo not a single family home.
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
14 years ago
Basically we do not own the outside walls or roof
"wow, Id have a problem with someone telling me what i can or cant do on my own home."
Although the resident who wants to do the drilling thinks the rules are unreasonable, after all the units in a complex have gone through 3 or 4 owners, all of whom have done a bit of drilling, the Association is left with walls that look like Swiss cheese and any new resident might well demand they fix "their" walls.
Townhouse and condominium living is not for everyone, and one should consider some of the restrictions prior to making such a move. Of course, it's those very restrictions that tend to keep these developments looking new like over long periods.
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