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Tutor

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5 Messages

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 11:59 PM

owner installed dish on a steel roof

I ordered DirecTV.  The installer showed up and took one look at my very expensive beautiful steel standing rib roof and said that they were forbidden to install dishes on metal roofs, and then they cancelled the order and left.

 

Can I not purchase the dish, supports, mounts, etc. and install it myself, or have a third party install it, and then order DirecTV service for everything else?  If the installer from DirecTV shows up and the dish is already installed, will DirecTV aim it for me?

 

If I do this, how do I find out what parts to buy?  Which dish do I need for HD, NFL Sunday ticket, etc.?

 

My roof is very strong and installing the dish will be pretty straightforward.  I really want DirecTV but it seems the installer from DirecTV will not cooperate.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

ACE - Sage

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46.4K Messages

13 years ago

You can certainly hire your own local satellite installer or Home Theater installation contract to handle this for you. But do you really want to mount that dish on your metal roof? There are good reasons why DirecTV won't do it.  Is there no way to mount the dish on a pole or wall?

 

You can buy all of the parts from dealers like Solid Signal (http://www.solidsignal.com).  But it's not really a do-it-yourself job, especially if you want HiDef equipment.  

Tutor

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5 Messages

13 years ago

About mounting on the side of the house.  The installer said that the cedar shakes were not adequate and that they could not mount the dish on the side of the house.

 

The installer thought the main reason for not mounting on the metal roof was because of leaks.

 

Are there other reasons you know about?

Mentor

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55 Messages

13 years ago

What other reason do you need?  Scratch a piece of vinyl siding and some customers want whole house redone. The amt of money that DirecTV and/or that tech would make pales in comparison to the cost of that roof. Tech won't take the chance of losing his job over the $100 he makes on your install.  Was a pole mount not discussed?
Originally Posted by raymondvillain 

About mounting on the side of the house.  The installer said that the cedar shakes were not adequate and that they could not mount the dish on the side of the house.

 

The installer thought the main reason for not mounting on the metal roof was because of leaks.

 

Are there other reasons you know about?



ACE - Sage

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46.4K Messages

13 years ago

Do you need any better reasons than "leaks"?  It can be a real challenge to properly seal all of the dish mounting bolts on a metal roof. The whole advantage of a solid metal roof is that it has no way to leak, unless you make holes in it. 

Tutor

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5 Messages

13 years ago

What I meant to ask was is the metal going to interfere with the operation of the antenna?  That is, will the presence of the metal change the impedance the antenna sees, or cause reflections that degrade the signal?

ACE - Sage

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46.4K Messages

13 years ago

No, the metal roof won't interfere with the satellite reception.  But the dish mounting will permanently alter your roof's water repellent ability Laughing

Scholar

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356 Messages

13 years ago

No, that's not the issue, and its not that the installer isn't cooperative.  He's forbidden by DIRECTV installation procedures from installing the antenna on a metal roof.

Contributor

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1 Message

13 years ago

DirecTV policy states that Installers cannot install our mounting brackets on metal roofs due to the possibility of leaking. Also when you think about it all us installers do to secure the mounting bracet for a HD Slimline monting bracket is 6 lag bolts in the base mount and 4 more lag bolts in the mono poles we use. a sheet metal roof does not have the same support that a wooden roof with asphalt shingles give us. Is there any reason you are opposed to having a pole mount in  your yard?

Tutor

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5 Messages

13 years ago

I would welcome a pole mount but there are so many tall trees surrounding my small yard that the pole would have to be 80 feet tall.

Scholar

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306 Messages

13 years ago

Quote: Originally Posted by natanielrs 

 a sheet metal roof does not have the same support that a wooden roof with asphalt shingles give us.


R U kidding? the metal roof has the same wood under it that asphalt shingles have and the same 16 or 24 inch rafters

I know about the policy but this statement makes you sound......

Tutor

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5 Messages

13 years ago

I agree.  That's why I was asking about custom installation, or even installing a dish myself (I put the roof on) and I could reinforce the decking from inside (where the rafters are) as the interior of the attic is not yet insulated and sheet-rocked in.  I could even put heavy galvanized steel braces between the rafters to provide something really substantial for the legs to anchor into.

Scholar

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306 Messages

13 years ago

Below are the local retailers that come up for your area. They can provide you with the same deals you get through DTV. The install may have some charges for the type work you want done. You will not get this done going through DTV directly.

 

 

GRACE TELECOMM
7300 OLD YORK RD
ELKINS PARK, PA 19027
(215) 935-3535
See a map

RICOSTORE
1865 COTTMAN AVE
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111
(215) 722-4240

Contributor

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2 Messages

8 years ago

I just had 30 solar panels placed on my metal roof using clips that attach to the metal ribbing with no compromise to the roof. I find it confusing that this cannot be done with a direct TV antenna. The clips are specific for the type of metal roofing. Having a pole in the middle of the yard is annoying to me?

Expert

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32K Messages

8 years ago

a metal roof is not an approved mounting surface for a DIRECTV dish

Contributor

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2 Messages

8 years ago

I understand that it is policy. What are the options as clearly installing things on a metal roof is safe and possible without compromising the roof? Structurally a metal roof is more sound than composite? Can I pay someone else to install the dish on my roof?

NEED HELP?