dish network with metal roof

[great_scot]

Hi, I'm new and obviously not professional. Recently I went through a fiasco with direct tv on installation. I have a 2 story house with a metal roof so the only good solution was a 20 foot pole which was needed because the dish has to have a clearance of 2 to 3 foot above roof line. Needless to say I opted out after hearing the additional charges for this.
My question does dish network require this clearance as well.
thanks in advance for your help-would sure like to ditch time warner.
gs

 

[Pepper]

Well the dish has to be able to point at the particular satellites - this is called "line of sight" (LOS) - and if anything is in the way, your house for example, you need to find some other place to mount the dish where there are no obstructions.

Dish Network is a little more flexible in that they have both Eastern Arc and Western Arc and it is rare that LOS is blocked to both of them.

 

[dishnet_tech]

Hi, I'm new and obviously not professional. Recently I went through a fiasco with direct tv on installation. I have a 2 story house with a metal roof so the only good solution was a 20 foot pole which was needed because the dish has to have a clearance of 2 to 3 foot above roof line. Needless to say I opted out after hearing the additional charges for this.
My question does dish network require this clearance as well.
thanks in advance for your help-would sure like to ditch time warner.
gs

It's all about direction and angle. Your post mentions a 2-story house w/metal roof but doesn't mention anything about trees or yard space. Ordering directly from Dish Network (versus a retailer) shouldn't cost you a thing since they provide a free install, assuming they can find a line of sight.

 

[great_scot]

It has a good line of site close to the house. The problem seemed to stem from interference from the roof; I'd attach it to the corner of the house but that would put it close to the roof. Thanks for the advice on the install
thanks
Scot

 

[multnomah]

I had some issues with DISH network over my metal roof also. It's not about interference. DISH installers can actually be fined for putting a dish on a metal roof because of the potential liability that would be incurred if the roof leaked after the installation was finished. I posted my problem on this forum, and the best suggestion anyone gave was to use a 'chimney wrap', which is just what it sounds like. The third installer I tried was more flexible, however, and agreed to attach the dish to a (wooden) dormer.

My suggestion: if you get a negative answer from your DISH installer, wait a week and then try again, requesting a different installer.

 

[magnum2066]

I've only done 2 installs on a metal roof, using a crapload of roof cement and pitch pads. I'll NEVER do that unless the customer signs off saying if it does leak it isn't our fault. It also has to be on the edge of the roof or I won't even attempt it. So the next time you try ask to sign off any liability on the tech's part and have a caulking gun and some kind of sealant for the technician and be very liberal with the application.

 

[the mack]

The problem seemed to stem from interference from the roof;
Scot

sounds like b.s. most industrial roofs are metal and there are no issues when mounted there. I have attached dishes to large roof top units which are also metal with no problems.

seems like there would be no problems attached to the side of your house.

If I had a metal roof I would not won't holes in either.

 

[dishcomm]

Hi, I'm new and obviously not professional. Recently I went through a fiasco with direct tv on installation. I have a 2 story house with a metal roof so the only good solution was a 20 foot pole which was needed because the dish has to have a clearance of 2 to 3 foot above roof line. Needless to say I opted out after hearing the additional charges for this.
My question does dish network require this clearance as well.
thanks in advance for your help-would sure like to ditch time warner.
gs

It is a line of sight issue. In other words the tech must place the dish where there is a clear unobstructed view of the satellite locations.
I am wondering why a standard hieght pole could nt be used and the dish simply placed farther from the house.
I have been to Texas. The Dallas area. There isn't a tree over 20 feet tall within 50 miles of DFW.

 

[dishcomm]

I had some issues with DISH network over my metal roof also. It's not about interference. DISH installers can actually be fined for putting a dish on a metal roof because of the potential liability that would be incurred if the roof leaked after the installation was finished. I posted my problem on this forum, and the best suggestion anyone gave was to use a 'chimney wrap', which is just what it sounds like. The third installer I tried was more flexible, however, and agreed to attach the dish to a (wooden) dormer.

My suggestion: if you get a negative answer from your DISH installer, wait a week and then try again, requesting a different installer.

Corredct. Metal roofs are a no-no. Unless there is sheathing to which the metal rooffing is attached, there is nothing beneath to anchor the lag bolts. PLus, there is a tremendous liability aspect due to leak potential.
Now, the bottom line is if the customer is willing to sign away all liabilities, and agrees to hold the installer, agents and Dish Network completely blameless, we will do a metal roof mount.
Most homeowners will not agree to this.

 

[dishcomm]

sounds like b.s. most industrial roofs are metal and there are no issues when mounted there. I have attached dishes to large roof top units which are also metal with no problems.

seems like there would be no problems attached to the side of your house.

If I had a metal roof I would not won't holes in either.

The interference is most likely due to the inability ot turn and point th edish in the proper direction. Perhaps the pitch is steep.
It's not BS. Unless you've been in our shoes, please save the BS comments.

 

[busdriver72]

Every install is different and unique.
A 2 story house with metal roof could require special considerations.
Certainly, safety is an issue. When I arrive to a job site it is my goal to leave in at least as good a condition as when I arrived. I have been to a couple of locations where height and roof pitch forced me to decline. Gone are the days where I scoot along the top edges of steep, high roofs.
Two story houses can also make the running of cable extremely difficult.

 

[dishcomm]

Every install is different and unique.
A 2 story house with metal roof could require special considerations.
Certainly, safety is an issue. When I arrive to a job site it is my goal to leave in at least as good a condition as when I arrived. I have been to a couple of locations where height and roof pitch forced me to decline. Gone are the days where I scoot along the top edges of steep, high roofs.
Two story houses can also make the running of cable extremely difficult.

Same here. Those days of heroism on roofs are over.
If you fall, you are out of the job and perhaps losing your home.
No install is worth that.

 

[brownover]

I can give you a good reason to never put a dish on a roof unless you have no choice. Rain Splatter! Thats right, rain splatter. If you have a heavy rain, you will have rain fade sooner than if the dish is on a pole. Between the rain falling and rain bouncing off the roof = no picture. I moved mine to a pole and fade is virtually non existent.

 

[the mack]

The interference is most likely due to the inability ot turn and point th edish in the proper direction. Perhaps the pitch is steep.
It's not BS. Unless you've been in our shoes, please save the BS comments.

I have been in your shoes, I used to install MMDS systems on the super steep 3 story roofs on old Detroit mansions. many times we had to use 10' tripods and 20' telescopic masts to get LOS to the ren-cen.
we used chicken ladders and bit the bullet.

the statement that the roof itself could cause interference from the metal is bs, probably just a lazy installer who did not want to to the job.

guys tv installs of any type have always sucked money wise, except the early days of Dave i.e. D*.
I have done cable, mmds and sat and they all try to get over on you when it comes to money.

 

[eacalhoun]

Another metal roof issue...

My neigbor has had DirecTV for many years; he's in a small single-story house and his dish is mounted on the lowest corner of the roof and is easily accessible from a ladder without needing to climb onto the roof. About 2 years ago, he had his shingled roof replaced with a metal one. The roof installers re-installed the dish antenna in the same location. Our first snow this season was 10-inches of wet, heavy snow, and as it slid down the roof you can guess what happened -- snow pulls out 3 lag bolts and his antenna tips over. No, he didn't have "ice stops" or whatever they're called installed on the roof. He just replaced the original lag bolts with bigger, longer ones that would "bite" a little better.

 

[dishcomm]

I have been in your shoes, I used to install MMDS systems on the super steep 3 story roofs on old Detroit mansions. many times we had to use 10' tripods and 20' telescopic masts to get LOS to the ren-cen.
we used chicken ladders and bit the bullet.

the statement that the roof itself could cause interference from the metal is bs, probably just a lazy installer who did not want to to the job.

guys tv installs of any type have always sucked money wise, except the early days of Dave i.e. D*.
I have done cable, mmds and sat and they all try to get over on you when it comes to money.

it's ok to do a job with the proper safety equipment.
Thing is , in this business of production and beinhg in a hurry but yet performing custoimer service duties does not allow time for these difficult jobs to be done. Of course no one tells the customer ahead of time that their job may be non standard. All they know is what salespeople tell them. It's a free install.

 

[Tech#344]

It is a line of sight issue. In other words the tech must place the dish where there is a clear unobstructed view of the satellite locations.
I am wondering why a standard hieght pole could nt be used and the dish simply placed farther from the house.
I have been to Texas. The Dallas area. There isn't a tree over 20 feet tall within 50 miles of DFW.

Lazy probably do the cable bury. As for how to mount to a metal roof, this is what I use(see Picture). It is an eve mount kit, and the reason I like it is because it's cheap, easy to install, stable, customers don't object to it being mounted to there house, and it can be used to mount any thing from terrestrial antennas to super dishes.

 

[JWKessler]

I have a metal roof on a one story house - and a lot of trees. I had the dishes mounted to the edge of my south facing deck. This has the added advantage here in the snow belt in that I can easily access the dishes to brush the snow off.

 

[Bob Haller]

Yep my dish is on my deck super easy snow clearance!! Way too many still think a dish goes on ther roof or worse Chimney.

Neighbor had his installed on chimney, till a big storm ripped off his dish and brought down the top of his chimney too...

 

[dvrexpander]

Yep my dish is on my deck super easy snow clearance!! Way too many still think a dish goes on ther roof or worse Chimney.

Neighbor had his installed on chimney, till a big storm ripped off his dish and brought down the top of his chimney too...

I love mounting to a roof... shingles that is since its super easy to sit it up, run the line usually down behind a gutter or corner of siding. The issues with a deck install is that you have to be able to put lags in those outer 4 holes so 4x4 posts are out of the question. I don't do chimney mounts since I don't really like drilling through brick and my office doesn't allow the special chimney wraps to be used.

I've seen people go out and get a used telephone pole from the power company (yeah they sell them or get rid of them when no longer able to be used) and put that in the ground and have them mounted up top to clear tree's to avoid even touching the house. You'd be surprised at what people will do just to get TV!