Just moved to the West coast, no view to south

[Miner]

I just moved to the west coast, and my apartment has no view to the south. San Diego's locals are on 110 which I might have a view, but I'm pretty sure my only chance is Eastern Arc. I've asked the apt manager about putting the dish on the roof and she'll ask, but didn't sound optimistic.

Any thoughts and / or suggestions. I'll be calling Dish tomorrow and would like some possible ideas. The thought of Cox is disturbing, ATT Uverse is intriguing.

Miner

 

[MikeD-C05]

I don't think you will have a good line of sight for eastern arc since you are on the west coast. The footprint for eastern arc is from the east coast to the middle of the country.

 

[Slamminc11]

should have asked where the view was before getting the apartment. That is always my first question, which direction does the balcony face...

 

[Miner]

should have asked where the view was before getting the apartment. That is always my first question, which direction does the balcony face...

I knew the balcony faced east, but didn't notice the 3 foot overhang of the roof, which really is the problem for me. SD's apts are 98% occupied (15,000+ foreclosures this year) so the choice in units is low.

 

[Miner]

I don't think you will have a good line of sight for eastern arc since you are on the west coast. The footprint for eastern arc is from the east coast to the middle of the country.

Looking at the list of sats and transponders, I don't need 77. 61.5 and 72.7 are what I need. I used to pick up 61.5 in Seattle, and it looks like 72.7 is conus. Whilte not ideal, I don't believe I have much of a choice.

Has anyone done a 61.5, 72.7 and 110? Might be a weekend experiment.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I have done an eastern arc dish 1000.4 +110 side sat dish . IT works but I 'm in southeast Texas.

 

[grb]

Is FiOS available there? That would be my choice for PQ...

 

[Miner]

Dish guy came out, took a look at apt and said the only way I can get service is looking south, and asked if the roof is an option. I've asked apt manager but no reply yet. I asked him about eastern arc, he said west coast is moving off 61.5 to 118 (1000+).

I setup my 500 on patio (facing east) and using "Y" bracket and DP Dual, I am able to get 61.5 w/ 60% signal. I had to pull my old 811 out of mothballs to use it as a signal locator. It couldn't identify the satellite as 61.5, but after I swapped back 622 and ran switch check, the 622 reported 61.5. I moved the LNB to the west side of the Y and looked for sigal. Swich check didn't find sat, but I'm now convinced I can't aim with a 622. Once I find one of my Twins, I'll try again.

For now I have most (not all) HDs, and get my locals with OTA.

Miner

 

[BuddyBoy]

You're sure you can't hit 110/119/129? Up here in the Bay Area we point about 10 degrees farther east than you (152 vs 162) and 110/119/129 is no problem for an east-facing balcony with an obstructed view of the south, as long as the pole is in the north-east corner of the balcony. The dish looks far enough east that the building won't block the signal. I've even seen this work on apartment balconies completely blocked on all three sides and from above - the only open side was to the east. I would seriously consider some kind of offset mount that got the dish out a little farther to clear the building/roof overhang, and hope the apt manager lets you get away with it.

 

[blooker]

A family member is temporarily in an apartment in El Cajon and finally resorted to placing a Slingbox in a friend's apartment. He lives in an end apartment and attached a 6 ft long 2x6 plank to the railing of his patio. At the end of the plank, he attached the antenna and adjusted it using a ladder on the ground. It was a big deal to to get the job done. It lasted a week until some scuzzy neighbor complained and it all had to come down. Thank goodness for Slingbox.

 

[Miner]

A family member is temporarily in an apartment in El Cajon and finally resorted to placing a Slingbox in a friend's apartment. He lives in an end apartment and attached a 6 ft long 2x6 plank to the railing of his patio. At the end of the plank, he attached the antenna and adjusted it using a ladder on the ground. It was a big deal to to get the job done. It lasted a week until some scuzzy neighbor complained and it all had to come down. Thank goodness for Slingbox.

A 6 ft 2x is about what I would need to overcome the offset wall to next unit and also the 3 ft roof overhang. I think an eastern arc dish will solve my problem, minus the locals. I pick the locals up fine with OTA, albeit no guide data for them.

Now if I could find my DPP Twin, I'd experiment with it. For now all the HDs on 61.5 is what I'm watching.

Miner

 

[Miner]

I can pick up 61.5 and 77 just fine, but it looks like I'm a few miles too south (and west) to pick up 72.5, which I really need. I'm now trying to figure out if I should put my account on hold until 1) 72.5 is upgraded with a new bird that reaches the whole US, 2) move in 5-6 months into a house, or c) live with paying for turboHD (or full programming) and get less than it is worth. By the way basic (analog) cable is free, but no DVR, no HD on my 50" DLP

When does 72.5 get upgraded?

Miner

 

[Agonizing Fury]

I can pick up 61.5 and 77 just fine, but it looks like I'm a few miles too south (and west) to pick up 72.5, which I really need. I'm now trying to figure out if I should put my account on hold until 1) 72.5 is upgraded with a new bird that reaches the whole US, 2) move in 5-6 months into a house, or c) live with paying for turboHD (or full programming) and get less than it is worth. By the way basic (analog) cable is free, but no DVR, no HD on my 50" DLP

When does 72.5 get upgraded?

Miner

You will probably move 2 or 3 times before that happens. it's leased not owned, plus even after an upgrade there is no guarantee that a satellite meant for the east coast will be CONUS.