Landlord Sucks

[Robyn]

Hi! I just bought a new Direct Tv system and my landlord won't let us put it on our roof or in front of our apt. We are trying to figure out other ways of putting up the dish but we aren't sure how to do it. Can there be any trees in the way or does it have to be a clear shot SW? Thanks

 

[Spin]

You can put it on a tripod or bucket mount on your balcony. Trees are an issue but you can measure to see if you have clearance.

 

[warrenpa]

I had this same problem (on top of mine being a retired employee from the cable company and him insisting that I had to leave the cable entering my apartment, and I'd have to take any and all sat equipment down, because if I move the next person would most assuredly not want satellite - I honestly believe he's convinced that satellite is the devil's work).

We eventually agreed on placing the dish on the side of the house just below the overhang from the roof, which makes for some messy and dangerous cleanup in the winter when icicles hang in front of my dish. Your best bet is to be as helpful as possible and assure your landlord you'll cause no damage to the house. To sway his opinion I finally suggested writing an addendum to my contract saying that I was responsible for a clean install and clean un-install when I decide to move.

Now, what he doesn't know is that when I upgraded to DTIVO I spliced into the existing cable, as precious as it is, for my dual LNB. Doing this, though, meant that I didn't have to drill another hole into the house...

 

[damaged]

Think he'd let you have a boulder?

Disclaimer: I make no claims regarding the following sites' products, business practices, information regarding, or fitness of their product(s).

http://www.dishking.com/accessories/InstallationKits_Covers.htm (it's at the bottom).

Pic: http://www.dishking.com/accessories/boulders.jpg

Just rechecked and that particular one is for 18 inch or Dish 500s, but there are ones for directv sizes I'm sure, I'll have a go at another search and update this post when I find one for D*.

UPDATE: Ok found the directv sized ones, here's a pic:
http://www.dish-rock.com/cs14rock.jpg
and here's its home site:
http://www.dish-rock.com/index1.htm

Also, some report putting the dish in a plastic garbage can works. Did you try offering the landlord a donation(bribe), perhaps word it like "Could I pay a one-time fee?" or something like that.

And I found this site ( http://www.faqs.org/faqs/Satellite-TV/FAQ/ )that discusses this, an excerpt:

However, there are other ways. Hide your dish. There is one manufacturer that makes a dish look like a beach umbrella, complete with lawn chairs and a table. There is also a very ingenious system called "The Rock" which is a
fiberglass (Microwave transparent) boulder that can go right over a dish and hide it. One fellow we know of found out that his restrictive covenants DID allow a homeowner to have one of those outbuildings (shed) where people keep their lawnmowers, etc. He built one of microwave transparent material, and put his dish inside and no one is the wiser. Such a system is actually preferable, it protects the dish from wind and the elements. (professional radar systems use RADOMES for the same reason)

I know of people who have non permanent dishes. Some roll the dish out at night, point it at their favorite bird, and roll it back in the house or garage before sunrise. Another person I know lives in a community that does not allow dishes, and he has two. They are on wooden bases, and thus not permanent. He never removes them, and he tells me they track the arc quite nicely.