mounting dish on roof

[hollywood43]

Hi. I am working on installing an 18X24 dish that I plan on using for both DTV and DN with three dual LNBs. I just can't seem to get a good signal from 119, which I believe is because of a tree. The dish is currently mounted to my chimney. I see a lot of people with dishes mounted to their roofs. Won't this cause a leak? How would I go about mounting my dish to the roof and not causing and leaks? I've never done this before.

Also, I wired the coax through the house while it was being built. I didn't notice until recently that I made a mistake. I have 4 lines of RG 6 up there and 4 lines of RG 59? Is that going to be a huge problem? I sure hope not because the cable is run in the walls and I'll never be able to cleanly get more up there. I have 4 dual LNBs to run to: 3 on the elliptical dish and 1 on the HD dish at 61.5. So far I can get 100% on 61.5 but only intermittent results on 110/119 because of the tree. I haven't tried for 101 yet.

Any help is greatly appreicated. This is my first adventure in installation and I'm pretty lost. :(

[blue boat]

hollywood43

You've picked a nice dish set-up, but a real tough one for your first install, I included a link, of the same info you are looking for.

http://www.dsschat.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=125986

Depending on the material, i mount the dish right on the roof, always mount close to the edge (the overhang) I use 2 " screws and then I silicone the bracket on.

to get all satellites you need to know where they are by compass, and have no obstructions between them, walk to every corner of your roof with your compass and look for that window.

RG6 only, look at it this way, you have two fish's installed to route your correct RG6 cable.

blue boat

[hollywood43]

blue boat,

Thank you so much for replying. I've been messing around with this for days now with only getting poor results at best. I did try having the receiver/tv up there with me and it helped out tremendously. I guess that I'm going to have to move the dish from its current location and go from there. I was always afraid of the roof leaking but the Dish500 over at my dad's townhouse is mounted close to the peak and is doing fine. The installer told him about some sort of tape? I don't know, I've never been up there. Thanks again for the help. I'll post what happens.

[blue boat]

hollywood43

when you try next, first get that bottom bracket and arm perfectly square both way's, and tightened right down. Set and tighten the tilt and deviation on dish before installing. Now keep everything tight and only work one adjustment at a time. the key is Tight

good luck

blue boat

[avcmret]

For the best possible mount you want to get the screws into a rafter.

1. Once you find the area you want to mount your dish you can find the rafters using a hammer.

2. moving accros the area tap with a hammer. The sound will change when you are over a rafter (more of a dull thud. You do not have to hit hard.

3. Next I would drill a test hole using a eighth in. bit. to see if I was on the rafter. I would then drill another small hole a half inch to the right and left to make sure I was centered on the rafter.

4. Now fill the holes with RTV and also lay a bead down just smaller than the base of the mount.

5. Place the mount over your chosen hole and secure to the roof (I use 1/4 inch lag bolts 3 inches long) MAKE SURE THE MOUNT IS STRAIGHT

6. For a standard DTV MOUNT I fastened the two center holes to a rafter then using shorter bolts I would fasten the four corners.

7. Cover all of the bolt heads with RTV and make sure there is a good bead all around the base


I have not had one leak yet

[hollywood43]

Wow, this is some great information! Thanks a lot for all of your help.

[problemchild]

just wondering have you ever thought about a pole mount if its possible for you thas the best bet im an installer and iv got all three of mine on poles i know it looks a little funny but it wont leak and by the way if you mount the way that avcmret said it will do well ps tar is the way to go silicoln dosent last as long but remember its up there and check on it nothing lasts forever

[hollywood43]

Thanks for replying. I thought about pole mount but it's kind of tough where I'm at. I have some pretty tall trees to get around. The neighbor managed a poll mount though. I'm going to try and find the time this weekend to mess with it.

Cubs fan, huh? So is my fiance. We're an unlikely pair since I'm a Cardinals fan. Whenever they play against each other I keep my mouth shut! LOL! I find it best not to root for my team on those days. Or at least not in front of her.

I'm very familiar with roofing tar caulk. Our old roof used to leak something fierce.