Sky won't install dish!

J8,
Had to speak with a sky engineer myself only last week due to the very high winds we have been having.
Was advised that the dish when fixed in position needs to be able to 'see' the satalite group (I think it's at 14 degrees above the horizon?), which is a fairly shallow angle if trees are in the way!!) Also for the box to lock onto the signal the dish has an absolute max movement of + / - 1mm.
I have no idea how true all of this is, but it may account for the engineers rather abrupt (and somewhat rude I may add) departure.
This may not be what you wanted to hear... How about asking your new neighbours if they have any experience of sky fitting in the area?

I know you guys are a little further "north" than we are "south".... yet most houses down here are timber frame construction and timber clad. No problems with sky via sat, other than rain drop-outs. The sky engineer is talking through one of his orifices not normally associated with speech (with the exception of politicians).

Whaddya watching sky for - is your hifi broken?

cheers

I think i would be tempted to tell them to poke it and look into cable instead.. That aside in the past i had a sky dish mounted on a timber clad house so at least that part of the problem should be fixable, at least with the right brackets and fittings..

Is there no alternative fixing point which is rigid? Chimney,etc.Just a thought.
matt.

quote:

---

No problems with sky via sat, other than rain drop-outs.

---

Unlikely to be the same satellites, given the Astras are over Brazil somewhere....

New Sky installations are very very shoddy since they are 'free'. I'd have thought the OP was paying cost for the job so the 'engineer's' attitude is very strange. Perhaps one of those signal strength meters from EBay and a DIY job would be more effective?

Paul

How big is a Sky dish? I thought they were only about 55cm wide. That makes them much less sensitive to pointing than a larger dish. Like my 125cm one. Get yourself a dish with a decent wall mount from a local supplier and buy a 'Satellite Finder' meter. The latter costs less than 20 quid and is worth it's weight in platinum. Get a compaass and find out where your satellite should be from the internet. Then find a clear shot of the sky somewhere on your house and plant your dish wall support really well with long screws. Or reinforce your wall locally with a sheet of 3/4" plywood a little larger than the dish. Or choose somewhere where you can get a really good fixing. Dishes have tremendous drag in wind.

If you explain to your dealer about the wooden house problem he will have loads of experience on what to use.

You must have a clear shot at the satellite or it simply won't work. I "trimmed" our very tall hedge locally to get a clearer view for my big dish for a ground pole. To keep the dish as low as possible to the ground for shelter. We had a hurricane the week after I set it all up and the dish never moved!
Talk to a local dealer who inastalls dishes. They usually love to chat if you are buying stuff from them. Dish installation is absolute kids play with the little meter. It goes between your LNB (the head on the end of the arm) and your receiver. You'll need a small length of satellite quality coax cable with F-plugs to go between the meter and the LNB.

Make your connections before you turn anything on. Then switch it all off again to remove the meter. Then just fit your receiver cable straight into the LNB afterwards and fit the rubber boot tokeep the weather out.
Browse for more details.

Be incredibly careful if you have to work on a ladder! Unless you have experience of ladders it might be safer to pay the dealer to set it all up for you. They may not have Sky in the local hospital emergency room.

Nime

Sky seem to concur with Mr Rude Engineer; I'll have to contact a specialist.

The idea is to distract my girlfriend with satellite telly so I can slope off to the hifi room lol.

No chimney but the house does seem to have a bit of brickwork against one neighbour.

Thanks naimees.

I was told the dishes should not be above the eves. That said next doors is fixed to his chimney.
I second Nime's advice re-ladders. I spent the first 5 years at work up and down telegraph poles, and using ladders still scare me witless(I know it don't take much).

Howard

Thanks Nime

Didn't see your post as I must've been typing my reply.
Sky are sending a "troubleshooter" 2mrw and if he fails I'll get an independent installer in, I'm only renting this place and all my ladders and tools are in store. Might treat myself to a Satellite Meter though [Maplin?].

Maybe it should run away with the spoon ?


Fritz Von Free to Air³