What direction for Sky Digital signal?

Emmo

Im in an appartment in Dublin and thinking about getting Sky Digital only problem is that my appartment block wont let me put up external Satelittle dishes.

However I do have a balcony but this faces into the city centre towards the North East.

Whats the chances of getting a SkyDigital signal that way?

Emmo

Mossy Monk

the dish for sky needs to be facing in a south easterly direction

Emmo

Thanks very much for the answer, just a few more please!

Is it more south than east?

I can get the thing facing out towards Poolbeg I think but how much south does it need to be?

Anyone know the minutes / degrees reference kinda super thingy?

Anyone know of a bloke who can come out to my house and say yeah or nah to the whole thing?

Emmo

Ronan|Raven

The satellite it broadcasts off is positioned at 28 degrees east.

Greenman

Roughly where the sun is at 11AM!!!
BTW Have you looked at other dishes in your area???

Emmo

ok this just gets more complicated.

28 degrees east from what?

All this cause NTL dont have the bloody option to select the Champions League Matches and you know Liverpool are going to be muscled out by the others feckers.

Sorry for the hassle.

Emmo

Emmo

Roughly where the sun is at 11 am right now? As in Summer time?

I have looked for Dishes but I aint seeing them too good.

I think most people have them on the back of their houses. Which kinda makes sense.

so if its 28 degrees east am I right in thinking that its like this








Damn the editing on this didnt work at all!

ok maybe this picture will help, is the direction midway between N and E kinda at the 2 o'clock interval or am I talking a lot of crap, as per?



Emmo

Ronan|Raven

Look at the sun at noon (not directly into it or yall get a headache!) Its position at noon is due south for your location. East is left of this point west to the right.

Lennoxschips

If it's Sky One you want, then you need to point your dish at a septic tank.

Mossy Monk

Originally posted by Lennoxschips
If it's Sky One you want, then you need to point your dish at a septic tank.

roffle, its funny cos its nearly true

John R

Approx.

Ronan|Raven

Originally posted by Mossy Monk
roffle, its funny cos its nearly true

Indeed, all they show lately is simpsons repeats which as much as I like the simpsons it gets tedious. Then there is some up and coming reality tv bullplop then some new show worth watching then more repeats.

Soon my contract with chorus is up (I shall kill a bull and hold a fest for this event!) I was a couple of months ago sad about loosing sky one now it will be like a breath of fresh air.

Mike 1972

Due south is 0 degrees
Due East is 90 degrees East
Due West is 90 degrees West

"The sun at 11am" analogy is only a very rough guide

You need to take into account things like

Lattitude/Longtitude (west of Greenwich)

Time of year (affects position of Sun in Sky)

Daylight Saving time (Ireland uses GMT in Winter but GMT+1 is Summer)

Emmo

Thanks all,

Well it turns out I can get an external dish put up on the side of my apartment and my balcony just doenst face the right way so im outta luck.

Thanks anyway to everyone who replied.

Emmo

Dub13

what floor are you on.....?I used to put the them up for Sky (I am not going to tell you for which company) if you are near the top you could put it on the roof,I did this in a few Apts it works best if the roof is not used much and you are near the top.I went back to one Apt about 10 weeks after I put in the first one and there were about 8/9 once one Apt put it on the roof they all wanted in.

Zaphod

Have you got a South/SouthEast facing window? You can receive satellite signals through glass, if it's not lead lined.

Emmo

I have got one south east facing window and im on the 2nd floor or a two story set of apartments.

Im not sure if putting it on the roof is the best idea as the management company could make me take it down and do you not need permission to get up their in the 1st place?

PM me and let me know as I think what your suggesting might be a little shady and while im well up for shadiness Im not sure of the policy on boards.

Emmo

Zaphod

Originally posted by Emmo
I have got one south east facing window and im on the 2nd floor or a two story set of apartments.

How big is the window? It is double-glazed? When you look through the window, have you a fairly clear view of the horizon/sky?

Emmo

yeah I have a great view of the skyline, its about 2ft accross by about 3.5 ft tall. All those pretty cranes at night with their lights twinkling.

Aint double glazed but how big is a sky digital dish?

Emmo

Ronan|Raven

Dont own a sky minidish but having looked at the ones on the neighbours then they seem to be mostly 60cm. Aint sure on this but thats what I estimate them to be anyway

Zaphod

Originally posted by Emmo

Aint double glazed but how big is a sky digital dish?

"Aint double glazed" is good - Less signal loss with a single pane. I reckon you have a good to very good chance of reception from what you describe. Dish size is a bit tricky. Glass will cause the signal strength to drop somewhat, but rain on the window is a bigger problem. That being said I have experience of reception through glass for Astra2D and reception is fine 24/7 even in rain (and through curtains!). That's using a solid 80cm dish. 60cm probably will work (solid is better than mesh) but you should check it out first, best to test during a wet day. Perhaps you can get a loan of a dish from someone?

If space is a problem (and money isn't) then I'd recommend an Arcon Sweety:
http://www.wizardsatellite.com/wizard.php?show=products&pdid=68&prid=11&page=5&ss=&sessionid=90b4899013ad7b311b233b0b4c204b0d

sceptre

As Zaphod said, single glazed is better. My windows are double glazed and the dish works fine through them though. Some occasional (once or twice a week) breakup on the low-powered channels, drops the signal completely maybe once a month but opening the window a little usually sorts that. Works better than Chorus ever did.

Emmo

Well I contacted a few people and I got this as an answer

"Sorry, I'm afraid it needs to be visible to the Dublin mountains to work"

So looks like im all outta spare lives and pac-man has bitten the big one.

Thanks very much everyone for the newb help.

Emmo

Zaphod

Originally posted by Emmo

"Sorry, I'm afraid it needs to be visible to the Dublin mountains to work"

It doesn't!

Tony

Originally posted by Zaphod
It doesn't!

This was an indication of the direction it needs to point in very general terms in response to (the balcony) " It faces Eastwards towards the city centre"

Dont shoot the messenger

Emmo

Tony was it you that I emailed?

If so thanks for the reply.

Emmo

Tony

Originally posted by Emmo
Tony was it you that I emailed?

If so thanks for the reply.

Emmo

No problem, sorry i could not give you better news

Emmo

tis ok.

I think im doomed to NTL and there faulty crappy reception.

Go out to pubs to watch Liverpool from now on.

Emmo

Mike 1972

You could consider moving

Wonder how long it will be before the estate agents catch onto "Astra Facing Balcony" as a selling point :rolleyes: