Sky Satellite install on balcony

CathalDublin

Hi Guys
I'm moving into an apartment soon that only has broadworks as the television provider, satellite dishes are not allowed be hung from balconys or walls
I have a reasonably large l shaped balcony facing south and east, theres frosted glas on the baccony, would something like this be able to pick up sky digital or would it be too weak?
http://www.digicams-uk.com/prod235.htm
Also has anyone mounted a dish on the ground of the balcony, If so who installed it for you? I have an old large dish at home, how would I check if I could even get a clear connection with the sky satellite without obstruction?

Thanks
Cathal

cauliflower69

I have installed dishes with floor mountings before usually supplied by the customer as they were made by metal work places (Atlas).

Your dish has to be pointing 28.2 degrees east, the easiest way is to see if you can see any around and then generally judge the direction.

You can check by plugging it in to your sky box and then going to services, signal test. and then make sure its straight and then move very slowly.

I don't think that the unit you linked would work to well as the dishes in Ireland are 80cm and that unit is only 49cm so the drop off in signal is substansial.

Hope this helps

watty

Dish In Ireland for Sky is NOT 80. It is 65cm

Zaphod

The cubsat 50 might be a bit small. The cubsat 70 should be better esp. during rain.
http://www.cubsat.com/

Alt.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=224642&page=2

CathalDublin

Thanks guys, the cubsat looks good but might be a little hard to get for decent money, I've 2 friends who are metal fabricators who might be able to make me up a mount/tripod, If I buy a digibox from ebay will sky just supply me with a card once I have a phoneline?

byte

If you purchase a digibox, you can order what Sky call a "second hand contract".

As you own the box outright, you don't even need a phoneline connected. The phoneline obligation is only for part of the free digibox and dish offer T&C's.

CathalDublin

Cool
Now to source a digibox on ebay, Anything I should look out for/useless boxes? I'll be looking for a plus box anyway?

byte

You'll only need a "PLUS" box if you intend on recording stuff, and bear in mind that the Plus features are not free.

For ordinary Sky boxes, I'd suggest maybe the Panasonics or the Pace 430N Cobra's.

FOr Sky+ boxes, I'd personally go for Pace again, though Thomson wouldn't be too bad either. Avoid Amstrad!

CathalDublin

Thanks for the advice,
I think I'll go for a plus box, can freeview be picked up with them all? <for when sky cut me for not paying the bill hehe>

byte

Yes, the free channels may be picked up with them all. Just won't be able to record, if you've no active Sky+ sub.