Can you receive satellite indoors?

duffmagic

Hi,
I've recently moved into a new apartment block and, as seems standard, they don't allow dishes.

My stupid question is...

Can a satellite signal get through (double glazed) windows? I've read elsewhere that as long as they aren't tinted it works ok, but I'm skeptical to say the least. I've heard of people using these camping satellite suitcase things indoors: link.

Assuming this wasn't a stupid question and it will work, does the angle at which the satellite signal hits the window matter? I assume that if the signal was coming in perpendicular to the window it would be fine, but as you get further from the perpendicular, more of the signal would get deflected and the signal strength inside would drop?

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

Michael Collins

Hey. Well in theory, yes, the satellite signal being around 12 GHz will see glass as transparent. But in practise you're going to have problems such as dirty glass, condensation on the glass, rain on the glass etc. Also yes, it does have to be at a specific elevation and azmuthial angle - which may make it impossible to get the signal at all unless your window is in the exact right place?

So all in all I'd say that if your window is in the right direction and you're very very persistant you might get it to work but it probably wouldn't be all that reliable. Just remember that it's a really delicate system anyway as the signal is extremely weak by the time it reaches a normal satellite, after travelling 40,000 km or so!

netwhizkid

I had one of those satellite suitcases from Lidl and had a huge struggle to get anything outside not a mind indoors, however If you could get anything indoors you'd be fine as long as you could clamp it and lock it down, the slightest puff if wind used to wreck my head with that camping kit.

You would want the glass clean and try first to see if you pick up anything outside it first although this might not be possible if you are on the 5th floor say!

el Bastardo

There are already a few threads on this forum about this stuff.

Yes you can use a dish indoors, but I wouldn't be too sure about getting it to work properly with a camping dish.

I use an 80mm dish indoors (in an apartment), it's a big nuisance really, but I can pick up most foreign-language and british channels (specifically: not ITV2, 3 or 4).

duffmagic wrote:

Hi,
I've recently moved into a new apartment block and, as seems standard, they don't allow dishes.

My stupid question is...

Can a satellite signal get through (double glazed) windows? I've read elsewhere that as long as they aren't tinted it works ok, but I'm skeptical to say the least. I've heard of people using these camping satellite suitcase things indoors: link.

Assuming this wasn't a stupid question and it will work, does the angle at which the satellite signal hits the window matter? I assume that if the signal was coming in perpendicular to the window it would be fine, but as you get further from the perpendicular, more of the signal would get deflected and the signal strength inside would drop?

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.