I recently got turned down for satellite TV because my balcony doesn't have a clear view of the southern sky..

Question

Does anyone know how vital this really is because as I was leaving today, I noticed that someone in a nearby apartment had the same problem as me but they had simply pointed their dish directly into the wall...will this work? Any insight would be valuable.

Answer 1

Line of sight is the only way to go.What he is getting off the wall must be garbage.

Answer 2

It has to be line of sight to the satellites, all of which are in geosynchronous orbits over the equator. I live in a rural area where the only high speed internet is by satellite. Even a bit of heavy rain or snow in the path will destroy the signal...no way it could pass through a building.

Answer 3

Perhaps some signal is better than none and your neighbor is willing to live with whatever he gets.

Also, VHF signals can exhibit refraction effects, so maybe he's catching some of the signal refracted by the top edge of the wall (very site specific).

Can't you put up a post to get your dish up high enough to see the birds?

Answer 4

It could work. Of course the signal would be weakened by travelling through the building. Success would depend on how much signal loss there is and on how good the receiving antenna and amplifiers are. The service provider probably turned you down because he felt he couldn't guarantee the service that they normally charge a fee for. Ask your neighbor how his system works.

Answer 5

The company's satellite orbits at the same speed of the Eath's rotation, as if fixed in place. Certain high frequencies of the Electromagnetic Spectrum can pass through materials depending on their density.

Answer 6

have you considered mounting the dish somewhere other then your balcony, I needed my landlords permission but I had mine attached to the post of the stairway

Answer 7

It may be a failed attempt. It shouldn't work well at all.