Dish Network MDU Central Dish Antenna

[mhoward]

Hi,

I have been interested in FTA and satellite for quite a while. I have been active on this board for a few years now.

Ok, I recently moved to a high rise condominium "in-town" and am having withdrawls from satellite. (My unit faces due east, so its only Hispanisat for me)

I am also currently trying to convince my homeowners association to work with dishnet and direcTV to install a central antenna on the roof of the building so that all of the building's residents can get satellite service--Even those of us with Condos that face east or north. Right now many of the condos that faces south or west has a dish on the balcony. I love satellite, but it looks ugly, those of us on the east and north sides of the building are out of luck, and finally--people pay a lot of money to have the nice views from their balcony--the antennas just interrupt the nice views. I believe a rooftop central antenna is the answer for our building.

So, does anyone live in a condominium building that has a central satellite dish that serves everyone? Have any of the installers put up a central dish--what type of system is it? Is it just a standard dish with a 4 or 6 port LNB? Or is it a special set-up. (I prefer the system where each person has their own receiver, is billed for their own service and receives whatever content they sign up for, and pays directly to dishnet or directv)

I have had hardly any luck talking to the commercial sales people at directv and dishnet--they are just not that forthcoming with information. How do we set somthing like this up? Do we need a commitment from a certain number of potential subscribers? Who pays for the installation of a central antenna and running all of the RG6 cable to the individual condo units? I live in a building with 211 condominiums-- Only 1/2 of those people have a balcony on the west or south sides of the building. Dishnet or Directv could double their business in the building with a central antenna. With so much potential business I am very suprised these commercial sales people are not more helpful.

Please give me your thoughts....

THanks, Mark
markhoward@gmail.com