"No holes" installation options?

[razinboy]

Hi All,

I'm about to get a system and I'm going to try my hand at the self-installation process. So I might be asking a lot of questions over the next few weeks. The system will be installed on my apartment balcony (I'll probably attach it to a pole in a cement bucket). My apartment complex is adamant about not having any holes being drilled and I need to get the coax inside past a sliding door. I have heard of two alternatives:

1- "flat wire" : Not sure how flat it is, or if I would be able to shut the door at all.

2- Some device that is stuck to the glass on each side (called glass link ? ) which will inductively pass the signal through the glass.

I couldn't find any one who sells the glass link online. Anyone know how good that is? Will it work with the glass on a sliding door, which is probably doublepane and/or tempered glass? Where can I get it?

Finally what do you guys think: I'm in Northern California and my balcony faces southeast. More east than south. I know I have a clear line of sight for T5, which will be my primary target. Should I spring for the HH motor? Or do I need to be facing south more? I'd be interested in picking up any extra Arabic/English/French programming out there. Where do you need to be facing for G10R?

Thanks!

[leo]

I can not answer all the questions but I may give you some hints.

The best thing is to get a compass and look at the location. You need
to do it anyways so why not do it now. I don;t know the exact angles
but if u look at Sadoun web page, it will give you all the information
you need to locate the Sat. ( i think it is : 142 + 15 =157
with elevation of 38.8 and polariization skew (the lnb tilted
-28.9 degree clockwise )..so with out looking at compass, it seems
south east .

As far as wiring, the cable u use is same as your reg cable. for the tv.
(i think it is called rg6). I would not invest any money to buy
flat cable or this other glass through cable (never heard of it). Just
talk to your landlord and pay for any damage if u drill a hole.
I am not sure what is the siding but most siding you can cover .
PS. drill a hole and put the dish and then drill another hole
for american flag. just discuss with him... u can always move ;-)

leo

[leo]

i checked the table, not sure whether u have to add 15 or subtract 15 .
maybe some one can confirm. now that i am looking at it again, it
sounds like u have to subtract 15 from 142. Not sure,

leo newbie

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by leo

PS. drill a hole and put the dish and then drill another hole
for american flag. just discuss with him... u can always move ;-)

leo

LOL @ leo !! :lol: :lol:

Here is a little trick I use to avoid drilling from the balcony into the suite. If your building is wired for cable TV quite often the cable is run along the exterior of the building in a trunk fashion and tapped off to each apartment. If so, you will find a cable already going into the suite from the balcony somewhere. Just use a pair of diplexers and you're done.

Those flatwire things work pretty well but you really need to slam the patio door to get it to close and lock properly. I have heard of the glass link things but have never tried one.
As for pointing the dish, leo gave you pretty good advice. You could always ask "dtsexpert" since he lives in California.

kat

[razinboy]

Thanks, bobkat, leo,

I think I'll go with the flatwire. I stopped by a satellite store here in California yesterday and their prices were pretty high (flatwire was $20 whereas it's only $5 on sadoun.com. And their receivers were pretty expensive,too) And they said the glasslink things are no longer being produced. They're so expensive that people weren't buying them when there were other alternatives. Anyway, I ordered my system online yesterday and I'll be installing it next weekend probably. I'll get the pole-in-a-bucket ready.

leo, I looked at the table and it looks like it's subtract instead of add to me too. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Thanks again, guys!

[bobkat]

NP razinboy;

Yes, for your area you subtract the magnetic deviation amount.

kat