Hidden satellite dish on apartment balcony

satellitelamp

Hi All,

I would like to use a satellite dish to pick up the free to air British stations (http://www.saortv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=108)

However, I live in an apartment complex where satellite dishes are not permitted. I was thinking of buying a clever contraption that allows you hide a satellite dish in a lamp: http://www.ddelec.com/digiglobe.htm

However, I was wondering if this dish is large/strong enough to pick up British TV. My balcony is on the top floor (6th floor) of a complex in South Dublin that faces South or South East according to my i phone compass. This is the highest building in the area.

If the "lamp" is useless in Ireland, would either of these work?:

http://www.ddelec.com/digisquare.htm

http://www.ddelec.com/digicube.htm

Thanks for any advise you can provide!

Apogee

It will work most of the time, esp for the main UK channels though some channels may drop out in heavy rain. There are cheaper alternatives, however, such as mounting a dish horizontally or behind a screen.

Ger Roe

'There are cheaper alternatives, however, such as mounting a dish horizontally or behind a screen'.

Agreed, my apartment balcony fix is to mount the dish on an old tripod microphone stand. You will be amazed how low and close to the balcony rail you can position it and still get a signal. In my case, the dish can't be seen over the solid balcony wall and yet the signal is perfect. However the signal angle is very tight and I lost picture recently when snow settling on the balcony handrail exceeded three inches high - I just went out and brushed it off. If you have a glass balcony wall, a well poisitioned plant or bamboo screen will hide the dish, once you have your signal angle sorted.

It's a bit fiddly to set up, but can be done - worth a try.