Mounting 1.2m Dish (or 39")

[Kraven]

Hey all.

First off I hope everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend (including our southern friends).

Regarding a 1.2m dish, should this preferably be mounted on a pole (straight into the ground), or would a 40" J-mount be ok? Am leaning on using a j-mount for the top of the shed, however, I dont want a 1.2m dish to blow away during the next storm.

Cheers, K

[DrSat]

Assuming you have a 1.2m dish with a mount similar to FortecStar, it depends how pitched your shed's roof is as the support brace on the mount is on a fixed height on the mast pipe. If your roof is sloped too sharply then you won't be able to have the support brace touch the roof when the mast is at 90 degrees.

So if your shed's roof is low pitched and the studs underneath are in good condition, you may install on the roof as long as you use lag bolts that go through the stud for the mount's "shoe". Use a stud finder if you are not 100% sure where the studs are on the roof. Also, don't use the small screws with plastic sleeves that come with the dish to secure the mount as those would be inadequate for this type of install. Rather, go get some 5/16 x 2 1/2 inch lag bolts from the hardware store and use those instead. At the same time, get a small container of roofing cement as well in order to put around the mast once installed in order to prevent leaks.

[Tim Cake]

I agree with DRSat's comments. Do not fall victim to "false economy." Use the lag bolts and screw them into the roof trusses. I go one step further by drilling a hole in the truss just smaller than the root of the screw thread. Using polyurethane glue on the lag bolt, torque them down FIRMLY into the roof truss. As per DrSat, liberally cover all holes that penetrate the roof with instant roof patch (the black tarry stuff). Be sure to have some mineral spirits in hand to clean up any roof patch that winds up on your hands, clothes or tools. It is VERY MESSY!

[Costa]

Stud finders work through shingles (my stanley works great atleast)! Use one if you're not sure you're on a trousse. Crayons work great to mark the studs.

My fist was always my main stud finder for roofs, but sometimes the sheets are a little thicker and harder to tell.

[majortom]

If ya look around at some of the modern pizza dish installs, say for 8PSK DVB-S2 / HD Service that require larger antennas you'll notice they have been installing 2 struts or stabiliser bars that strap on to the J-Mount and lag in to the roof. That seems to stabilise some of the newer larger antennas both Dish and Direct TV have been installing around here. Guessing Bell and Shaw may be doing the same thing?? Thinkin they do that for a reason 'eh.