Mounting a motorised dish on a flat roof

**rolfw** · 28-05-2009

On 12" T&Ks I've put them as close as 15" with a 90cm dish, I'd probably look at 18" to 24" for 18" with the motor just above the brackets.

Also to make life easy when lining up your scaffold pole, buy one of these, only a couple of pounds, but saves lots of time.

**erukus** · 28-05-2009

Could you please provide a larger pic or a link? Its tiny I cant work out what it is. Thanks

**rolfw** · 28-05-2009

Sorry, thought it was bigger, have enlarged it.

Just search Ebay

for Fence post level.

**erukus** · 02-06-2009

Hi

I am back again I am hoping to install my dish this weekend so I just need to clarify a few things. I have attached a picture with the exact proposed location. I am going to seperate the T&K brackets by 18'' on the vertical. They are extending by 18'' and the motor will be located just above the T bracket. What length of pole should I have and am I too close to the gutter from the position I have indicated on the pic. Any further suggestions recommendations welcome and appreciated.

Thanks

**satelliteman** · 02-06-2009

Should be fine, you could come down a fraction. Mount the motor on the top or either between the brackets. Either way, it's a tidy install. A 2inch mast should do it, maybe 3 foot in length, you can always cut some off if need be.

**erukus** · 06-06-2009

OK here's the update I have drilled two holes at the location that is shown in the last pic but I have run into trouble in a) the wall is made of three extremely hard stones including granite and the drill, the drill bit are not completely up to the job, so I may have to try and get a better drill, also I was wondering if I could come down lower on the wall as it is very uncomfortable to work that high- could anyone indicate what is the lowest I could come down on the wall and still pick up the signals- just for ease of work Thanks

**sonnetpete** · 06-06-2009

This sounds quite similar to the composition of our walls, which are typical French farmhouse construction, i.e. 18" thick granite.

My T&K's were mounted using a 10MM french bought masonry bit and my old B&D hammer drill, but you might want to think of hiring a Hilti drill, which would make the job faster and less precipitous (you might not need as much force) when you try to put pressure on up the ladder.

Actually I found mounting the brackets really easy..... I got a friend to do it and he said it was one of the hardest things he had ever done!!!

Pete

**erukus** · 06-06-2009

Ok I think I will hire a drill - so is it a 110V drill I should hire - at least something with powerful hammer action - so I should remain at the same level on the wall then you? Also I have a timber ladder which doesn't inspire me with confidence

***wod*** · 06-06-2009

you want an sds drill if your drilling into that material as it will go through like a knife through butter

use fixing like sleeve anchor bolts etc

**satelliteman** · 06-06-2009

A Bosch SDS 24v would do the job, you should be able to hire one.

Best fixings for the job are shield anchors, either M8mm x 60mm (drill size 14mm) or M10mm x 60mm (drill size 16mm) >

Mounting a motorised dish on a flat roof-shield-anchor-jpg

**erukus** · 06-06-2009

Ok thanks again I have the 8M 14mm drill size bolts and will look into hiring an sds drill hopefully it wont cost too much money- can I just ask again if it would be okay to drop the height for ease of access? All this help is much appreciated

**satelliteman** · 06-06-2009

Fairly sure dropping the fixing point 18inches shouldn't cause to much of an issue as due South was close to 90° out from the wall. This should still give you a good range of the arc.

Safety comes first !

**erukus** · 06-06-2009

good advice

**sonnetpete** · 07-06-2009

Just to say all above good advice. Hiring a drill here in France is not quite the same, you may well get one to connect hydraulically to a French farmer friends tracteur!!

Best to follow the professionals advice on here re safe working height and practices.

Good luck.

Pete

**erukus** · 07-06-2009

All the hiring companies are closed it being the weekend but I did have a look at a local hardware store they had a number of drills- I asked the guy if he had SDS and he showed me the hammer drills as opposed to the impact drills - they ranged in price from 60 pounds to 100 pounds but none of them said SDS on the box just hammerdrill or rotary hammer drill

**shane77** · 07-06-2009

Originally Posted by erukus

All the hiring companies are closed it being the weekend but I did have a look at a local hardware store they had a number of drills- I asked the guy if he had SDS and he showed me the hammer drills as opposed to the impact drills - they ranged in price from 60 pounds to 100 pounds but none of them said SDS on the box just hammerdrill or rotary hammer drill

£21.88 for the weekend, not cordless, which i'd prefer but still good

_http://www.hss.com/g/2361/Lightweight-Hammer-Driller-Sds.html

or cordless £30.63 for the weekend

_http://www.hss.com/g/2342/Cordless-Hammer-Drill.html

Whats the name of your local hire centre and I'll search their site for the right drill for you.

**rolfw** · 07-06-2009

You might want to consider hiring a scaffold tower, makes a high level dish installation really easy, particularly useful for your first motorised installation.

**satelliteman** · 07-06-2009

Originally Posted by rolfw

You might want to consider hiring a scaffold tower, makes a high level dish installation really easy, particularly useful for your first motorised installation.

Couldn't agree more, personal safety is paramount.

Fancy one of these myself > _http://www.monkeytower.co.uk/

**rolfw** · 07-06-2009

That's a nice unit, never seen one before, wonder how much they are?

**erukus** · 07-06-2009

I think hiring a scaffolding will be too exspensive I think with the right drill I wil be okay!

**shane77** · 07-06-2009

Even easier, get a Z10 no special licence required and a working height of 10.8m. Really easy to use and £99 for the day, used them before.

_http://www.smartplatforms.co.uk/Portals/0/smart/Hire_Rates.pdf

***compufunk*** · 07-06-2009

Originally Posted by erukus

I think hiring a scaffolding will be too exspensive I think with the right drill I wil be okay!

The Penta is bulky and not easy to handle at that height. If you can get your hands on anything that can improve your footing, take it!

Maybe you could get a friend up on another ladder to give you a hand. I lowered the dish from the roof to the mount for my own install, but I had to call in a second ladder and pair of hands when installing my dads Penta. That install was similar to yours .e.g I coulndt access it from the roof.

**rolfw** · 07-06-2009

A Penta 85 and motor isn't too bad, I always install them on my own without too much problem, the trick is to make sure that the top of the ladder is higher than the dish mount and it is waist high when you are working on it, then you are lowering the motor assembly into position.

**nanochickin** · 07-06-2009

Originally Posted by satelliteman

Couldn't agree more, personal safety is paramount.

Fancy one of these myself > _http://www.monkeytower.co.uk/

Nah, what i have is easier

Absolute doddle to put up an 85cm penta up with one of these

_http://www.easi-dec.co.uk/products/tele-tower.php

Takes 5 mins to chuck together and fits nicely in the back of a transit

**satelliteman** · 07-06-2009

Yes like it Nano

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Mounting a motorised dish on a flat roof Information exchange on LNBs, Single satellite, motorised and multi-satellite systems. DiSEqC switches, positioners, motors, actuators, dish-alignment etc.