Jul 17
25
We were called out to a farmhouse just outside Halifax where the occupants – a German family – were having ongoing problems with their satellite TV. They were watching German channels from the 19.2°E satellite position, but the picture had started to break up and, at times, disappear altogether. This usually points to an obstruction or a dish that has been knocked off line.
Site Inspection
Our engineer carried out a full signal test at the existing dish location. It was immediately obvious what the issue was: several very tall trees on the property had grown into the line of sight between the dish and the 19.2°E satellites. Because satellite signals are line-of-sight, even a small amount of foliage in the beam can reduce signal quality; in this case, the trees were high enough to block it completely at certain points of the year.
Proposed Solution
We explained to the customer that simply “re-pointing” the dish in its current location would not solve the problem, because the trees were directly in the way. Trimming or removing the trees was not an option. The best and most reliable fix was to reinstall the satellite dish on a chimney pole mount, raising it high enough so the dish could see over the top of the trees.
Installation
The engineer fitted a suitable chimney bracket and pole to provide the extra height. The satellite dish was then mounted on the pole and secured. With the higher line of sight, we had a completely clear path to 19.2°E. The dish was then carefully aligned to the correct satellite position to receive German TV services.
Result
- Dish raised above the tree line using a chimney pole mount
- Clear, unobstructed line of sight to 19.2°E
- German satellite channels restored with a strong, stable signal
- Customer now has a long-term solution even as the trees continue to grow
Conclusion
This job is a good example of why dish height and line of sight are so important. The original installation worked when the trees were smaller, but over time they grew into the signal path and blocked the dish. By moving the dish up onto the chimney and giving it extra height, we were able to clear the obstruction and get the German channels back to full strength.
