Apartment/House renters and Condo owners face the toughest of all installations conditions.

First you need to have a patio, balcony or private yard with a clear view of the satellite. A southern exposure is required. Apartments with a North facing patio or balcony usually are not able to have a satellite dish installed unless you can gain permission from the landlord to place the dish, away from your patio or balcony. You will need property owner permission to place the dish anywhere except your patio or balcony.

The final difficulty is getting the cable to your satellite receiver. Sometimes the technician can use the existing cable but that is rare, considering the CATV companies usually have a locked enclosure. If the property owner will allow a hole to be drilled then the problem is a little easier. Other methods involve running the cable through a window and sealing the gap with insulation or using a small flat device which the cable attaches to. The flat link or easy link is so thin it can go through a door or window and still allow the door or window to close. This is not a device that can take a lot of usage. Once a door or window is closed on to the link, it is best to leave it alone.

Your property rights as a renter do allow you to install a DBS dish of limited size on your patio or balcony under most conditions. Please read the FCC Over The Air (OTARD) ruling if you are having a problem with landlord approval of a satellite dish installation in your rented area.

Grounding in an apartment or condo is very difficult. The national electric code requires your satellite dish mast and cable be properly grounded. Most apartments are not located close enough to the building power meters to offer a proper grounding location. Installing a ground rod is not an option and should never be attempted. The system must be grounded to the existing building ground. If you have any concerns that your location does not offer a proper ground, then please contact DBS Install, or your Installation technician before your scheduled installation date. DBS Install does offer some alternatives that may allow us to proceed with your installation.

In the past many installers would overlook the ground requirement to make the installation happen. More and more install technicians are refusing to install in apartments if a NEC approved ground cannot be established.

Landlord Permission Form