Many cable TV customers have been asking recently, can I get DIRECTV at my apartment? The answer to that may require a little investigation, but in many cases the answer is yes.
For many years, those living in apartments, condominiums, and townhomes had to settle for their cable TV provider, whether it is Comcast, Time Warner, or whatever other cable television company served their particular area. Some with private decks and balconies have been able to put a satellite dish out there and then hook up DIRECTV service. Recent rulings by the FCC have changed the game in favor of satellite TV companies like DIRECTV and DISH Network.
If you live in an apartment or condo complex, and you just can’t stand the thought of missing out on the NFL Sunday Ticket package this year, the first thing to do is check with your landlord or management company and ask about DIRECTV. Many properties have been pre-wired to share a single dish system already. These situations are usually found in larger, multi-story apartments and condominium complexes. In these cases, either one or more DIRECTV satellites dish systems have already been installed on the roof, and then signals are sent to a central location inside the building. Now if your landlord does not have a shared system, you can inquire if you can have your DIRECTV dish mounted either on the roof if it’s close to your apartment, or on the building itself if there is space available. This is where things sometimes get sticky.
Landlords usually don’t like seeing a satellite dish stuck to the side of their building. If they refuse, you still have one option. If you have a deck or small patio that faces south, you can have the dish mounted on the railing out there.
The consideration here is whether that area is a private deck or balcony. As long as it is not shared, you can usually do whatever you want with that space. Another easy way to check things out is to simply walk around your apartment or condo complex and look at your neighbors deck areas. If you see several satellites systems set up, there is nothing preventing you from setting up your own DIRECTV dish for your apartment.
To avoid delays with getting your system installed, the technician may require you to provide an installation permission form, which basically says your landlord, homeowners association (HOA) or apartment manager is OK with the satellite dish installation. If you run into a situation where those in charge give you a hard time regarding a DIRECTV satellite dish installation, check the FCC website, as there are now rules that do not allow unreasonable restrictions against satellite TV.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
This is really good advice for getting Direct TV in an apartment. A friend of mine had an extremely difficult time getting Direct TV in his apartment, but finally was able to by putting it out on his deck. I don’t get why landlords give such a hard time about putting a small satellite outside of an apartment.
before reading this article my views and thoughts were different. Amazingly the article changed everything in my mind.
response to michael–people object to a “small” satellite because when they are installed all over the property, hither and yon on balconies and patio fences, on poles in flower beds, etc. the place looks trashy.
I heard an add this morning on the radio for $10 a month service and movie channels for $1 a month with one of the satellite companies. Guess times are getting tough for all
Your local cable company has a monopoly on your business. It also controls what channels you get.
It’s unfair and should be illegal.
This is good info on fighting with your local HOA for Direct TV. I had to battle them for five months, but finally with a little help from my local FCC office, I was able to get Direct TV installed at my condo. My husband will be so happy when Sunday Ticket time rolls around!
Although this is a great article, unfortunately i didn’t find the solution for my problem.
I signed up for Direct TV last week, and when the technicians came in,they said that its impossible to install the dish in my apartment because it was facing north!
They suggested to install it in the roof although it will take alot of wiring, but the management of my building said no to that!
I will miss most of the European soccer season because of that!
I hope they make dishes that can go through buildings soon, at least before i switch my apartment after my lease is up!
Some people say moving house is one of the most stressful things a person can do. I guess even helping family move house can be stressful without Direct TV.
The writer of the article is not being truthful in all aspects. The FCC rulings are great as everyone knows where they stand. However certain companies installing dishes do not stick to the FCC Ruling nor do they tell their customers the rules, rather they leave it up to the owners to tell the customers. Very few, if any, owners of apartments will allow dishes in roofs or out in common property. Why? It means cabling needs to be run all over, imagine the roof with 23 or 30 dishes inside or even on the outside, all people will get access to roof space with its safety and privacy issues. Lets say someone falls off the roof, falls through the ceiling into someones apartment, puts in peepholes to someones apartment, falls over cabling on the ground, the dish falls off on someone head and the list goe on – who would be sued?? The owners of course have the biggest pocket. If I was an owner I would not allow it wither.
I would love to have Direct TV in my apartments but their service is not available. But you are right about the check the FCC website
I personally like my Sunday games on satellite too, but I also manage apartments and we are on of those landlords that don’t like dishes hanging on walls all over the place. Most of the professionally managed properties discourage it, but if you go to an older or smaller property, they may allow it. One great option, though it hurts my business, is just to go rent a foreclosed home – they are almost as cheap as apartments now. Good luck and enjoy the game!
I just wish I could get Sunday ticket for my boyfriend through Time warner. We live in a high rise and it doesnt look like directtv is every going to be an option in our apartment here in New York