Satellite Through Window

[djtdjt]

Would a satellite dish work indoors? If pointed out of a window of a first floor flat, or do they need to be outdoors? TIA.

[VHG]

Might be a problem when you close the curtains !

[VHG]

Note they need to point in a very specific direction, and your window may not point in that actual direction.

Have a look at other dishes in your area and see what direction they face.

[Hypognosis]

Okay, I'll bite. What's the reason why mounting it outside, as per normal, cannot be done?

[EDDIE51]

Unlikely to work , the dish has to be aligned exactly at the satellite and the signal is very weak anyway, the dish being indoors will reduce the signal to the point where you can't get anything.

[Old_Geezer]

Unlikely. One loses about half the signal strength through the roof and I suspect similar through a wall.

[VHG]

>>>What's the reason why mounting it outside, as per normal, cannot be done?

I guess it may be one of the "rules" for those flats, no outside dishes.

[djtdjt]

I am only renting the property for 6 months, do not want to spend money on installation, seen other (outside) dishes and could point in the same direction (from my window inside).

[EDDIE51]

It is not just the direction, it has to be at the correct angle as well. When an dish installer does it they have a meter to measure the signal strength so as to get the angle and direction correct. Just a few millimetres out and you get no signal.
If you already have the dish try it but don't buy one just to see if it works.
Many blocks of flats have communal aerials/dishes on the roof possibly yours does have you asked?

[BenjaminFoley]

I haven't seen an indoor satellite so most probably setting it up indoors will not work properly. A satellite must be positioned in a right angle and point to a specific direction, installing it indoors will block the signals. If you are able to have a dish for trial purposes then much better if it'll really work on you.
http://www.rrsat.com/service-item/29/satellite-downlink-turnaround-uplink
http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Dish-Network-Satellite-TV-Indoors