Mother Nature got the memo and the weather is finally warming up. For many people, this means some spring cleaning at lake houses, cottages, cabins, and whatever else they call their second homes. This is the prelude to what will be a summer filled with fun, family, and friends. During the day, you’re boating, swimming, and grilling, but you also want to wind down at night. Watching your favorite TV shows is a great way to do that. If you’d like to add a TV antenna or satellite dish to your second home, a patio mount, aka a deck mount, is an excellent way to do it.
What is a Deck Mount?
Quite simply, it’s a system that lets you mount a TV antenna or a satellite dish to a deck railing, porch railing, or balcony. It’s an alternative to mounting these antennas atop your roof of your home. We often recommend deck mounts to people who own summer homes, cottages, and cabins. Why? Because these mounts can be a great semi-permanent solution for people who have a home that they only use for a few months or seasons out of the year.
While today’s antennas and dishes are built to last, the weather takes its toll on these devices. With a porch or deck mount, you can remove your antenna or satellite dish and store it before winter comes. This keeps it out of the elements, which helps it last longer. It also keeps your antenna or dish safe from potential thieves or vandals while you’re not staying at your cottage. (Yes, these things can even happen “up north.”)
DIRECTV Deck and Balcony Rail Mount
Who wouldn’t want to have DIRECTV at their summer home? After a long day on the trails or at the lake, it’s great to unwind with your favorite shows. It’s also great for those rainy days, too. (Rain fade isn’t as a big of a problem as the cable TV companies make it out to be!) If you invite family and friends to your cottage, they’ll enjoy watching DIRECTV, too. It can be fun for the whole family at your summer home.
Do you want DIRECTV at your summer home? We recommend this DIRECTV deck mount for Slimline dishes. It easily attaches to your deck railing, porch railing, or balcony with a combination of bolts and brackets. Yes, it involves a few tools and some elbow grease, but most people should have no trouble attaching this mount. At the end of the season, it’s easy to disassemble so you can store your dish or take it with you.
“What About a TV Antenna?”
That’s a good question and we have the answer. Yes, you have the option of mounting an antenna on your deck, porch, or balcony. Actually, you have a few options. The first one is a J-mount. Like the name implies, these mounts are shaped like a “J” and are typically used to mount antennas and dishes to roofs and eaves. You can also mount it to your porch or deck railing. It’s simply a matter of attaching the antenna to one end, then sinking screws to attach the base to your porch.
You have another deck mounting option for your TV antenna. It makes use of a free-standing platform that holds your antenna in place without needing to drill into your deck. That’s why these devices are called non-penetrating mounts. Many people use them on their roofs, and you can also use one on your patio porch, balcony, or patio. It can be an easy option for anyone who doesn’t want to mount an antenna on their roof or drill into their deck or porch railings.
Deck Mounts: What You Need to Know
If you plan to use a patio mount, you’ll have to learn how to aim a satellite dish or TV antenna. If you get a DIRECTV dish, we recommend using an AIM meter. It locates the satellite signal in the sky, which helps you aim your dish for ideal reception. If you’re installing a TV antenna, you’ll need a signal finder. These devices help you put your antenna in a position to get the best reception.
Aiming and re-aiming a dish is something you’ll have to learn if you plan to take your installation down before winter. It’s not something you have to worry about though. It’s fairly easy to do and if you need help, Solid Signal is here for you. We’re experts in satellite TV and TV antennas, and we’ve talked many people through installing and aiming their equipment. We can help you too. If you have any questions about anything you’ve read here, give our techs a call at 888-233-7563. You can also ask questions on our Facebook support forum.
One More Thing About Deck Mounts…
… They’re great for apartments, too! If you live in an apartment building, you probably don’t have access to the roof to mount a dish or antenna. If you have an outdoor patio, you can probably mount a small antenna or dish on the deck railing. A deck mount is one way to do this. If you need some tips or have a few questions to ask, call us at 888-233-7563. You also can fill out the form below and a Solid Signal rep will get back with you in one business day.
