Most people overthink this. In practice there are only four places a dish ever goes, and the decision usually comes down to two questions: what surface do you have, and can you get a clear view of the sky from it?
Work through the table below. If you land on two options, pick the higher one — it's almost always the more durable install.
The two-minute decision tree
| Your situation | What you need | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You have roof rails or a flat, sturdy roof edge | Roof mount kit | Highest point, shortest cable run, minimal drilling in most cases. |
| Roof is metal, tile, or you don't want holes in it | Wall / eave bracket | Anchors into the wall face instead of the roof membrane, so you don't break the water seal. |
| Trees or buildings block the roof | Adjustable pole mount | Gets you above the obstruction and lets you fine-tune the angle without re-drilling. |
| Van, RV, tailgate, or you move often | Freestanding tripod stand | Nothing to drill, nothing bolted down, folds up and travels with you. |
The three mistakes that ruin most installs
1. Mounting somewhere with a partial sky view
A dish that sees 80% of the sky doesn't perform at 80%. It drops out completely whenever a satellite crosses the blocked sector — usually right when the weather turns and you need it most. Better to mount lower with a clear view than higher with a tree in the way.
2. Using the wrong hardware for the surface
Every surface needs a different anchor. Timber takes a lag bolt. Brick and stucco take a sleeve anchor. Tile and slate need a bracket that spreads the load without cracking the tile. Mounts that ship with "one type of bolt for everything" are the ones that loosen in year two — which is the single most common cause of a dish drifting out of alignment.
3. Skimping on the finish
Mild steel painted black looks identical to powder-coated steel on day one. Two winters later, one has rust streaks running down your wall and the other doesn't. Coastal installs are the harshest test — salt air will find any bare edge. If you live within a few miles of the ocean, only consider stainless or marine-grade hardware.
How much mount do you actually need?
A rule of thumb from installs we've seen go wrong: if a ladder is required, buy the heavier option. A mount that's slightly overbuilt for a low roof is cheap insurance; replacing a mount on a two-storey roof is a weekend and a risk you don't want.
If your install is straightforward — ground floor, existing rails, short cable run — the standard kit is genuinely all you need. There's no reason to spend more.
Still not sure?
Send us a photo of where you plan to mount it, plus the model of your dish. We'll tell you which option to pick, or tell you that you don't need new hardware at all. It takes us about a minute and saves you a return.