Over on the dummies guide to setting up a satellite dish we had a few questions which seemed to crop up, not just in that thread, but in others. Therefore I decided that some of the more popular question should probably have their own threads.

The subject of this thread is anything related to issues about getting permission to put up a dish, talking to the neighbours, speaking to the landlord, any legal issues etc.

This thread is not for the discussion of technical aspects, which channels you can get, where the satellites are, what sky+ does, etc. There are other threads which already deal with some of those issues.

Hi all
I am still waiting for my landlady to "apply" for the permission to install a Satellite Dish on my balcony.

The funny thing is I discovered my neighbour (an owner) actually has had a dish already in his garden using a ground stand, but he covers it up with a canvas sheet.

A swiss friend visited me recently and I mentioned this to him.
He told me 2 things (please someone verify these if possible):

1. If someone installs something and no one complains in 5 years, it becomes "legal" and no one can actually remove this dish.

2. If your neighbour has this dish (regardless of with or without permission and no one complains), anyone else in the same building automatically has that same right to do the same thing.

Now, my swiss friend is an elderly swiss teacher and he KNOWS many things. But I just wanted to share this information here, and see if any of you have a different opionion or information on the above 2 points.

HAT

According to the Swiss law, you are allowed to install a satellite dish, regardless of whatever your landlord/neighbours/rental agency might have to say about it. There are very few exceptions to this, and it is only the canton, not your landlord, that has the power to prohibit you from doing so.

See this thread, which explains this a bit more, and has links to the legal documents pertaining to this law and your right to install a dish.

Basically forget it in any of the old cities. Generally these areas have rules to keep things nice and pretty (which I tend to agree with).

All the satellite dishes in our apparment building used to be on the outside wall and everyone was forced to remove them or install them on the balcony instead a few years ago. This was primarily for esthetical reasons.

It was a hassle to remove and re-install it on the balcony floor instead, and since then reception has been slightly impaired (i.e we can't get certain channels anymore) so if you live in a building it might be best to check up what the landlady says.