How do I secure my portable Satellite Dish

[nowait]

Looking for suggestions to secure my winegard 1518. We go on day trips when we're camping. We're worried that during a day trip, that our portable dish might wander off. It comes with 50 ft of coax and 12volt cable. Is there a method (cable/chain?) that would help deter theft? It doesn't need to be Fort Knox, just enough to deter. Thanks in advance for help.

[B and B]

I had a Carryout stolen last summer. It was secured with aircraft cable. They must have been at it for a while. I replaced the dish and use a 40 piece of chain and padlocks now. I have the stand and bolt the dish to it as well.

[qalaen]

padlock and a chain...mines chained to our tripod pin support....but like my grandad used to say...locks keep honest people honest, a thief will just use a bolt cutter :/

[cadman99]

Try one of these -

Kryptonite KryptoLok Series 2 Integrated 37.5 in. Chain - LeatherUp.com

[MeepMeep]

Why not just unplug the power cord, undo the cable and lock the carryout in the basement? Or just set it inside the camper when you go....super easy to set it back up. Only drawback might be that you have to wait for it to reload the receiver, but that only takes a few minutes

[Phil57]

Never lock anything but the door. I also guess I have been lucky. The basement is never locked and the Tailgater just sits where I left it. Sure hope nobody gets sticky fingers but its a pain to lock everything also.

[EricInColorado]

Originally Posted by B and B

I had a Carryout stolen last summer. It was secured with aircraft cable. They must have been at it for a while. I replaced the dish and use a 40 piece of chain and padlocks now. I have the stand and bolt the dish to it as well.

A couple years back I had a thick aircraft-cable lock securing my bicycles. The padlock just up and stopped working. We borrowed a hacksaw and we were AMAZED at how quickly that cable was severed. I think a hardened chain might take longer?

[nowait]

What size chain do you suggest?

[DougP47]

I didn't like the idea of leaving the cable on the groung. Little one playing around canper might be a trip hazard. I took a aluminum plate mounted my dish on that then mounted to the top of camper. Only had one time when I could not get reception. Been there for 2 seasons.

[vquad]

Thick Galvanized chain and a large Master padlock keeps our bikes and fishing cart secure at night.
My fellow campers make fun of me but I haven't had anything walk off on it's own in the middle of the night.

[EricInColorado]

Chain links are also harder to hold/stabilize, which makes it harder to cut.

Sorry, nowait, I don't have a size suggestion.

[iceblaze580]

I usually chain mine to the 5er if it's a busy weekend at the campground I will put it on the roof to keep people from knocking it over. If I leave the rig for an extended time I put it inside it only takes a few minutes to set back up

[ng2951]

Since the dish is automatic, I would just put it inside of the door. If I had one like that, once I had area already staked out it would not take but a few minutes to put it back on the ground.

The other option is build a base plate that could be attached to the unit. Make sure they cannot remove it without taking the thing apart or damaging the dish. Most thefts are grab and run. I have dual Honda 2000s that I secure with a cable lock and no one has bothered those either.

I have a manual dish and since they are so cheap, no one has ever messed with it. However, I don't tempt Fate and would not set it up at a rest stop of Camp Wally World.

[B and B]

Here is how my dish is chained. The four legged alarm sleeps right above the slide!

[vquad]

So you have a physical and audible alarm...
I Like It!

[nowait]

What "gauge" of chain did you use?

[camaraderie]

I have some recent chain/lock experience in that I needed the MOST secure chain & lock I could get in custom size to be able to lock up my new Scooter in a public garage.
I got the 1/2" Through Hardened chain at the site below. Didn't realize that case hardened is soft chain once you got through the outer hard surface. To get through this stuff you have to have a powered disc cutter or an acetylyne torch. It can be stolen...but it is gonna take a while and make some noise!
Probably overkill for a sat dish...but they also sell chain and covers in other types and will custom cut. Security Maxx - Lockup Chain
so others may find them useful for other security needs as well.

[vquad]

I'd rather have more chain than I need than less.
The bad guys are lazy and will move on to the easy stuff.

A guy next to us had his new surfboard stolen in the middle of the night.

[joshuajim]

I cable mine, but I also have an alarm padlock on it. If you move it the 105dB alarm goes off.

[Weezer]

OK, I'm liking the idea of an "alarm" padlock. Where can those be found?

We've always just left our winegard dish outside when leaving for a day trip from our favorite campground space, but this past weekend we were in a campground we've never visited before, so before we left for a day trip I asked DH to put the winegard inside the entry door. Yes, it's one of the automatic ones, but he still grumbled.

We're also trying to figure out a better way to secure our surge guard to the power cord. Someone posted pictures of a cable system/clamps they use. Maybe that would work for both?