Can I mount a satellite dish near the ground?

not a good idea.

Freakboynv is correct. Connect a number 6 copper wire (stranded or solid, insulated or bare) to the support bar of your dish. Drill a hole and attach a wire lug. Run that wire down to a ground rod pounded into the ground. Then connect that ground rod to your electric service ground, bonding them together electrically. Either in the electric panel or at the connection to the ground rod or water pipe as is the electric service. Do the same with your phone service ground rod. Bond it (connect it) to your electrical ground with the same size wire. You want all grounds bonded together for lightning strikes. You cannot divert a lightning strike with a lightning rod near by. The lightning will still cause a huge voltage in your dish. So ground the dish instead. You can do this yourself. This is a requirement of the National Electric Code. For good reason.

I would try to mount it out reach, but you can mount it low. When I moved into this house I couldn't get signal due to all the trees. I finally noticed a hole in the line with where the satellite is, so I got a compass and protractor to see if feasible. Turns out that was the only place I could mount it, with a only a small window to the line of sight. It turned out I needed a post about ten feet away from the house at about 8' Any lower or higher, any other spot wouldn't work. Just too many big trees.

I would try to go higher than 5-6 feet if possible. But if that's where it needs to be, low to the ground, then yeah, then that is what needs to happen.

One thing is it ok with the apartment owner? And the concrete bucket idea would work. It would make moving it latter easy. Of course, it would also make stealing it or just moving it just to screw with you easy, too. Pro's and Con's.

BTW, I have switched from Dish to DirecTV also. But to each their own.

Yes , I voted for attek and sensible

We take our dish with us when we camp in our RV.

You can fill a 5 gallon bucket up concrete with the mounting pole in the center and it will be portable to move where you like.

I have seen many dishes mounted on 4' high posts (4x4's with a piece of plywood on it) . You do need a clear view of the southern sky. You said there were trees so this may cause a problem.

You can mount it on what ever you want, as long as the dish is able to get a clear view of the sky without any building or trees blocking it. Most satellites are aimed to the southern sky, check with your provider or keep moving it until you get the strongest signal. I spend some time travelling around and see tons of mobile homes with a dish on a tripod for their TV

This should be left for the "Dish" people to decide. They have to "zero" it in on a satellite anyway.

I just wrote about our Dish. We no longer have Dish. We switched back to Direct of which we had in the first place.

Had too many problems with Dish. Had to constantly call, because programing got screw up Had to stand in front of TV with remote while given instructions on how to get back on.

We fell for the promotional thing. Never again.

Haven't had a problem with Direct.

Just letting you know.

Our Direct dish is mounted on very short poll, low to the ground. Know you have to stay away from trees, but doesn't it also have to be pointing in a certain direction also.

Not critizing your joice, but just letting you know what we had to go through. Heard it from others also.

If that gives you the best view of the satellite, then that's where it has to be...

The dish company should install this for you as they have the gadget that will locate the signal and can tell you where the best place to put it/them to receive a strong signal.