Instructions for Setting Up a Satellite Dish

Table of Contents

We need to define a few dish components before beginning the installation process.

The satellite dish is attached to a mast, which is a rigid arm.
A dish’s large circular or oval reflector bounces the satellite’s signal back into the receiver.
The LNB’s “arm” is an extension of the reflector.
A low Noise Block converter (LNB) or Low Noise Block antenna (LNBF) refers to an LNB with a feed horn. This “eye” attaches to the dish’s “arm.”
More receivers can be connected to the system via the switch or multi-switch than via the LNB alone.
Conducting a site survey is the first stage of setting up a dish system.

Ensure the mounting location faces south and has a stable surface to attach the dish. Mounting the mast into a corner or side wall stud, a sturdy, immovable post, or even the roof itself are all excellent options. The dish can be installed on top. However, the holes made by the lag bolts must be sealed with silicone or roofing sealant to prevent water damage.

If you want your installation to be NEC-compliant, you’ll need to plan the cable routing and grounding of your dish based on the locations of the receivers in the house.

Before deciding on an elevation angle for your dish, have a clear view of the southern sky from that vantage point. Make sure the sky is evident by looking up at an angle of 45 degrees if that is the setting for your zip code.

Use lag bolts to secure the mast to a sturdy support.

The mast should be attached using six lag bolts. For a wall stud, use 2-inch lags for the corners and 3-inch lags for the middle holes. If you skip this step, the rain and wind will tug on the mast, wearing it down until the bolts are no longer secure, and your dish will be out of alignment. Use a level to ensure the mast’s tip is upright from every angle. If you don’t, aiming the word to get a good signal will be more of a hassle. Once the mast is level, snug up the fasteners without overtightening.

Set the dish on the mast.

Loose “play” in the dish’s movement should be eliminated by snugging all bolts and nuts. The receiver’s azimuth, elevation, and skew must be set based on the coordinates obtained during setup. Using a compass, you may get a “best guess” of the azimuth. Do not fully tighten the nuts yet; you will want some wiggle room while fine-tuning the signal.

4. Hook your signal meter to the LNB and the receiver’s wire.

You can get a signal meter from Radio Shack, an equivalent store, or the internet for around $20 if you don’t already have one. Selecting the “view signal strength” option during the receiver’s setup process will allow you to utilize your TV and receiver as a signal meter. If you want to use this method to fine-tune your dish, you’ll need some help. If you have DirecTV, utilize the 101° orbital location and transponder 1, and if you have Dish Network, press MENU, then options 6, 1, and 1 on your remote.

Sweep the southern sky with your meter set to a low enough db level that you can barely hear the tone, and you’ll have a good notion of where the satellites are. In a successful sweep, you should pick up about five different places. If you can only see one or two satellites, raise or lower your position to see more.

When aiming a DirecTV antenna, you should face East and aim directly at the 101° satellite. Please use the second slot towards the east. If your elevation is set correctly, the faintest and least noticeable will be the 98° orbital location.

Point your Dish Network antenna toward the 119° satellite position starting in the West. If coming from the West, it should be the second one. If your elevation is set correctly, the one at 129 degrees should be the faintest and least noticeable.

Turn down the volume to make minor adjustments to the signal. After locating the optimal call by changing the azimuth, the bolts should be tightened just enough to prevent the dish from rotating. To get the greatest possible alert, you should adjust the height and, if necessary, lower the DB level on the meter. There is no need to change the skew setting on your dish type. Check the receiver signal to ensure your dish is placed correctly before tightening all the bolts.

If your dish is angled at an angle, tighten all the bolts while keeping your meter on to prevent losing your adjustments.

5 Join your LNB to your receiver.

Remove the meter and hook the receiver line straight to the LNB. Depending on your dish type, you may need to connect at least two lines from the multi-switch to the LNB. If it’s a brand-new receiver, you should be able to finish the setup wizard and activate it once you’re connected. For help configuring your receiver, please read the handbook.

Manuals are available for download from DirecTV if you do not have one:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4720038

Instruction guides for the Dish Network can be found at:

http://www.dishnetwork.com/troubleshooting/default.aspx

Check that all of your connections are secure and protected from the elements.

Make sure your f-connectors are secure, and all wall penetrations are sealed with silicone to prevent water from getting into the fittings and rusting out the center conductor. Keep it off the ground and away from the fittings to prevent corrosion from dirt and moisture and damage from animals who may gnaw or yank on the cable.

To get help setting up a satellite or fixing an existing one:

Photos, explanations of dish parts and components, receivers, and installation schematics for all systems may be found on [http://www.SatPro.us], a comprehensive guidebook for satellite dish troubleshooting and installation. The manual walks you through every step of installing a Dish network system like an expert. When something goes wrong with your design, they have a detailed Troubleshooting guide to help you fix it. If your dish gets knocked out of alignment or you’re setting up a new system from scratch, don’t worry; they provide tutorials that show you what to do. Additional satellite setup and maintenance articles are available in the site’s Articles area.

Andrew Cameron has worked as a professional satellite technician for over six years, during which time he installed and repaired Dish Network and DirecTV systems.

linda