How to Install a Satellite Dish

Satellite TV is increasingly becoming popular these days, as the prices of cable TV are soaring everyday. Satellite TV gives a digital quality image at much cheaper rates as compared to the cable TV. The high-definition (HDTV) input and output of the satellite TV is the result of the current technological advancements and is the prime reason of the popularity of satellite TV. Dish network and DirecTV are the two satellite TV service providers. The steps that are to be followed to install a satellite dish are as follows:

Primary Site Survey

The satellite dish must be installed outdoors and not indoors. This is because, the satellite signals cannot penetrate through glass. It must be placed in a place that does not have any obstruction due to trees and buildings. The satellite is placed to the south of Texas, so accordingly, adjust the position of the satellite dish. The elevation of the satellite dish that is installed in the northern states is around 30 degrees and in the southern states, it is around 60 degrees. It must be pointing in the line of sight of the satellite. For installing the satellite dish, locate a place around your house where you will have a clear line of sight. When you are finding a line of sight, check whether there is any obstruction in the arc from 30 degrees to 60 degrees from the place you have chosen for installation.

Dish Pointing Co-ordinates

Finding dish pointing co-ordinates is a trial and error method. The satellite receiver must be connected to the TV. The on-screen menu is used to find the correct dish pointing co-ordinates. Initially, do the basic connections. The OUT TO point on the satellite receiver should be connected to the IN jack of your television. Give AC power to the satellite receiver as well as TV set and switch ON both the systems. Now, check whether your satellite receiver has a CH3/CH4 switch at the backside of the receiver box. If the CH3/CH4 switch is present, tune your television set to channel 3 or 4. Otherwise, tune to cable channel 65 or tune to cable channel 14.

The on-screen menu helps you to get the co-ordinates of the satellite dish. Also, note down its azimuth and elevation. Elevation is the angle between the dish pointing direction and the corresponding horizontal plane. Azimuth refers to the angle formed by rotating the dish along the vertical axis and is a side to side angle. The azimuth at the location, where you place the dish, can be calculated with the compass. Adjust the compass needle in a north-south direction. Then, find out whether there is any obstruction in the arc of 30 degrees and 60 degrees once again. You may have to repeat this site survey until you do not get any obstruction in the 30-60 degree arc.

Cable Requirement

Once the location of the satellite dish is decided, choose a ground point for installing it. The grounding point should be chosen such that it should be close to the point where the cable enters the house. The cable requirement will also depend on the location of the satellite receiver box inside the house. After estimating the cable requirement, the dish antenna is assembled. Install the mast and then the satellite dish is mounted on this mast. The azimuth angle and the elevation angle is then adjusted. Now, ensure that all the connections are made properly and turn on the satellite receiver and the television set.

The satellite receiver is positioned on the beacon channel that is used to tune your antenna to the satellite. The reflector is adjusted so as to fine-tune the satellite reception and lock the azimuth angle on the satellite dish after you have perfectly tuned it to the satellite reception. Again, adjust the elevation angle in the same way as the azimuth angle and lock the elevation angle after you fully tune the satellite dish. Lastly, switch ON your television and the satellite receiver and make the basic settings for the satellite receiver (usually given in the manual). Enjoy the crystal-clear, digital quality picture on your television with the satellite TV connection.