While many times satellite TV providers will include the installation of your new equipment, there are still times when this is not available. On the other hand, you may not want to be locked into a long term commitment of a year or more that comes along with free equipment and installation. You can mount your own antenna and run your own cables relatively easily. The systems come with instructions that are easy to follow for locating the satellite with your new dish. The descrambler or Digital Video Recorder (DVR) will come with software to help you find the best signal strength.
After this, it is just a matter of knowing how to put all of the pieces together.
You have to first check for the location of your host satellite in the sky. Most are in the southern sky about the equivalent of the width of two or three hands held at arm's length. Your provider will tell you whether you need to be more south, southwest, or southeast. Some providers require two dishes to get all of their stations because they broadcast of off two different satellites. As long as you can aim the dish south without having a building or forest in the way, you should be able to get reception. More than likely if you are unsure, you might want to drive around your area and see where other satellite dishes are aimed.
When you get ready to install your dish, you have two options. You can put it up on your roof or eave. This will require that you have some type of sealant to cover the screws that you have to use to anchor the dish to your house. The second option is to put the dish on a mast. Before choosing this option, make sure that you live in a neighborhood that will allow it.
Also, if you live in a shaky neighborhood, you might want that dish up high for security reasons. Anyone with a wrench and a few unwatched moments can make off with your dish. Their not too much in demand on the black market, but some people just like to be annoying.
If you do choose this second option, you will need to purchase or make a mast to secure your dish. The hardware to put your dish on either option should be included with your install kit.
For land based installation on a mast, you will need to dig or drill a hole about 20 to 30 inches deep. If you know that you will not want to relocate the dish in the near future, set the pole in concrete. If you plan on taking it with you on trips or think that you might move before long, you may want to consider finding a less permanent way to plant the mast.
Place the pole in an area where you can easily run the wires into your house. In any event, you need to make sure that the pole is precisely vertical. You can do this with a level by checking it at two or three places around the circumference. Once it is level and solid, you are ready to attach your dish.
For a roof installation, most dishes come with a short mast with a base that has four holes to put the screws through and into your roof or eave. Find an area of your roof that is located near the room or rooms where you will be hooking up the equipment. Attach the short mast to your roof and seal the screws to prevent leaks. You are ready to attach your dish.
The dish comes with a concave metal dish and one or more plastic coated receivers. These receivers should come installed on the dish. You will need to remove them and attach a single axel coax to each one. The coax will pass through a tube below the dish. You will need one receiver and line for each descrambler and two for each DVR system you are installing. You may need multiple dishes if you plan on a DVR in several rooms. This is not a problem, just a little more work.
If your kit did not include them, you will need to buy some anchors to secure the wires to your house to make them last longer and look better. Hide those wires every chance that you get. Run multiple wires side-by-side as far as you can. This way, it will be easier to conceal them and make a cleaner looking job. Normally, you will run the wires from the roof line or yard pole to the bottom edge of your siding or brick. At this point, you can separate them toward the different areas of the house they will be traveling.
