How To Get The Best Signal With Your Satellite
Dish
Author: Gray Rollins

If you've chosen a satellite TV provider over your local cable
company, one issue you might be having difficulty with is the
installation of the dish itself. The dish provider company will
offer to send a service technician out to your house for the
initial installation, but they might charge a fee. And what if
you have problems with reception afterward and need to make
adjustments? Additionally, if you've chosen to install your
satellite dish yourself, you may have to mount and adjust it a
few times before you get it 'picture perfect'. So, here is some
information and tips to help you get the best signal from your
satellite dish, including where to mount and how to adjust the
dish for the best reception.

Where to Mount the Dish

The first step is deciding where to mount the dish. Because the
actual satellite that sends the signals to your dish antenna
resides in space about 22,300 miles above the equator, you'll
need to install it where you, yourself can see a clear,
unobstructed view of the southern sky. This is the guideline
for selecting the generalized mounting area so you can then
further determine exactly where to put it.

You should try to avoid mounting your satellite dish on the
roof of your home because not only can that cause possible
leaks, but you will also want to have easy access to it for
clearing snow, leaves, etc. from the signal path or
repositioning the dish later on. Think back to the old-style,
roof-mounted metal 'tree' antennas that were used
way-back-when, and what an inconvenience it was for someone to
have to climb up to the top of the house and adjust it – not
fun or safe, especially in bad weather.

How to Mount and Adjust the Dish

• Once you've chosen the exact spot, attach the mounting plate
to your house so that it is flush and level with the mounting
surface.

o Use silicone to fill in any extra space around the drill
holes to prevent pests and the elements from getting inside.

• Assemble the antenna/dish and mount it to the plate.

• To determine the best position for the dish, you can use a
compass in conjunction with the markings on the antenna
mechanism itself. You can also use an electronic satellite
locator to help you fine tune the signal reception.

• Attaching the cable to the antenna/dish and drill a hole to
insert the cable through and hook that and the coax cable up to
your TV and receiver box.

o Note: If you're running the cable up or down through a wall
to reach the TV, using a cable snake will help you maneuver it.


• Turn on both the TV and digital receiver box and check the
current reception quality.

• If need be, fine-tune the coordinates of the dish position:

o Adjust the Elevation (up or down) designation of the dish
o Adjust the Azimuth (left or right) signal position of the
dish

You may have to go back and forth into the house a few times to
check the reception, and it would be helpful to have someone
inside alerting you to the reception quality, but following
these guidelines will help you to end up with the best signal
strength.

You can also:

1. Refer to your user manual;

2. Use the remote you were provided with and follow the
built-in 'set-up' menu options on the TV screen; and/or

3. Contact the provider's customer service department for
additional questions or assistance.


About The Author: Gray Rollins is a featured writer for
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