Digital Satellite TV Receiver Dish Installation Guide
Also See - Installation Overview - Digital Terrestrial Installation Guide - Blog Updates
Digital satellite TV receiver dish installation is not a simple ‘plug and play’ job so it is a good idea to get an experienced technician. Even for those who are handy with DIY, the cost incurred in utilizing a technician would be considerably less than the outlay for the tools and equipment required. The cheap route is not a recommendation as it normally turns out becoming very expensive.
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The first thing to consider before choosing a placement site for the satellite dish is to make sure there is clear line of sight to the satellite. That means there should be no obstruction within 6 metres of the face of the dish and no obstruction above 35 degrees. Future growth of foliage around the dish should also be taken into consideration as it only takes a handful of leaves to cause significant signal interference.
The angle of sight to the Optus D1 Satellite for each region is found in the table below.
The second consideration is where to fix the dish to the building. It needs to be fixed securely enough to withstand high winds because the slightest amount of movement can cause signal loss. So whether the dish is mounted on the wall or the roof, the type of building material used needs to provide a strong foundation for a secure fixture. This is because some types of cladding and roofing materials are not strong enough to support the dish plus all the pressure from wind. Examples of unsuitable materials include plaster, plastic, insulclad and terracotta tiles. If the dish is being installed on a metal or concrete roof, ensure that the mount is fixed into the timber battens through the roofing material.
After fixing the dish mount, ensure that the pole is vertical using a spirit level. Then preset the elevation angle on the dish to the angle set out on the above table for your region; you will find the adjustment on the rear of the dish. If you get both the vertical and elevation settings correct then you can fit the dish to the mount; the only measurement that is needed is the azimuth (the movement from left to right) see diagram below:
The azimuth settings for your region are also set out in the Satellite Dish angle Table.
Once the satellite dish is securely mounted and tuned the cable run is fairly straightforward. There are four things to remember:
- Use RG6 satellite approved cable and avoid the cheaper cable.
- Use either hex or radial crimp “F’ connectors for the cable ends. DO NOT use the screw on type as the cable can work its way loose very easily, resulting in a short circuit which can damage the receiver or the LNB. When stripping the cable ends, be sure that none of the outer braiding is making contact with the centre core before attaching the “F” connectors.
- Always use 7mm plastic cable clips for fixing the cable, DO NOT use staples. Any compression on the cable can also result in signal loss.
- Another consideration for the cable run is to avoid any tight bends as this also affects the signal. Make sure that all bends have a good flow through.
All there is to do now is double check that there is plenty of waterproofing sealant in cable entry holes and under screws, connect the cable up, tune the TV, sit back and enjoy!
