How Does a Direct TV Satellite System Work?

Introduction

A Direct TV Satellite System works through the combination of successfully integrating a satellite receiver into your home entertainment setup, as well as installing and carefully mounting the actual Direct TV satellite dish in a safe, unobstructed location with a clear view of the southern sky. Once these two devices are setup and installed, the receiver can be used to further fine tune the positioning of the satellite dish so as to ensure the most efficient satellite signal.

The satellite receiver must be hooked up to the television. To do so, the standard A/V cables included with the receiver device will be used, and these are wires with red, yellow and white prongs on each end. These prongs will go into color-matching sockets on both the back/side of the television and the back of the satellite receiver. Make sure these connections are not mixed up.

The wiring from the satellite dish itself must be run down to the satellite receiver. This connection is made without the use of any splitters on this wire. If splitters are used, the signal will become diminished and this is not acceptable. With this in place, the receiver is plugged in via placing the main power cord in a power outlet, and then the unit is powered on. It takes the device a minute or two to initialize, and for the signal meter screen to come on the television display. This meter is used when positioning the satellite dish later.

First, the dish can only be mounted in a secure spot that is suitable for mounting. This needs to be an area that is unobstructed and also provides a strong mounting surface. The satellite dish will need to be mounted in a way so that the mounting surface is flush with the satellite dish. If this is not possible, another site must be selected.

The satellite dish works by being pointed to the southern sky. Once this initial positioning is made, further repositioning is made via elevation and azimuth adjustments so as to achieve a strong signal. After each adjustment, the signal meter screen should be consulted so as to make sure the adjustments are correct and on track. The elevation can be altered by loosening the nuts near the elevation bolts and then swinging the dish slightly up and down. Azimuth repositioning is handled via loosening the nuts on the LNB arm of the device and moving the dish left to right. Again, the signal meter screen should be consulted after each movement.

Once the signal meter screen gives a reading of 70 to 80, the dish is left where it is and setup of the satellite dish and receiver is complete.