How to Install Dish Network Yourself

Satellite TV can be great for those who live in the country and can not receive traditional cable television, as well as being very popular in many cities.

Using a satellite dish, a signal is picked up from the air and hundreds of channels can be instantly viewed on your television.

Dish Network is a very popular company that offers satellite TV.

Often, Dish Network will include free installation of their satellite dishes when you purchase a plan, which can be a good choice. This is because it is necessary to properly line up the satellite dish in order to receive an adequate signal.

However, installing a satellite dish is also something that a homeowner can do.

Things You'll Need

• Dish Network Satellite Dish and Mounting Hardware
• Electric Drill
• Compass
• RG-6 Cable that is long enough to reach from satellite dish to the inside of the house.
• Level
• Ladder

Instructions

1. Check to ensure that your neighborhood or HOA allows you to install a satellite dish.

   Some neighborhoods, such as condominiums, might not allow a satellite dish to be installed or may require that the dish be installed onto a metal pole in the ground instead of directly onto the home.

   There are also special satellite stands that sit on the ground and can be used in neighborhoods that prohibit installing a satellite dish on the roof or building.

2. Determine where the Satellite Dish will be installed. The dish needs to be on a wall, deck, or pole that is facing the South and has a clear line of site. It should not be obstructed by trees or other buildings.

   You can get an idea of where to mount the satellite by looking at your neighbors satellite dish.

   The Satellite should be as close as possible to the satellite receiver. Older Dish Network Satellites needed to be less than 100ft from the receiver, but DishPro Systems can be up to 200ft away from the receiver.

3. Check that all of the satellites parts are present and that the parts are in good condition. Consult the parts diagrams to familiarize yourself with the satellite dish.

4. The satellite dish should come with mounting hardware, so using the electric drill, secure the satellite dish in place. Use the level to ensure that the end of the satellites mast remains vertical.

   The foot of the satellite mast should be pointed away from the satellite dish, which provides more maneuverability.

5. Run the cabling from the satellite receiver box to the satellite dish. Many homes will already be cabled and have a junction box outside that you can plug the satellite into. However, be careful, because this reduces the satellite signal.

   The cable will need to run from the LNBF of the satellite to the receiver box by the TV. the LNBF is also sometimes called the eye of the satellite.

6. Connect your TV to the Satellite Receiver Box and set the TV to either Chanel 3 or 4, depending on what the receiver is set to.

7. Using the remote control navigate to the Point Dish Menu, which is located at: Menu -> System Setup -> Point Dish.

8. For the next steps you will need to know the proper azimuth angle, elevation angle, and skew angle for your area. The azimuth angle is the south, southwest, or southeast angle that the satellite is pointed and the elevation is the vertical angle. These figures vary by location and are necessary so the satellite dish is pointed at the correct satellite.

   You should be able to enter your Zip Code into the Point Dish Menu's Zip Code Field to find your azimuth and elevation angles, but there is also a chart provided by Dish Networks Site.

9. Once you have found the correct Azimuth, Elevation, and Skew angles, write them down on a piece of paper.

10. Using the compass determine the location of the satellite using the Azimuth, Elevation, and Skew angles.

11. Position the satellite dish so that it is facing the satellite and ensure that there are no physical obstructions, such as an overhang or tree, blocking it.

12. Go back to the TV and select the Switch Menu, which is on the Point Dish Menu.

    Select "Check" to display a signal strength bar that indicates what type of signal the satellite is receiving.

    It may be necessary to make some adjustments if the signal is too low. It helps to have one person making very small adjustments to the satellite and another in the house watching the signal.

    The signal bar should be green once it is aligned correctly and it is important to make some adjustments in order to get the strongest signal possible.

13. As an alternative to using a compass to line up the satellite, it is possible to use the Check Signal Meter to align the satellite, but this can be much more time consuming because it involves a lot of trial and error. You would need to have someone on the roof moving the satellite dish, while someone in the house monitors the signal strength.

    This is not advisable if it can be avoided.

14. Once the satellite is properly aligned, it will be necessary to contact Dish Network to turn the satellite service on.

Tips & Warnings

• Often Professional Installation is free, so it is a good idea to check out your options before doing a self installation.

• If you are installing the satellite in the fall or winter, take into account spring tree growth. It may have a clear line of site now, but when all the leaves grow back, it could easily be obstructed.

• You want to install the satellite dish somewhere that you will be able to get to easily, even in bad weather.

• Wind will cause the Satellite Dish to move around, so ensure that it is mounted to a solid base.

• Avoid high wind areas and take care when mounting it to a chimney.

• Vinyl or Aluminum Siding are not strong enough to support a satellite dish.

• Every time you use a cable junction box, you loose a little bit of signal, so if your home is already cable ready, but you have a very low signal, it may be necessary to bypass the cable junction box.

• When mounting the satellite dish, watch out for any electrical wires you might drill into.

• If mounting the dish to a pole in the ground that requires digging, also watch out for water pipes.