The Best Way to Mount a Satellite Dish

Would you want to mount your own satellite dish? Are you insane? Working at heights, almost certainly without the correct equipment and possibly using a ropey old ladder? Sounds like a recipe for a catastrophe. But, if you really must, then go for it. If you're somehow driven to set up your own satellite system, read on. I can tell you how to install it correctly in ten easy steps.

The equipment you’re gonna need:- A satellite system and decoder - obviously, RG6 Coax Cable, a very good ladder, a satellite signal meter, a compass, a level, an adjustable wrench, a drill, maybe a cordless drill and screwdriver, nut driver bit for your drill, lag bolts, cable ties, screw clips.

No.1

Look at the direction of the neighbour's satellite dish. It will give you a great idea of which way your dish ought to be facing in order to pick up the Astra satellite. Generally, in the UK, this angle varies from 20 degrees in the North to 30 degrees in the South. Ensure you have a clear line of sight. Any branches or telephone poles in the way will affect the reception to the satellite dish.

No 2

Your satellite dish should come with a mast. Attach the mast to something solid by using the bolts. e.g. a chimney or a wall. Use your spirit level to make sure of the fact that the mast is level.

No. 3

Place the dish itself onto the mast but don't fully tighten the bolts at the moment. This comes later when you’ve aligned it correctly.

No. 4

Run RG6 coaxial cable through the dish and out to the LNBF (Low Noise Block down converter Feedhorn - but you do not have to know that!). Now connect the cable to your LNBF & attach the LNBF to the dish. Don't over tighten the screws at this stage.

No. 5

If you have a good satellite signal meter, now is the time to get it out. They're not massively expensive any more and you can buy them in Curry's. Now, connect the other end of your coaxial cable to your meter. Turn the meter on, and when you find a satellite signal, your meter will illuminate or make a sound to let you know that you've locked on. If you don't hear or see anything from the meter, turn your dish left, right, up and down to find it.

No. 6

In the event you do not have a good meter (or you're too tight to buy one!) you can still use your TV to find out the signal strength. You will have to get someone to shout up with the readings.

No. 7

When you finally have the strongest signal, tighten up all the bolts and screws on the dish. The smart guy leaves the meter on while they do this to make sure it hasn't moved.

No. 8

Now you can run the coaxial cable from your dish to your satellite receiver. You may find you will require to drop the cable down the front or rear of the home and then drill a tiny hole in the wall to run the cable through. Use the cable ties and screw clips to make sure that you have a decent tidy finish, hiding as much cable as possible.

No. 9

Once you have pushedthe cable through the other side into your room where the receiver is located, simply attach it to your 'Satellite in' port. Connect the satellite receiver on your TV and follow the on screen instructions to tune it in.

No. 10

That’s it, you have finished. Relax and start scrolling through the hundreds of channels now appearing in your front room.

I always put my own satellite systems up for myself and other people. On the rare occations that I have a problem I use a company called Aerial Installer London