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INSTALLING AND POINTING YOUR SATELLITE DISH
PAGE 4-17
INSTALLING AND POINTING YOUR SATELLITE DISH
• , , , or to move the highlight over the Setup Menu button
• to display the SETUP MENU
• or to move the highlight over the Installation button
• to display the INSTALLATION screen
You should see a meter displaying your signal strength.
The INSTALLATION Screen
The INSTALLATION screen shows the quality of the signal that you are receiving. Because you
have not adjusted the direction of your satellite dish, you probably
have a signal strength of 0. To let you know that it is “looking,” you
should hear a short beep every few seconds.
Even though a signal strength of 50 will give you the same high-
quality picture and sound as a reading of 90, you should maximize
your signal as much as possible, because rain or snow can cause the
signal strength to drop significantly. This signal reduction is known
as “rain fade.” As soon as the signal can penetrate the rain cloud or
snow, your picture will return automatically.
Pointing the Dish Using the “Box” Method
The easiest way to find the satellite signal is by scanning the sky in the general direction that the
satellite is located. While you could possibly achieve this by trial and
error, you should be able to find the signal in just a few minutes
using what is called the “box” method. What you are effectively
doing is scanning the sky in a pattern similar to the way a farmer
plows a field.
It will be easiest to fine-tune your dish with someone else’s
assistance, calling out the signal strength while you make the
adjustments. Optionally, you can turn up the volume of your TV so
that you can hear the beeps while you make adjustments. When there
is no signal, beeps will occur every few seconds so that you know it
is searching. As the signal strength increases, the beeps will become
much more rapid.
Before you begin make these quick checks:
• Verify that there are no obstructions such as trees, buildings, etc., blocking the signal.
• Verify that you are using the proper cable type (RG-6) between the dish and the receiver.
Also, be sure that the connections are tight and the center wire in the cable extends about
1/8
th
-inch beyond the end of the connector.
• Verify that the azimuth and elevation values that you determined earlier are correct for
your area.
• To loosen and tighten the antenna’s bolts, you will need a 7/16-inch wrench (not
included).
• A compass will also be needed to establish the initial direction to point your satellite dish.
The INSTALLATION screen
(HIRD-B model receiver screen shown)
Pattern of scanning the sky