RCA 15407690 User Manual

DIRECTV PLUS

Satellite Dish

Antenna

™

Changing Entertainment. Again.

Installer's Guide

Safety Information

DANGER! Avoid Power lines! When following the instructions in this guide to install and connect the

DIRECTV PLUS™ satellite antenna and connections, take extreme care to avoid contact with overhead power lines, lights and power circuits. Contact with power lines, lights, and power circuits may be fatal.

CAUTION Before connecting the satellite receiver, read the Safety Information that

came packed with the satellite receiver.

Outdoor Dish The outdoor dish antenna used to receive satellite signals and the Antenna Grounding cable used to connect the outdoor dish antenna to the indoor receiving

unit are required to comply with local installation codes and the appropriate sections of the National Electrical Code (NEC), especially Articles 250, 810 and 820. These codes require proper grounding of the metal structure of the outdoor dish antenna and grounding of the connecting cable at a point where it enters the house (or other building). If you are having a professional installer make the installation, the installer must observe installation codes in making the installation. The Satellite System Self-Installer’s Kit contains instructions on how to make the installation in compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC). If additional local installation codes apply, contact local inspection authorities.

Compliance with Before installing the satellite system, check the electrical code National Electrical Code guidelines in your area.

Note to Satellite Dish Installer This reminder is provided to call your attention to articles 810 and 820 of

the 1999 National Electrical Code. Refer to article 810, in particular to 810-1 and 810-15, for required grounding of the metal structure of the Dish Antenna. Refer also to 810-2 which, by reference to article 820, requires that the satellite dish coaxial cable shield be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

Restrictions Before installing your dish, check the zoning codes, covenants and

community restrictions in your area. Some rules prohibit installing large satellite dishes, but may allow small ones. Also, there may be restrictions in your area that limit the mounting height of dishes.

If you encounter homeowner or community restrictions, call 1-800-679-

4776. Personnel at this number can provide information that may be helpful when attempting to obtain permission to install a satellite system on your property.

DIRECTV and DIRECTV PLUS are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp., and are used with permission.

Table of Contents

Preparing for Installation ................................................ 3

Installation Overview ........................................................... 4

Mounting Options ................................................................ 5

Solid Wood or Lap Siding................................................. 5

Brick or Poured Concrete Surface .................................... 5

A Hollow or Cinder Block Wall ......................................... 5

Pole Mount...................................................................... 5

General Site Survey .............................................................. 6

The Satellite Locations .................................................... 7

How High Up in the Sky is the Satellite? .......................... 7

Finding a Clear Line of Sight............................................ 7

Finding the Dish Pointing Coordinates ................................. 8

Using the Dish Pointing Menu Screen .............................. 8

Precise Site Survey ............................................................... 9

A Final Site Survey ........................................................ 10

Estimating Cable Requirements.......................................... 10

DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Assembly Overview .......................... 12

Hardware Included ........................................................ 12

Securing the Mast Foot ...................................................... 13

Secure the Antenna Mast Clamp:........................................ 13

Setting the Elevation and Attaching the Fine

Tuning Adjustment .......................................................... 14

Attaching the Mast Clamp to the DIRECTV PLUS™ Antenna . 15

Setting the Tilt (Polarization).............................................. 15

Attaching the LNB Support Arm and Adapter...................... 16

Mounting the Mast ........................................................ 17

Mounting The Mast On Solid Wood Or Lap Siding ............... 18

Mounting Instructions ................................................... 19

Installing a Spacer ......................................................... 20

Mounting the Mast on Brick or Poured Concrete................. 21

Mounting the Mast on a Hollow or Cinder Block Wall.......... 23

Mounting the DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish On A Pole .................... 25

Table of Contents

Final Installation ........................................................... 27

Leveling the Mast............................................................... 28

Leveling Side-to-Side ..................................................... 28

Leveling Front-to-Back................................................... 29

Final DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Assembly ................................. 29

A Few Words About Grounding the

DIRECTV PLUS™ System ................................................... 31

Routing and Grounding the Cables .................................... 32

Running Cable Into the House............................................ 33

Cable Entry Overview.................................................... 33

Step-by-Step Instructions for Routing the Cables ........... 34

Making the Final Connections ............................................ 35

Step-By-Step Instruction for Acquiring and

Fine Tuning the Signal ................................................ 36

Acquiring and Fine Tuning the Signal ................................. 36

Reference....................................................................... 39

Troubleshooting................................................................. 40

Can’t Pick Up the Satellite Signal ................................... 40

Cabling and Connections Problems ............................... 40

DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Positioning and Pointing Problems 40

Temporary Satellite Signal Loss ..................................... 41

You hear a dialing sound while talking on the phone

(If the Satellite Receiver is Connected to a Phone Line) 41

Toll-Free Telephone Product Help ....................................... 42

Limited Warranty ............................................................... 43

Index ................................................................................. 44

Chapter 1

Preparing for Installation

Chapter Overview:

• Installation Overview

• Mounting Options

• General Site Survey

• Finding the Dish Pointing Coordinates

• Estimating Cable Requirements

• DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Assembly Overview

• Setting the Elevation and Attaching the Fine Tuning Adjustment

• Attaching the Mast Clamp to the DIRECTV PLUS™ Antenna

• Setting the Tilt (Polarization)

• Attaching the LNB Support Arm and Adapter

Preparing for Installation

Installation Overview

The manual is organized into steps that need to be performed in the order presented.

Preparing for Installation

• Complete a General Site Survey – Visually survey your location to make sure it is

suitable.

• Obtain Dish Pointing Coordinates – Use the on-screen menu system to obtain the

exact coordinates (azimuth, elevation, and tilt (polarization)) for pointing the dish. Directions for using on-screen menus can be found in your digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter manual.

• Select the Precise Mounting Site – Use the dish pointing coordinates to conduct a

precise site survey to determine the exact mounting site.

• Estimate Cable Requirements – Based on your mounting site, you will decide

where you want the cables to enter your house, and measure how many feet of cable you need to complete the connections.

• Begin Dish Assembly – Partially assemble the satellite dish antenna so that you can

preset the correct elevation and tilt (polarization).

•

Set the Antenna’s Elevation and Azimuth Coordinates –

These are important steps. Making sure that your elevation, azimuth and tilt settings are correct will help you to more easily obtain the signals later on.

Mounting the Mast

• Mount the Mast – Step-by-step instructions for different mounting options.

Completing the Final Installation

• Square the Mast – The mast must be perfectly plumb and level to obtain the

signal(s).

• Complete the Dish Assembly – Secure the antenna on the mast, connect the RG-6

coaxial cables to the LNBs, and attach the LNBs to the adapter and the feed tube.

• Route the Cables to the Grounding Block – Attach two grounding blocks to the

house and route the cables from the dish to the grounding blocks. Also, route a grounding wire from the grounding block to the central building ground.

• Run the Cables into the House – Run the RG-6 cables from the grounding blocks

into the house and attach to the multiswitch.

• Make the Final Connections – Connect an RG-6 cable to any of the outputs on the

multiswitch and to the satellite input(s) on your digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter.

• Acquire and Fine-tune the Satellite Signal – Use the on-screen signal meter to

check for a signal. Once the signal is obtained, adjust dish pointing azimuth and elevation as needed to achieve maximum signal strength for all satellites.

• Order Satellite Programming – Call the service providers to order satellite

programming.

4 Chapter 1

Preparing for Installation

Mounting Options

VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure that the mast is both PLUMB and LEVEL. If the mast is not PLUMB and LEVEL, the elevation, azimuth, and tilt settings you get from on-screen instructions will not be accurate and you may not be able to acquire the signal.

Solid Wood or Lap Siding

Important Considerations:

• Do NOT mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish where someone might use it

as a handrail.

• Do NOT mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish on any type of aluminum or

vinyl siding.

• Do NOT mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish on any type of composite

paneling, such as fiber board, particle board, or strand board.

• Do NOT mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish under an eave or overhang

that may block or partially shadow the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish.

• Make sure the wooden surface is structurally sound and can support

the weight of the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish.

Brick or Poured Concrete Surface

Important Considerations:

• The wall anchors used must have a strength of at least 300 pounds of pullout pressure.

The use of B4015 or equivalent double-expansion anchors is recommended.

• Do NOT mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish under an eave or overhang that may block

or partially shadow the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish.

A Hollow or Cinder Block Wall

Important Consideration:

• Do NOT mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish under an eave or overhang that may block

or partially shadow the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish.

Pole Mount

Important Considerations:

• Do not install the pole in wet or marshy areas.

• The pole must go at least 3 feet below the surface.

• If the length of pipe above ground is too long, guy wires may be needed to increase

the stability of the mount in windy conditions.

• You will need to ground the pole in addition to the antenna and coaxial cable.

• The pole that has been secured in the ground with concrete replaces the mounting foot

and mast assembly which were supplied with the PLUS™

dish is held on the pole by the mast clamp.

DIRECTV PLUS™

dish. The

DIRECTV

Chapter 1 5

Preparing for Installation

Should I Do This Myself?

While the installation is not difficult, it does require that you have some experience in electrical wiring and minor construction techniques. Also, you may have to climb a ladder, so you’ll want to be comfortable working with heights.

Depending on how you install the DIRECTV PLUS™ satellite dish, you may be required to:

• Use power tools to drill holes in your house

• Determine where utilities such as water pipes, electrical wiring

or gas lines are hidden within walls

• Run coaxial cable through a foundation, under floors, or through interior walls

• Ground an antenna and coaxial cable as recommended in the National Electrical

Code*.

If you have properly installed a previous satellite, outdoor television antenna, or a garage door opener, then you can be reasonably confident that you can install this system yourself.

If you have not worked with any of these products, then this probably isn’t the time to learn about installation techniques. While deciding whether you are right for this job, you should also keep in mind that your tuning requirements going beyond those of a single-satellite antenna and it may be more difficult to obtain signal(s).

Consider contacting your local authorized retailer to recommend a professional installer.

DIRECTV PLUS™

satellite antenna has more fine-

General Site Survey

Your DIRECTV PLUS™ antenna receives data from two separate satellites at once; one sending High Definition signals, and one broadcasting standard digital signals. So, to pick up the pair of signals, your DIRECTV PLUS™ antenna must tune to two satellite signals from one mounted position.

Not only can there be NO obstructions between the DIRECTV PLUS™ satellite dish antenna and the satellites, but you must also have the unit mounted exactly plumb and level in order to get HD and standard digital broadcasts from given coordinates.

When mounting your DIRECTV PLUS™ satellite antenna, take into consideration future tree growth, house remodeling or additions, and new construction in your area.

• The satellite signal WILL NOT PASS through leaves or branches.

• The satellite signal WILL NOT PASS through glass; don’t try to install your

DIRECTV PLUS™ dish indoors!

*The National Electric Code is published by the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Maryland, 02269. It is also available at many hardware stores and home centers.

6 Chapter 1

Preparing for Installation

60° 30°

The Satellite Locations

Both satellites are always located south of the United States at approximately 101° and 119° latitude. That means if you live in Miami, you must have a clear line of sight west/southwest; if you live in San Francisco, you must have a clear line south/ southeast.

Indianapolis, IN look southwest

San Francisco, CA look southeast

119° Satellite

101° Satellite

Miami, FL

look southwest

How High Up in the Sky is the Satellite?

Depending on where you live, the satellite will be at an elevation angle between 30 and 60 degrees. Southern states point more upward toward 60 degrees; northern states point more downward toward 30 degrees.

Finding a Clear Line of Sight

1. Go outside and locate at least one site on your property that has a clear view to

the satellite. You should be reasonably certain you are pointing toward Texas (unless you’re in Texas, in which case you should be looking due south). You may want to use a map.

2. Imagine an arc ranging from 30 to 60 degrees above the horizon.

3. Do you have at least one clear view to the satellite? Remember, no trees, leaves,

buildings, or windows can be between the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish and the satellite.

MAYBE

90°

60°

30°

0°

60° 30°

If the answer is NO, your site may be unsuitable for installing the satellite system.

If the answer is MAYBE, you may want to contact a your local digital satellite dealer for information about having a professional installer conduct a thorough

YES!

60° 30°

site survey.

If the answer is YES, your site should be suitable for installing the system. Go ahead to the next section in this manual.

Chapter 1 7

Preparing for Installation

Finding the Dish Pointing Coordinates

Finding the dish pointing coordinates for your location includes presetting the elevation and tilt. This is done by following directions that appear on your TV screen. You need to make sure that your digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter is connected and working so that you can see these menu directions on a television screen.

See the User’s Manual that came with your digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter for more information about finding the antenna’s pointing coordinates.

Using the Dish Pointing Menu Screen

You need to use your digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter’s on-screen menu feature to obtain the precise dish pointing coordinates for your location. You can find these numbers by navigating through these menus.

Because this DIRECTV PLUS™ satellite dish antenna can be used with several different types of products, we cannot show you the specific instructions for obtaining dish pointing information here. Specific instructions for using onscreen menus can be found in the manual that came with your HDTV, set-top converter, or satellite receiver.

Tip

If you are using a digital satellite receiver or HD set-top converter, you can make a simple connection as shown below to get your dish pointing coordinates now, and to view the signal meter later in the installation process.

Satellite Receiver or

Set-Top Converter

Television

OUT TO TV

ANTENNA IN

Recording the Coordinates

When you’ve obtained the coordinates, record the elevation, azimuth, and tilt (polarization) numbers below.

Elevation is the up/down angle that the dish is pointed.

Azimuth is side-to-side direction that the dish is pointed.

Tilt (polarization) is the circular rotation of the dish itself, like a steering wheel.

Elevation ___________________ Azimuth _____________________ Tilt (polarization) _______________

8 Chapter 1

Preparing for Installation

Precise Site Survey

Based on your general site survey, you probably already know where you want to mount

DIRECTV PLUS™

your section in order to make sure that your site selection is a good one.

1. Go outside to your install site and hold a compass flat in the palm of your hand. Hold

your hand still until the needle stops moving (the dark or colored half of the compass needle always points north).

2. Rotate the compass so that the “N” (for north) is directly under the dark part of the

compass needle. Your compass is now aligned with north. The marks around the outside edge of the compass represent azimuth degrees you will point your antenna to.

dish, but it’s a good idea to follow the procedures outlined in this

Rotate until N lines up with the dark half of the arrow

Note

You may want to review the section “Mounting the Mast” to consider the mounting options available to you before completing your precise site survey.

3. Locate the tick mark on the compass edge that corresponds to the azimuth number you

wrote down. This is the direction of your azimuth setting (the direction the PLUS™

dish will need to be pointed to receive signals from the satellites).

If you live in San Francisco, the satellite will be to the southeast

If you live in Miami, the satellite will be to the southwest

DIRECTV

4. Raise your arm to approximately the elevation angle recorded earlier to make sure that

there are no obstructions in the signal path.

90°

60°

30°

0°

5. Repeat this survey in several places on your property if necessary until you find the best

mounting location.

Tip

Try to keep the compass away from any metal objects. Metal objects can cause inaccurate compass readings.

WARNING

Do NOT install the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish near power lines, electric lights or power circuits. Contact with power lines, lights or power circuits fatal. It is strongly recommended that the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish be located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.

may be

Chapter 1 9

Preparing for Installation

60° 30°

MAYBE

60° 30°

YES!

60°

A Final Site Survey

Now that you’ve conducted a precise site survey using the dish pointing coordinates for your location, you should double-check one more time to make sure you have a clear view in the direction of the satellites.

I Don’t have a clear view to the satellite.

If you don’t have a clear view to the satellites, then your site may not be suitable for installing the satellite system. A professional installer may have an alternative solution—consider contacting your satellite system dealer to find the name of an authorized satellite system installer.

I’m Not sure If I have a Clear View

If you’re not certain whether you have a clear view to the satellite, you have two choices :

• Continue with the installation and determine whether you have a clear view to the

satellite by testing the system.

• Contact your satellite system dealer to find the name of an authorized satellite

system installer who can help you verify that your property is suitable for installation.

I Have A Clear View to the Satellite

Your site should be suitable for installing the satellite system. Continue with the installation.

Estimating Cable Requirements

Now that you’ve decided on the exact mounting site, you need to decide where you want the cables to enter the house. The next step is to figure out approximately how much cable you are going to need.

1. Locate the central building ground. You will ground the antenna (using the cable

grounding block) to a single point in the central building ground. The following is a list of acceptable building ground points:

• Grounded interior metal cold water pipe within five feet of the point where the cable(s) enter the building

• Grounded metallic service raceway

• Grounded electrical service equipment enclosure

• Eight-foot grounding rod driven into the ground (only if bonded to the

central building ground by #6 or heavier bonding wire)

• Other acceptable grounding electrodes that comply with sections 250 and 810 of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

2. Choose a location to mount the grounding block. The block should be as close as possible to the point where the cable(s) will enter the house.

3. Decide where inside the house you plan to put the HD receiver.

4. Measure and record your cable requirements in the spaces provided on the following page.

10 Chapter 1

A Few Words About Grounding the System

Grounding the satellite system to the central building ground helps protect it and other components from lightning damage. Dish installation should comply with local codes and the National Electrical Code (NEC). Grounding the satellite system is something you can probably do yourself. But if you’re not sure, you should contact a qualified electrician.

Preparing for Installation

This diagram shows “typical” installation steps. It illustrates the minimum of cables needed to give a signal to one digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter.

Tip

The information on the following pages takes you through the cable estimating process step-by-step.

Measure distance from the LNB on the

Dual-Satellite Antenna

RG-6 Coaxial

OUTDOOR

Cable

Grounding Block

RG-6 Coaxial Cable

Satellite Dish Antenna to the Grounding Block

_____________ feet x (4) RG-6 Cables

(with messenger/ground wire)

Measure distance from the Grounding Block to the Central Building Ground

_____________ feet x (2) Ground Wire

Measure distance from the Grounding Block into the house and to the Multiswitch.

Measure once and multiply by four. You will need four cables of that length to run from the dish antenna to the grounding block.

Note

You must use RG-6 coaxial cable(s) from the satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the digital satellite receiver, HDTV, or HD set-top converter. This includes to and from the multiswitch. Other types of coaxial cable, such as that used for cable TV (RG-59) will not work for your HD satellite system.

Multiswitch

INDOOR

Digital Satellite Receiver

HD Set Top Converter,

HDTV

RG-6 Coaxial Cable

_____________ feet x (4) RG-6 Cables

Measure distance from the Multiswitch to the Digital Satellite Receiver, HD Set-Top Converter, or HDTV

_____________ feet x (1) RG-6 Cable

INPUT ANTENNA HD MONITORINFOON

MENU OK

Note

If your total RG-6 coaxial cable length from the dish to the HD unit is more than 112 feet per coax cable, you may need an additional installation component, such as a line amplifier, to compensate for the longer cable length.

Chapter 1 11

Preparing for Installation

DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Assembly Overview

Use this page both as a parts lists for your HD satellite antenna, and a general overview of how the parts fit together;

DO NOT ASSEMBLE THE DISH YET.

but

Satellite dish antenna

Two LNBs (Low Noise Block converter)

LNB Adapter

LNB feeder tube

Hardware Included:

Antenna-to-mast bracket

Mounting foot and mast

Elevation Fine Tuning hardware

1/4” x 1-1/2” Hex Head Bolt

(Feed Tube Mounting)

#8 x 1” Phillips Head Screw (LNB & Adapter Mounting)

1/4” x 1-3/4” Long Carriage Head Bolt (Antenna Mounting Bolt-Painted Head)

#10 Hex Washer Head Screw

(Ground Screw )

1/4” x 7/8” Long Carriage Head Bolt

(Azimuth Clamp Bolt )

1/4” x 1/2” Long Carriage Head Bolt

(Mast Adjusting Bolts)

1/4” External Tooth Washer

1/4” Lock Nut (ESNA Type)

1/4” Flat Washer

1/4” Hex Flange Nut

M6 Hex Head Self Tapping Screw

(Multi-Switch Mounting)

.81 Long Spacer

(Feed Tube Mounting)

L-Bracket Fine Tuning Adjustment Tool

#8 Insert Nut

(LNB & Adapter Mounting)

12 Chapter 1

Preparing for Installation

Securing the Mast Foot

1. If you plan to use the mast foot, use two (2) 1/4" x 1/2" carriage bolts, and two (2) 1/4" flange nuts to join the pieces through the bolt holes in the mast and the curved space of the mounting foot. Place one bolt on each side. Secure the bolts with a locking washer and locking nut. Leave the assembly loose enough to allow movement in the curved slot without damage to the painted surface on each side.

Mast Foot Hardware

1/4” x 1/2” Long Carriage Head Bolt

(Mast Adjusting Bolts)

1/4” Hex Flange Nut

Secure the Antenna Mast Clamp:

Use two (2) 1/4" bolts and two (2) 1/4" flange nuts to join the antenna clamp with the mast. Do not tighten the bolts all the way. You will move the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish side-to-side to adjust the azimuth.

Mast Clamp Hardware

1/4” x 7/8” Long Carriage Head Bolt

(Azimuth Clamp Bolt )

1/4” Hex Flange Nut

Chapter 1 13

+ 33 hidden pages