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
1
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
2
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
3
3
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
N
EW
S
101° Satellite
N
EW
S
N
EW
Miami, FL
S
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.
NO
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
NO
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
OR
OR
_____________ 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
°
0
6
°
0
5
°
0
4
2
0
°
°
3
0
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
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