If you've chosen a satellite TV provider over your local cable company, one issue you might be having difficulty with is the installation of the dish itself. The dish provider company will offer to send a service technician out to your house for the initial installation, but they might charge a fee. And what if you have problems with reception afterward and need to make adjustments? Additionally, if you've chosen to install your satellite dish yourself, you may have to mount and adjust it a few times before you get it 'picture perfect'. So, here is some information and tips to help you get the best signal from your satellite dish, including where to mount and how to adjust the dish for the best reception.
Where to Mount the Dish
The first step is deciding where to mount the dish. Because the actual satellite that sends the signals to your dish antenna resides in space about 22,300 miles above the equator, you'll need to install it where you, yourself can see a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. This is the guideline for selecting the generalized mounting area so you can then further determine exactly where to put it.
You should try to avoid mounting your satellite dish on the roof of your home because not only can that cause possible leaks, but you will also want to have easy access to it for clearing snow, leaves, etc. from the signal path or repositioning the dish later on. Think back to the old-style, roof-mounted metal 'tree' antennas that were used way-back-when, and what an inconvenience it was for someone to have to climb up to the top of the house and adjust it - not fun or safe, especially in bad weather.
How to Mount and Adjust the Dish