What Do I Need and How Do I Get Started.

First you will need to find the location to place your dish where you can get the maximum benefit of your system. One of the tools that you will need to start is an inclinometer. This is used to measure the elevation. Another tool you will need is a compass. This will measure the magnetic heading of the satellite. Next you will need to know the longitude and the latitude location of your site. The best place that I have found to get this information is a state map or atlas. Finally, you will need to FTP the program SATELLITE FINDER, version 2.0 from Robert Smathers Satellite WWW Page in the section Roberts Info-files. While you are there, thank Robert for making this great file available. Unzip the program and run it. Enter the name of your location (ex. Bob's Place), the lattitude coordinate, the longitude coordinate and the magnetic deviation. Choose to print a copy of the satellite coordinates or bring your laptop with you. The chart shown in figure 1 shows the pattern the satellites will follow in the sky from most locations in North America. Domestic C Band satellites will run from Satcom F1 (the western satellite) through to S2 (the eastern satellite). If you are receiving from a EchoStar DISH Network system, G9 at 123 deg is the same orbital location from which the DISH Network broadcasts from.

Now that you have the magnetic headings and elevation angles, you will need to go outside and find the best location to mount your dish. The arc in the sky will have the same genreal shape as the chart in figure 1. First, take the most western satellite (for the eastern states) or the most eastern satellite (for the western states) on your list that you have for the satellite locations. Take the compass and find the magnetic headings for this satellite and make a mental note of where that spot is by using some object on the horizon as a point of reference. Next, take that spot on the horizon and use the inclinometer to find the elevation of the satellite. If you can see the sky from that location, then so far, this is a good location. If there are obstacles such as a tree or a house, then move either left, right, or back to clear the obstacle or just eliminate that obstacle. In the worst case, you may need to mount the antenna on the roof or on a higher pole. Continue the same procedure for each satellite until you find a location where you can see the sky for either all or most of the satellites. This will be the spot that you will want to mount the dish. NOTE: The satellite's signal will not penetrate the leaves of a tree.

This is the where the real work comes in. For a C band system, you will need to concrete a pole in the ground. We recommend, under normal soil conditions, that you dig a hole 14 inches in diameter by 3 feet deep and use a pole 3 1/2 inches (outside diameter) by 7 feet long. While the concrete sets up, you can choose and order the system that you want. When ordering, please remember to include the amount of cable that is needed for your installation in increments of 25 feet.

For a DBS system, you will need a much smaller mounting structure (an attachment to a wall, chimney, roof or a free standing pole in the ground). If it is a free standing pole in the ground then you will need a pole 1.5 inches (outside diameter) by the height you want the dish off the ground plus 3' in the ground. Under normal soil conditions, you will need to dig a hole in the ground 12 inches in diameter by 3 feet deep for the concrete base.