How to Install and Set Up a Free Satellite TV System

Today, Mytour will guide you through the process of setting up a free satellite TV system for your television.

Select a satellite network. To verify the compatibility of the TV signal with your current location, you need to know the name of the satellite.

• You can visit the American Digital Satellite website and scroll down to view a list of available satellites at http://www.americandigitalsatellite.com/all_free_to_air_satellite_channels.html.

Ensure your location can receive satellite signals. Before setting up a free satellite TV system, verify if satellite signals are accessible in your area. Visit http://www.dishpointer.com/ and follow these steps:

• Enter your city and state (e.g., "Palo Alto, California") in the "Your location" text box on the left side of the page.
• Select the satellite name from the dropdown menu on the right.
• Click Search!
• A green line indicates a clear signal path. A red line means the satellite is not accessible in your area.

Note the satellite's orientation. On the map display, check the "Elevation" and "Azimuth (true)" values. These angular measurements will help align your satellite dish later.

Ensure you have the necessary hardware. To install a satellite dish, you’ll need the following equipment:

• Satellite Dish — Captures satellite signals. A 2.4 m dish is required for C-band, while an 89 cm dish works for Ku-band.
• Satellite Receiver — Converts the dish's input into TV channels.
• Satellite Finder — Helps fine-tune the dish's position.
• HDTV — Essential for most free-to-air systems, as receivers often require an HDMI input.
• Coaxial Cable — Usually included with the dish, but you may need to purchase a longer or shorter cable depending on your setup.

Choose the optimal location for your satellite dish. The dish must face the satellite directly, so select a high location (e.g., rooftop or balcony) to ensure proper alignment and stable signal reception.

• Avoid obstructions like trees, buildings, or other barriers.

Plan the best cable route from the dish to your TV. Since you need to connect the coaxial cable from the dish to the indoor receiver, find a path that minimizes exposure to obstacles and keeps the cable as short as possible.

• Many users run the cable along the side of the house and through the wall at the desired location, but adjust based on your home's layout.
• If needed, purchase a new coaxial cable of the appropriate length before proceeding.

Secure the dish to your chosen location. Place the antenna mast and dish on a flat surface, then fasten the equipment using bolts or anchors.

• It’s crucial to ensure the antenna mount is as stable as possible to prevent the dish from loosening during windy conditions.
• If mounting on a wooden roof, seal the base with waterproofing material to prevent leaks.

Align the dish toward the satellite. Use the "Elevation" and "Azimuth" values as references to position the dish toward your desired satellite. This ensures the dish remains accurately aligned for stable signal reception.

• A compass is not strictly necessary for this step.

Connect the satellite finder. Plug a 1.8 m coaxial cable from the dish into the satellite finder.

Use the satellite finder to fine-tune the dish's alignment. Turn on the satellite finder, enter or select the satellite name from the list, and input the frequency. You’ll hear a continuous beep to assist in aligning the dish:

• Rotate the dish left or right.
• A faster beep indicates you’re moving the dish in the correct direction.
• Change direction if the beep slows down.

Secure the horizontal alignment of the dish. Tighten the bolts to lock the antenna firmly in place at this angle.

Adjust the vertical alignment. Follow the same process as with the horizontal alignment; once the beeping becomes rapid, tighten the bolts to fix the antenna's vertical position.

Connect the satellite dish to the receiver. Use a coaxial cable for this connection. Insert one end of the coaxial cable into the back of the satellite receiver.

• You can use a staple gun to secure the coaxial cable along the side of the house to prevent it from dangling.
• Depending on your home's layout, you may need to drill a hole in the wall to route the cable to the indoor receiver. Ensure you avoid drilling into water pipes or electrical wires.

Connect the receiver to power and the TV. After connecting the coaxial cable to the receiver, use the receiver's HDMI cable to plug into the TV's HDMI port.

• Also, plug the receiver's power cord into an electrical outlet.

Turn on the receiver if necessary. The receiver may power on automatically when plugged in, but there might be an On/Off switch located on the side or back of the device. Check and ensure the switch is set to "On" before proceeding.

Switch to the receiver's channel. Turn on your TV and change the input to the HDMI port where the receiver is connected.

• For example, if the receiver is plugged into "HDMI 1," switch the input to "HDMI 1" using the TV's Input or Video menu.

Allow the receiver to complete its setup process if required. Some receivers perform an automatic setup the first time they are powered on; let the device finish this process before continuing.

• If prompted to take any action during setup, follow the on-screen instructions.

Open the receiver's menu. On the receiver's remote, locate and press the Menu button. A menu will appear on the screen.

Find the dish antenna setup menu. Use the arrow keys on the remote to navigate to the "Install" or "Dish" option. If you can't locate this setting, refer to the receiver's user manual for guidance.

Select the satellite. In the "Satellite" section of the menu, use the arrow keys to scroll left or right until you find the name of the satellite.

Choose the LNB frequency. In the "LNB" section of the menu, use the arrow keys to select 10750 as the LNB frequency. This is the most commonly used LNB frequency for satellite networks.

• If using a C-band network, you may select 5150 instead.

Scan for channels. Locate the "Scan" or "Single Satellite Scan" option in the menu, set the "FTA Only" option to Yes if available, and start the scan by selecting Yes, OK, or Start. The dish antenna will begin scanning for available satellite TV channels; once completed, you can watch TV using the channels found by the dish.