DIRECTV PLUS™ Satellite Dish Antenna Changing Entertainment. Again.
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.
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 ..............
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 ...............................................
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.
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.
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.
Preparing for Installation 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.
Preparing for Installation Tip Finding the Dish Pointing Coordinates 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. 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.
Preparing for Installation Precise Site Survey Based on your general site survey, you probably already know where you want to mount your DIRECTV PLUS™ dish, but it’s a good idea to follow the procedures outlined in this 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.
Preparing for Installation 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.
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. OUTDOOR The information on the following pages takes you through the cable estimating process step-by-step.
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; but DO NOT ASSEMBLE THE DISH YET.
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.
Preparing for Installation Setting the Elevation and Attaching the Fine Tuning Adjustment Fine Tuning Adjustment Tool Hardware Use the elevation setting coordinate you wrote down on page 8 to preset the elevation of the dish, and then attach the fine tuning adjustment tool. 1. Use a 1/4” x 1/2” carriage bolt, a washer, and a flange nut to attach the L-bracket to the elevation slot. Fine-Tuning Adjustment Bolt L-Bracket 1/4” Flat Washer 1/4” Hex Flange Nut 2.
Preparing for Installation Attaching the Mast Clamp to the DIRECTV PLUS™ Antenna 1. Insert the two 1/4” x 1 3/4” carriage bolts through the holes on the front of the dish. 2. Attach the mast clamp to the back of the dish, passing the bolts through the slots used to set the tilt. 3. Place a flat washer over each bolt and then secure the clamp using 1/4” selflocking nuts (ESNA type). Do not tighten all the way just yet.
Preparing for Installation Attaching the LNB Support Arm and Adapter 1. Attach the rectangular LNB feeder tube to the antenna socket making sure that the round hole for the spacer is positioned as shown in the diagram below. Tighten the bolt while holding the nut. LNB 1/4” x 1-1/2” Hex Head Bolt (Feed Tube Mounting) LNB adapter 1/4” Flat Washer Feeder tube 1/4” Hex Flange Nut .81 Long Spacer (Feed Tube Mounting) #8 x 1” Phillips Head Screw (LNB & Adapter Mounting) 2.
Chapter 2 Mounting the Mast Chapter Overview: • Mounting The Mast On Solid Wood Or Lap Siding • Mounting the Mast on Brick or Poured Concrete • Mounting the Mast on a Hollow or Cinder Block Wall • Mounting the DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish On A Pole 17 17
Mounting the Mast Mounting The Mast On Solid Wood Or Lap Siding Materials Needed 2 8 5/16 x 3" lag screws 5/16 x 2" lag screws Tools Needed • Electric drill with a 3/16" wood bit • Carpenter's level • 1/2" wrench • 3/8" wrench • 7/16" wrench • Pencil 10 5/16" washers 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.
Mounting the Mast Mounting Instructions 1. Locate the center of a stud where you want to mount the mast foot. Make sure you locate and secure the mounting foot to the center of a wall stud. Do not mount the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish near the edge of a stud. 2. Hold the mounting foot in a position so the center line is centered on a stud or solid wood surface. 3. If you are mounting on a sloped or vertical surface, use a level to verify that the center line is perfectly vertical. 4.
Mounting the Mast 8. Install two 5/16" x 3" lag screws into the two center holes on the mounting foot. Securely tighten the screws into the center of the wood beam. 9. Put washers on the 5/16" x 2" lag screws, insert the screws into the four outside holes and securely tighten them. 10. Go on to the next section, “Final Installation,” to complete the installation process. 5/16" x 2" Lag Screws 5/16" x 3" Lag Screws 5/16" x 2" Lag Screws Steps 8 & 9: Inserting the lag screws.
Mounting the Mast Mounting the Mast on Brick or Poured Concrete Materials Needed 8 B4015 or equivalent double expansion anchors 8 #20, 1/4 x 3" machine screws 8 5/16" Tools Needed • Electric drill with 1/2" masonry bit • Carpenter’s level • Screwdriver • Hammer • 7/16" wrench • Pencil washers 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.
Mounting the Mast 3. Mark the eight outside holes on the mounting foot. 4. Remove the foot and drill eight (8) 1/2" holes in the locations you marked using a specialty masonry drill bit. 5. Insert four (8) B4015 or equivalent double-expansion anchors. No Yes Step 7: Make sure that the top of the mast will point straight up. 6. Use a wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting foot so that you can rotate the mast to access both of the center mounting holes. 7.
Mounting the Mast Mounting the Mast on a Hollow or Cinder Block Wall Materials Needed 8 AVOID Power Lines! Tools Needed • Electric drill with 1/2" masonry bit • Carpenter's level • Screwdriver • 7/16" wrench • Pencil 1/4" hollow wall togglers 8 #20, 1/4 x 3" machine screws 8 DANGER 5/16" washers When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power circuits.
Mounting the Mast 6. Install the togglers: ;; ; ;; ; ;; ; ;; a. Carefully fold one end of the metal channel along the plastic straps. Hold the metal channel flat against the plastic straps and slide it through the hole. b. Pull the ring so the metal channel rests flush behind the wall. Hold the ring tight and slide the plastic cap along the straps until the cap is flush with the wall.
Mounting the Mast Mounting the DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish On A Pole Materials Needed • • Tools Needed (1) galvanized steel pipe • with a measured outer • diameter of 23/8" • (3) bags quick-setting • concrete Carpenter's level Screwdriver Hammer Hacksaw • Shovel or post hole digger • Pencil Important Considerations: • Do not install the pole in wet or marshy areas. • The pole must go at least 3 feet below the surface.
Mounting the Mast 2. Use a hacksaw to cut a 45 degree angle at the bottom of the pole. This will prevent the pole from rotating in the concrete over time. 3. Place the pole in the hole and use a small amount of dirt or stones to hold the pole upright. You may need to attach guy wires to help keep the pole upright. 45° cut 4. You can level the pole using the a carpenter’s level taking readings in two spots 90 degrees from each other on the sides as shown below.
Chapter 3 Final Installation Chapter Overview: • Leveling the Mast • Final DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Assembly • Routing and Grounding the Cables • Running Cable Into the House • Making the Final Connections • Acquiring and Fine Tuning the Signal 27 27
Final Installation Leveling the Mast IMPORTANT Making sure the mast is plumb and level is one of the most important steps in installation. If the mast is not plumb and level, the elevation, azimuth, and polarization settings you get from on-screen instructions will not be accurate. This makes it difficult to obtain the satellite signal(s). The mast must be even in both the side-to-side and the front-to-back directions. Sideto-side leveling determines whether the mounting foot is level.
Final Installation Leveling Front-to-Back 1. Loosen the two bolts securing the mast to the mounting foot so the mast moves freely. 2. Place a bubble level on the mast as shown in the figure. Move the mast so the bubble is centered in the level’s window. Level Not Level Level Not Level Rotate mast as needed Rotate mast as needed 3. Tighten the two bolts securing the mast to the mounting foot. Final DIRECTV PLUS™ Dish Assembly 1.
Final Installation 2. If your cables are not marked, you may want to mark each cable with masking tape so that you know which cables to attach to each LNB, and subsequently to the multiswitch. 3. Separate the messenger (ground) wire from the coaxial cables. Push only the coaxial cable through the bottom of the mast and out the top. Pull about 2 feet of cable out of the top. Loop the cable and push it through the LNB support arm as shown below. 4.
Final Installation 7. Locate the grounding hardware (one #10 hex washer head screw), and insert the bolt as shown below and attach the messenger (ground) wire to the foot of the mast (you may want to trim the extra messenger wire before attaching). You will connect the other end of that wire to the grounding block at the building entry point. Grounding Hardware Messenger (ground) wire #10 Hex Washer Head Screw (Ground Screw ) Steps 7: 9.
Final Installation Routing and Grounding the Cables CAUTION 1. It is extremely important to ground the dish AND the coaxial cables to a single point in the central building ground. A nearby lightning strike can easily damage an ungrounded dish, the receiver and your TV. Connecting both ground wires to the same point in the central building ground meets code requirements and provides the best protection for your equipment.
Final Installation Running Cable Into the House Cable Entry Overview CAUTION Before drilling, make sure there are no wires or pipes behind the wall in the area of the hole.
Final Installation Step-by-Step Instructions for Routing the Cables 1. Drill a hole in the location you want the coaxial cable to enter. 2. Place some silicone grease on the connector and connect the RG-6 coaxial cable that will extend from the grounding block to the receiver. 3. Make a 3” - 5” drip loop using cable clips at the grounding block. Step 3: Make a drip loop. Step 2: Connect RG-6 cable to grounding block.
Final Installation 7. Be sure to ground the multiswitch. 8. Use a silicone sealant to seal all outside connections and the hole you drilled for the coaxial cable to enter your house. RG-6 cables from the grounding blocks Cables for Satellite B (119°) Cables for Satellite A (101°) RG-6 cable to HDTV, set-top converter or satellite receiver Ground the multiswitcher Making the Final Connections 1.
Final Installation Acquiring and Fine Tuning the Signal Now that you have installed the DIRECTV PLUS™ satellite antenna and routed all of the cable, it’s time to acquire and fine tune the signal. Before you begin, you may want to go outside and double-check the azimuth, elevation, and tilt settings on the dish to make sure they correspond to the on-screen coordinates given. • Make sure that the elevation indicator is aligned with the edge of metal, not the washer or the bolt.
Final Installation Point center of the antenna to the exact azimuth direction according to your compass Support Sleeve Nuts a. Using a compass, point the antenna east (left) of the azimuth value for your location. b. Sweep the antenna towards west (right) and through the azimuth point by moving the dish in approximately 3 degree increments and pausing to wait for an updated value from signal meter. If the signal is found and signal meter is locked, go to step 4.
Final Installation 4. With signal meter locked and displaying a value greater than 0, adjust the azimuth until the signal meter value is maximized. Then further maximize the signal meter value by finely adjusting the elevation angle. Make a note of the elevation and the azimuth angles where signal meter was the highest. The elevation angle can be read from the scale, the azimuth angle can be noted by marking the mast and antenna bracket using a pencil, crayon, soap, etc. 5.
Chapter 4 Reference Chapter Overview: • Troubleshooting • Toll-Free Telephone Product Help • Limited Warranty • Index 39 39
Reference Troubleshooting Can’t Pick Up the Satellite Signal Most problems with signal acquisition can be traced to one of these points: improper cabling and connections or inaccurate positioning and pointing of the DIRECTV PLUS™ dish. Cabling and Connections Problems 1. Make sure you’re using the proper type of RG-6 coaxial cable to connect the LNB to the grounding block and the grounding block to the satellite receiver.
Reference Temporary Satellite Signal Loss If you lose the satellite signal temporarily, the problem can usually be traced to one of these points: 1. Rain Fade. Rain fade is a normal, temporary loss of a satellite signal due to the inability of the satellite signal to penetrate unusually heavy, rain-filled clouds, rainfall, or snowfall. Rain fade tends to be brief, lasting only as long as the heavy cloud condition persists. To minimize rain fade effects, maximize your signal strength.
Reference Toll-Free Telephone Product Help You can reach Thomson Consumer Electronics at the following number: 1-800-679-4776 (Toll free inside U.S.A.) Thomson provides a toll-free telephone number to help you with any problems you may encounter with your DIRECTV PLUS™ system, as many problems can be diagnosed over the phone. If necessary, a replacement unit can be shipped to you. Please have your DIRECTV PLUS™ system model/ serial number and date of purchase ready when you call.
Reference Limited Warranty What does your warranty cover? • Any defect in material or workmanship. For how long after your purchase? • One year. • The warranty period for rental units begins with the first rental. What will we do? • Exchange the defective portion of your antenna with a new, or at our option, a refurbished unit. How do you make a warranty claim? • Return the unit at your expense to the dealer from whom it was purchased together with proof of purchase for a replacement unit.
Reference Index A G Assembly overview 12 parts list 12 Azimuth 36 Getting a Signal 36 Grounding 31 grounding information 2 grounding points 31 Grounding Block 10 Grounding the System house entry point 32 Grounding Wire 32.
Reference M Mast Clamp attaching to the antenna 15 securing 13 Mast Foot securing 13 Messenger Wire 30 Mounting options 5 brick or poured concrete 21 hollow or cinder block wall 23 pole mount 25 Solid wood or lap siding 18 Multiswitch 34 mounting 34 N National Electrical Code (NEC) 10, 31 P Parts List (assembly) 12 Phone connection 35 Pole Mounting 25 Precise Site Survey 9 S Safety Information 2 Signal obtaining 36 strength 36 Signal meter 36 Site survey 9 Support sleeve 14 T Temporary Signal Loss 41 T
If your satellite system needs service, please contact your dealer or the nearest Servicenter from the yellow pages. Please do not send any products to the Indianapolis address listed in this manual or on the carton. This will only add delays in service for your product. 10330 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46290 ©1999 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
