Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 66

Self Install for Elliptical Dish

Im thinking about doing the install myself of a 18"x20" Elliptical dish to save myself some money on the total cost of a DirecTV package I was just offered. What is involved with this?

Some more details are as follows:

The dish will most likely be on the roof or side of the house. I have a central wiring closet in the house where all the cable lines, phone, and network lines come in. The lines from the Dish would need to go to here and interface with the existing wiring thru a multiswitch supplied by the installation kit im assuming.

What do you think? Should I just pay the total cost and get free install or should I save $100 and try and do it myself?

Thanks

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 938

If you are confident in your ability to bolt and tack things to the house, read a compass, strip, crimp and hook up some coax -- then go for it... Odds are you'll do a better than the average "pro" job.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 7476

If at all possible, avoid a roof mount. A side-of-house mount is better.

The only thing different about an elliptical dish is that there is a "skew" setting which you must deal with. Typically, though, this consists of reading the suggested setting off of the setup screen, adjusting the dish while it's on the ground, and forgetting about it.

Once you have the 101 satellite zeroed in, you may want to go back and tweak the skew setting to see if you can improve the 119 reception, but this is rarely necessary.

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Steve

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 2

I just got finished installing the 18x20 dish and everything went very smooth. The instructions that come with the self installation kit and the dish are very good. If your comfortable doing this kind of work then you should be fine. But by the time you purchase the installastion kit, extra cable, tools, etc. you may be spending close to $100.

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Registered: Oct 2002
Location: California
Posts: 53

I'm also thinking of taking the do-it-yourself approach. (I've read the FAQ about multiswitches and I'm still undecided about how much to spend on one, but that's another post. I am always interested in member's opinions, though.)

My local satellite store tells me they carry a KTI elliptical dish for $120 and an RCA elliptical dish for $150. Does the dish manufacturer make any difference? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 2

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrical1
My local satellite store tells me they carry a KTI elliptical dish for $120 and an RCA elliptical dish for $150. Does the dish manufacturer make any difference? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

quote:

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Originally posted by Sandtigrr
What do you think? Should I just pay the total cost and get free install or should I save $100 and try and do it myself?

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Gregd33.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Naperville, IL, USA
Posts: 261

quote:

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Originally posted by kerver
I bought my dish from Best Buy for $99.

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e...=1761&scat=1764

Most of these dishes are the same, the only difference being the name slapped on the front.

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 938

Check out other threads that tell you how to get the multi-sat dish directly from DirecTV for cheap. <$50.

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 2

quote:

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Originally posted by kdelande
Are the specs on that thing right? Is it really only 18x20? I thought mutli-sat dishes were 18x24? If that model works as well as an 18x24, I might just get that one as my wife is not too keen on my replacing our 18in dish with an even bigger one. So this might offset her problem with it.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Naperville, IL, USA
Posts: 261

quote:

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Originally posted by Bob TeaTow
Check out other threads that tell you how to get the multi-sat dish directly from DirecTV for cheap. <$50.

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Registered: Oct 2002
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 0

I just (last weekend) finished an 18x20 elliptical dish install. It was easier then I expected. Make sure you get the mast completely plumb (use the level in the top of the mast) otherwise the elevation, etc readings wont be accurate.

I got the elevation, azmuth, and tilt readings from the RCA website. I am not sure the address but if you search for elliptical dish pointing you should be able to find it. I pre-set the tilt and elevation before I put it on the mast. Do not go by the DirecTivo dish pointing cordinates, they are wrong.

The biggest thing I could recommend is a signal strength tester. I got a winegard one at my local RV store for $25. This gives you instant readings, unlike the DirecTIVO receiver. I had roughly pointed my dish in about 30 seconds. I fine tuned all three with a friend watching the TV while I was on my cell phone. Worked great, easier then I expected.

Jeff

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Registered: Oct 2002
Location: CT
Posts: 0

I was all set to order DirecTV yesterday but the DirecTV Customer Service representative told me that I would be sold the 18x24 dish and not the newer 18x20 with my package. Additionally, they would not sell me the service without "professional installation". I said no thanks. Has anyone else run into this? Any ideas?

Thanks.

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Registered: Nov 2002
Location: Carson City, NV
Posts: 2

quote:

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Originally posted by Notworking
I was all set to order DirecTV yesterday but the DirecTV Customer Service representative told me that I would be sold the 18x24 dish and not the newer 18x20 with my package. Additionally, they would not sell me the service without "professional installation". I said no thanks. Has anyone else run into this? Any ideas?

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 7476

I have the KTI 18x24 dish - it's fine. Note that it has an integrated 4-output multiswitch. The 18x24 takes the third LNB - I have one.

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Steve

One thousand three hundred thirty-three, zero

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 66

Thanks for all your input guys. I went ahead and got installation included becuase I didn't want to spend a couple of hours fighting thru the walls etc with limited tools.

I did get a little better deal tho thru NOW! Audio Video on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh NC.

The Deal

1 HDVR2 Hughes DirecTivo Series 2
1 GAEBO Hughes Reciever
1 TREK TRK-23 18" x 23" Dish (Includes a 5x4 multiswitch)

All for $310 which includes Installation as well as $20.29 tax.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Richardson, TX, USA
Posts: 119

I know you already made your decision, but for those who's thinking of doing on their own....

It's actually easier to get the signals if you have a DirecTivo. When aiming the dish, first skip the multiplexor and have one cable from each LNB to go directly to each of the DirecTivo SAT input.

Next, set your DirecTivo to dual, and go to the signal strength screen. This way, you can actually see the strength of both Sat and adjust accordingly.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 3135

dtle,
that's good advice, but you should add that you must set the transponder on the DirecTivo to one that is available from both satellites.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 7658

Just chipping in, saw one note about not mounting the dish on the roof. If you have eves that extend beyond the walls, that is an excellent place to mount on the roof. Mounting screws penetrate where, if there is a leak, it goes nowhere. You can add 2x2 or 2x4 blocks to screw into for an even more secure mount.

I know the original poster ended up buying an install, but for anyone else reading, contemplating a self install, I'd say go for it.

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