How to Wire a Satellite Dish

Posted by Anonymous , 9/5/2007 Tags:WireSatelliteDish
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How to Wire a Satellite Dish

Introduction

Luckily, the wiring for a satellite dish isn't very complex, although it does require some basic electrical skills and knowledge. You can skip a hefty installation fee if you wire a satellite dish yourself. Here's how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Steps

1

Step One

Talk to your satellite provider to find out the exact location of your satellite dish. These dishes are almost always installed on the southern side of the roof, but the position varies depending on buildings and trees that may be in the way.
2

Step Two

Decide where the satellite television signal will be received inside your home. You can route most dishes to several televisions, but knowing where the TVs will be before drywall goes up makes it easier to wire a satellite dish.
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Step Three

Run RG-6 coaxial cables from one main hub in the southern corner of your attic or top floor through the walls to the future locations of the TVs. Satellite cables cannot go through splitters, so each TV needs its own cable running up to the entry point.
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Step Four

Drill small holes in the ceiling and run cables along the top of the wall if your home is already finished. Cables can be painted over and hidden behind furniture, which is cheaper than tearing up the wall and refinishing it after the satellite-wire installation.
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Step Five

Install a 110-volt outlet near the central location of your satellite wires. Almost all dishes will require power from an outlet. You don't need to worry about the telephone line's proximity to the coaxial cables: Interference won't be an issue since the cables all run to the dish.
6

Step Six

Contact your satellite television provider once you've finished setting up the wires. A professional will still have to install the dish and connect it to the cables you just wired.

Tips & Warnings

  • You may have to run a telephone line up to the point of entry of your satellite dish. The need for this line depends more on the type of service you're getting than which satellite dish you buy.
  • You need to add two additional RG-6 wires if you are planning to use the satellite for an Internet connection.
  • Unless you own and install the satellite dish yourself, it can be difficult to tell if your wiring job worked. The provider will probably charge you if they need to troubleshoot your wiring job.
  • Follow the wiring plan of your house so you don't wire your satellite dish too close to other home wires, creating interference on both devices.

Overall Things You'll Need

  • RG-6 coaxial cables, up to 150 feet in length
  • Power drill
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