Setup and Coordinates

• 1). Connect your DirecTV receiver to a television. It can be connected with coaxial cables (which have a screw and a pin) or colour-coded composite cables.
  
  
• 2). Plug in and turn on both the receiver and television. Choose the input on the TV that matches the input jacks to which the receiver is connected.
  
  
• 3). Select the type of dish you have, from the list of options that will be visible on your TV screen.
  
  
• 4). Enter the zip code for the dish location. The resulting screen will give you figures for tilt, azimuth and elevation. You will need these to point your antenna properly, so write them down.
  
  
• 5). Turn off and unplug the receiver and television.
  
  

Installing Your Dish

• 1). Find a site. You will need a spot that has a clear view of the southern sky and is within 100 cable-feet of your receiver. If you are in the Western U.S., you will need to point your antenna to the south-southeast. If you are in the Eastern U.S., point it to the south-southwest. If you live in the Midwest, you should be able to point it directly south. Try to choose a site that is easily accessible, since you will need to do some work after installing the dish.
  
  
• 2). Purchase and install the appropriate mounting hardware. This will differ depending on whether it is a wall, roof or chimney location. You will need to drill into the location and place bolts into the drilled holes, then attach the mounting bracket with bolts and strong nuts.
  
  
• 3). Install the antenna mast. It will bolt to the mounting hardware you purchased. The mast must be installed level and has a built-in bubble level to allow you to check this. Ensure that it is perfectly level before tightening the bolts that hold it to the mount.
  
  
• 4). Assemble the antenna. You can do much of this on the ground. Use a wrench and the bolts provided to connect the dish, arm and the tilt assembly. Tilt is the least exact of the three numbers given to you by the setup screen of your receiver, so you may set the tilt tightly before installing the dish. Leave the adjustment bolts for azimuth and elevation loose enough to adjust.
  
  
• 5). Climb up to your mounting mast with the assembled dish and place it on the pivot bolt. Tighten down the mast clamps with a wrench, but leave enough looseness to allow for side-to-side adjustment in the position of the dish.
  
  
• 6). Ground your dish. This must be done before working with any of the electronic components, as it prevents damage from electrical storms or static from traveling down the cables. Attach the grounding block that came with the kit to a cold-water pipe entering your house. Connect the block to the dish with bare copper grounding wire.
  
  
• 7). Attach the receiver assembly to your dish. Using the included bolts and a wrench, connect it to the end of the receiver arm.
  
  
• 8). Connect a coaxial cable to the receiver assembly. Run it down the dish and mount, and down the wall to an entry point near your receiver box. If necessary, drill through the wall to make an entry, then pull the cable through and connect it to your receiver box.
  
  
• 9). Fine-tune your dish's aim. To do this, turn on the receiver and TV. There is an on-screen signal meter on the main screen. Select it, than have a partner yell or phone adjustments to you as you move the dish very gently on its mount. When the signal strength is at maximum, tighten all the bolts on the tilt assembly and climb down carefully. Your DirecTV system is now installed.