Installation Manual DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna with Integrated Triple LNB and Built-in Multi-Switch ® Introduction Your DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish antenna is designed for use with up to four independently operating DIRECTV Receivers. Along with your receiver User Manual, this guide will provide the information you'll need to successfully install and operate your DIRECTV System. Throughout the manual, the DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish antenna will be referred to as the "antenna." For best results, we suggest you read carefully through these pages first before beginning installation. The guide is intended for an individual experienced in performing the various tasks described, including: · Safety Information Local building and electrical codes (NEC) require the antenna and the coaxial cables to be connected to a grounding electrode. Improper installation may seriously damage the equipment or the building, as well as cause injury or death to you. For your own safety, follow these important safety rules or contact a licensed inspector or electrician in your area for assistance: · Determining an antenna location with a good southerly view of the satellites Climbing a ladder and working on your roof Observing safe working practices around heights and electrical hazards Determining if there are water pipes, gas lines or wiring hidden near where you may drill Using a power drill to drill holes into your house Routing coaxial cable(s) through foundation, wall, under-floor, attic or interior walls Safely lifting and securing the 20-lb. antenna assembly Grounding the antenna and cable(s) as recommended in the National Electric Code (NEC)* If you will be mounting your antenna in a location where it will be difficult or dangerous to view the attached bubble level (see page 6), use a small mirror or plumbing level instead. DO NOT risk falling Perform as many functions as possible on the ground Do not install the antenna on a rainy, snowy or windy day Make sure there are no people, pets, etc. below when you are working on the roof Watch out for power lines which may be overhead, underground and/or hidden behind walls, keeping safely clear of them with ladders, antenna and tools during installation The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that a local government or homeowner's association may not prevent the installation of satellite antennas one meter or smaller in diameter, unless legitimate safety restrictions such as fire codes are in effect. Call FCC tel: (202) 418-0163; FCC Web sites at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/satellite.html or http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html for more information. · · · · · · · · · · · NOTE: If you don't feel completely comfortable with these tasks, simply contact the store where you purchased the system for information on having your system installed by a local authorized DIRECTV installer. ACTIVATION OF PROGRAMMING MAY BE SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL AND REQUIRES VALID SERVICE ADDRESS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND/OR MAJOR CREDIT CARD. DEPOSIT OR PREPAYMENT MAY BE REQUIRED. Programming subject to change. You must be physically located in the U.S. to be an authorized DIRECTV customer. DIRECTV services not provided outside the U.S. DIRECTV programming is sold separately and independently of DIRECTV System hardware. A valid programming subscription is required to operate DIRECTV System hardware. Activate your DIRECTV programming today at 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288). *NEC is published by the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts, 02269-9101 and may be available at your local public library. Your Company's Name Here DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna 1 Antenna Assembly Overview Contents of Package Dish Mounting Hardware Multi-Satellite Dish Reflector LNB Arm/Antenna Back Assembly Triple-head, Multi-Satellite LNB with built-in Multi-Switch for four Independent Outputs LNB Mounting Hardware EZALIGNTM Mast Grounding Screw 2 Tools Required 7/16" Nut Driver Steps for Installation In the following pages, you'll find step-by-step instructions for: 1 2 Determining Coordinates for Aiming Antenna ........ page 4 Finding Suitable Antenna Site ............................. page 5 Installing EZALIGNTM Mast...................................page 6 Assembling/Adjusting Antenna on Ground..............page 7 Attaching Antenna to Mast ...................................page 7 Routing RG 6 Cable(s) .........................................page 8 Grounding Cable and Antenna ..............................page 8 Attaching LNB to Antenna....................................page 9 Aiming and Fine-tuning Antenna...........................page 9 Adjustable Wrench 3 4 Screwdriver (Phillips) 5 6 7 Magnetic Compass 8 9 Electric Drill and Bit Information Also Included: Troubleshooting Check List for Initial Installation.........page 11 Loss of Signal/Rain Fade............................................page 12 Installation with Long Cable Run ................................page 12 Optional Accessories · Mast base mounting hardware (not included) Typical installation kits (sold separately) include: · RG 6 coaxial cable(s) with F connectors · Grounding hardware, grounding wire, wire clips, etc. · 6" plumbing level DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna 3 STEP 1 for Aiming Antenna Determining Coordinates ZIP Code Enter your ZIP code. OK The coordinates (Azimuth, Elevation and Tilt numbers) are based on your ZIP code and can be determined easily by using your receiver. You will need these numbers for site survey and antenna adjustments. Clear 99993 268 Azimuth: 152 Elevation: 50 Tilt: 102 NOTE: The antenna does not need to be installed for this step. Connect your receiver to the TV Consulting your receiver manual, connect the receiver's video or Channel 3/4 outputs to the corresponding TV input. Turn on the TV and the receiver. Set the antenna type Navigate to the antenna installation screen menu. Select installation as an "oval 3-sat" (some receiver brands may call it: "triple", "3 sat location", "Sat 1,2,3" or "Sat A,B,C"). Find your coordinates Navigate to the antenna-pointing menu screen. Enter your ZIP code, then write down the numbers in space provided below. Depending on your receiver model, your display may look different from shown. In this example, a Southern California ZIP code "92683" is entered and receiver outputs: · Azimuth: 152 · Elevation: 50 · Tilt: 102 Azimuth (horizontal, side-side) -------------------- Your Azimuth Elevation (vertical, up/down) -------------------- Your Elevation Tilt (dish reflector rotation) -------------------- Your Tilt 4 STEP 2 Antenna Site Finding Suitable If you live on the West Coast, the satellites will be to the south-southeast. If you live on the East Coast, the satellites will be to the southwest. A suitable antenna site requires an unobstructed view of the southern sky, a stable antenna mounting surface, a distance of 100-ft or less for RG 6 cable from your antenna to your receiver, and grounding nearby. NOTE: It's important to estimate the cable length at this point. The DIRECTV satellites are located in the southern sky above the Equator. The location for your antenna must have elevation-angle clearance (above the horizon) and 18° span clearance (from 101° to 119°) for an unobstructed view to all three satellite locations. Northern border states have elevation readings toward 30° and southern border states toward 60°. NOTE: If you are replacing an 18" dish with a new Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna, be sure to check for the required 18º clearance. If you do not have the required clearance, you should use a different location. Sat C, 110° with Converted Transponders # 8, #10, #12 Sat B, 119° with Transponders # 22 to # 32 Sat A, 101° with Transponders # 1 to # 32 No trees, leaves, buildings can be in the line-of-sight between antenna and satellites. Due to the many configurations possible, mast-mounting hardware is not included. Be sure you have the necessary mounting hardware before you begin. Optional mounting kits are available at your local electronics store. Below are potential mounting sites. Stucco Exterior Wall Wooden Rail Chimney Ground DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna 5 View of bubble level on top of mast Wrong STEP 3 Installing EZALIGN TM Mast Right Now, you're ready to install the antenna mast at the location you've chosen in Step 2 and align it to be plumb (perfectly straight up). Plumbing the mast is critical for the Multi-Satellite Dish antenna to receive optimal signals, and failure to align it properly will result in difficulty acquiring signals as well as a greater tendency for signal outages in adverse weather. Mount the base securely The mast base must be sturdy so antenna does not shift under various weather conditions and its own weight. Mounting is preferable on wood or masonry. Unsuitable sites may be handrail, aluminum or vinyl siding, composite paneling, and fiber/particle/strand boards. CAUTION! When installing mast base, avoid placing finger between mast bottom and base to prevent being pinched or cut. Align the mast · The EZALIGN Mast pivots up and down, and from side to side. A bubble level is located in the top of the mast to assist in alignment. · Side view of bubble level in the mast Wrong Wrong Right Make sure the bubble level frame in the mast is seated properly by pressing down flat on it so the lip of the frame sits snugly on the top edge of the mast. Looking down into mast The patented mast has two slots at the the bottom that allow it to move up and down and side to side. This aids the centering the bubble level even when the mast base is mounted on an uneven surface. Loosen the four mast bolts slightly. Then move the mast up/down or twist side-to-side until the bubble in the bubble level is centered as shown at left. CAUTION! If the mast is mounted in a location where it is difficult or dangerous to view the bubble level, use a small mirror or plumbing level instead. DO NOT reach out and risk falling from roof or other high place. Tighten mast bolts When mast is straight up (plumbed), and while still keeping hold of the mast, tighten the four bolts with a 7/16" nut driver with your other hand. Make sure bolts are secure. You may want to tighten further with an adjustable wrench. Tighten Mast Bolts (two on each side) Up and Down Movement Side to Side Movement 6 STEP Assembling/Adjusting 4 Antenna on Ground Dish attaching to the LNB Arm/Antenna Back Assembly On even ground, attach dish to the LNB Arm/Antenna Back Assembly as shown. Leave off the Triple-head LNB until the antenna is mounted on the mast and you've routed cable through the LNB Arm. Set Tilt Adjustment · At the back of the antenna assembly, loosen the Tilt nuts and then set the Tilt adjustment according to the coordinate number you obtained in Step 1. · Tighten the Tilt nuts. Do not change the Tilt adjustment again from this point on (even if you could not find the satellite signal during alignment). Unlike the Elevation and Azimuth coordinates, there is no need to fine-tune Tilt; doing so may cause alignment difficulty. For some of the Eastern Seaboard states, however, there maybe an exception: see Step 9, note #2, on page 10. In this example we have for Southern California (ZIP code 92683), the Tilt setting is 102°. 70 60 50 80 90 100 110 120 13 0 14 0 Tilt Nuts (one shown) · Set Elevation Adjustment At the side of the antenna assembly, loosen the two Elevation nuts (one on each side) and preliminarily set the Elevation adjustment, per the coordinate number obtained in Step 1. Tighten the Elevation nuts, but not completely. This is a preliminary adjustment, which you may have to fine-tune later on. 40 · In this example we show for Southern California (ZIP code 92683), the Elevation setting is 50° (use the position of the metal edge to the Elevation scale; do not use the washer or the bolt as reference). Metal edge at 50° STEP 5 Attaching Antenna to Mast Elevation Nuts, one on each side · Slide the back of the antenna assembly onto the top of the mast until it stops at the pivot bolt. If necessary, slightly loosen the two Azimuth/Mast clamp bolts and pivot bolt so the antenna will go on to the mast. Tighten the two Azimuth/Mast clamp bolts and the pivot bolt just enough so the antenna has only side-to-side movement (rotational swing around the mast) for later Azimuth alignment in Step 9. 20 Azimuth/ Mast Clamp Bolts · 30 40 50 60 Pivot Bolt DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna 7 STEP 6 Routing RG 6 Cable(s) Cable Grounding Block To Receiver You'll route RG 6 cable from your receiver to the cable grounding block, then from the grounding block to the triple-head LNB. Before starting, inspect the inside of each cable connector for foreign materials and/or short. Make sure that the copper center conductor is st ...