Winter AT9 Installation

[Harleyguy]

I recently got the new H20 HD reciever from BB with the $100 rebate, However I may return it to BB. After reading some horror stories regarding installers and learning about how much more complicated installation of the AT-9 dish is, I'm concerned about getting a AT-9 Dish mounted and calibrated properly in the winter time( Jan or Feb N.E. Ohio). My installation is going to be on my detached garage, roof (very low pitch) about 50' from the house as is my current single lnb dish. (which I put in myself) Since this installation will require a lengthy overhead run of cable(s) (75' to 80') to the eave of the overhang of the house so as to maintain adaquate overhead clearance in the rear driveway I have reservations that the installers will be more concerned about getting in out of the cold than doing a professional installation. I was contemplating running the cable(s) myself and installing a antenna tripod on the garage roof to make the installation easier on the installer in very cold weather. Or should I just wait till next spring and have it done. I also have a concern about reception because of a large tree just to the southwest of my property that is just on the fringe of the co-orodinates for the new dish. I am getting excellent reception from my current single LNB dish. I also get excellent reception of my local (around 12 )HD channels using my 30 year old outside antenna.So it's not like I have no HD viewing on my New sony KDL-40V2500 HD lcd TV and it would'nt bother me too much to wait for warm weather to insure a proper installation. Or I could get a signal meter on ebay use it to install the dish myself and then resell it on ebay.Any thoughts or opionions?? Thanks!

[Beck38]

Originally Posted by Harleyguy

Since this installation will require a lengthy overhead run of cable(s) (75' to 80') to the eave

Right away, this is what caught my eye; very wrong, huge potential for code voilation unless you put lightning arresters at both ends of that run. The more obvious thing, is to bury the run, and easily done with buriable RG6 coaxial (only costs a bit more than standard quad-shielded stuff), and you'd have to run a 'messenger' line to hold up the run anyway (standard coaxial doesn't have the strength to stand up to winds and snow loads, possibly even it's own weight; didn't think of that, right?).

I'm not or have ever been a telco or electric 'lineman', but I do know the basics.

I have two neighbors with DirecTV 18" dishes on their 'detached' garages as well, and ran the coaxial buried. They haven't decided to get the 5LNB dish yet, waiting for more HD locals before they do so (I'm the neighborhood 'test subject'! ).

You're probably right about reception, since with the 3LNB or 5LNB, you only need a 'look angle' between 99-119degs, very narrow. The AT9 dish is a bit touchy to install yourself, I haven't read here or elsewhere of someone doing it themselves, particularly without a standalone meter like the installers have (but you can buy those).

[lwilli201]

Sounds that you will have a problem with that tree. The setup azimath basically points the dish to the 101 sat. The center, large LNB is for 99, 101 and 103. The two on the side are for the 110 and 119 sats that are farther to the west, therefore if the tree is a little west of the current direction of your single LNB dish then you may have problems getting the 110 and 119 sats. Those are the sats with the HD package channels. It should not affect reception of locals over D* because they are on 99 or 103. Another thing to consider is that the 110 and 119 sats are lower to the horizon than the other sats.

[Beck38]

If you have a simple meter already (not one of the new types out for the AT9) you can use your 18" dish to sight in the 110/119 sats, and confirm for yourself that it either works or doesn't. You could also try if you don't have one, but mark your settings for the 101 BEFORE you go messing around, so you can get back to the orignal settings.

Have Fun!

[Jimbos]

I would tell the installer to get the job done, they work in the cold, I work in the cold, that shouild not be an issue.
I would bury the RG-6 line ahead of time though.
Remember to run enough line to accomadate future receivers/ DVR's.

Let D* do it, it should be free anyway.
As for OHIO it's not like it's the North Pole

Jimbo

[Harleyguy]

Thanks Beck38 for responding.
My current dish is an overhead cable installation.I'm familiar with the "messenger required for overhead and I made sure my current satellite cable setup included the messenger for strength. the setup is properly grounded as will be the new run. I have done a number of projects that have to do with electical, grounding,etc and always do my homework regarding safety codes,etc. Underground would be great except I would have to hire someone to "burrow" under the concrete driveway (about 9' or so) to get to the house, and then drill through the foundation, a pricey alternative. Also the best place to an underground is right along my fence and I'm planning on replacing the fence in the not to distance future which would create havoc with an under ground cable. I patterned my orginal satellite overhead after the cable tv cable installation and have had no problems in over 10 years. The way I figure is that if cable tv and phone cables can be run over head to the house then it would be a right to do that with my satellite cable.


As far as a meter is concerned, my orginal single lnb was very simple to "dial in" I used the satellite signal strength screen on the tv to make the adjustments needed to obtain a good signal. (had a small tv on a card table down on the driveway and ran a cable from the dish to my little "makeshift signal strength meter")
Crude, but it worked. Obviously the new setup will require something a little more advanced.(maybe a bigger tv .) I would much rather have the proffesionals install the dish. Since some of these installers balk at anything more than a very simple install I may end up doing it myself. Not Fun.

Thanks Iwilli201 for responding
Yeah that tree may be a problem. I used a high quality compass with a sight lens in it and made a crude Compass / Clinometer to try see if things were going to line up. It's close. It would be nice to have a pro Compass / Clinometer to quickly and accurately determine if things are going to line up. these "pro" Compass / Clinometers are around $150 and up so I think I'll pass on that one. If the Satellite dosen't work out there is always cable.

[Jimbos]

Originally Posted by Harleyguy

Thanks Beck38 for responding.
My current dish is an overhead cable installation.I'm familiar with the "messenger required for overhead and I made sure my current satellite cable setup included the messenger for strength. the setup is properly grounded as will be the new run. I have done a number of projects that have to do with electical, grounding,etc and always do my homework regarding safety codes,etc. Underground would be great except I would have to hire someone to "burrow" under the concrete driveway (about 9' or so) to get to the house, and then drill through the foundation, a pricey alternative. Also the best place to an underground is right along my fence and I'm planning on replacing the fence in the not to distance future which would create havoc with an under ground cable. I patterned my orginal satellite overhead after the cable tv cable installation and have had no problems in over 10 years. The way I figure is that if cable tv and phone cables can be run over head to the house then it would be a right to do that with my satellite cable.


As far as a meter is concerned, my orginal single lnb was very simple to "dial in" I used the satellite signal strength screen on the tv to make the adjustments needed to obtain a good signal. (had a small tv on a card table down on the driveway and ran a cable from the dish to my little "makeshift signal strength meter")
Crude, but it worked. Obviously the new setup will require something a little more advanced.(maybe a bigger tv .) I would much rather have the proffesionals install the dish. Since some of these installers balk at anything more than a very simple install I may end up doing it myself. Not Fun.

Thanks Iwilli201 for responding
Yeah that tree may be a problem. I used a high quality compass with a sight lens in it and made a crude Compass / Clinometer to try see if things were going to line up. It's close. It would be nice to have a pro Compass / Clinometer to quickly and accurately determine if things are going to line up. these "pro" Compass / Clinometers are around $150 and up so I think I'll pass on that one. If the Satellite dosen't work out there is always cable.

Chances are the installer will just eyeball the sight issue and give it a try ....
Not ALL installers are lazy and unreliable, mine was very good setting everything up, but he knew that I knew what I was doing as well.
He explained everything to me as we went, there were a few things I showed him with the HR20-700 but I'm on here talking with people and sharing info all the time, and it was brand new when I got mine

Jimbo

[lwilli201]

One more thing Harleyguy. I can tell you from experience that you can get a signal in the winter, but when the leaves come out on a tree, you could loose your signal. When I replaced my 3 LNB for the AT9 there were not leaves on the tree in my back yard. When the leaves came out my signal from the 110 and 119 sats went away. My dish is pole mounted and the intruding limb was the closest one to the ground, that supprised me. The tree needed trimming up anyway so I have the offending limb lobbed off. Good luck.

[Harleyguy]

Originally Posted by Jimbos

Chances are the installer will just eyeball the sight issue and give it a try ....

True, an experienced installer can probably eyeball it and know if it's likely to clear the tree.

[Harleyguy]

Originally Posted by lwilli201

One more thing Harleyguy. I can tell you from experience that you can get a signal in the winter, but when the leaves come out on a tree, you could loose your signal.

I was considering that too.
A nice strong wind may blow down that big ole tree, of course with my luck it would blow down on my house.lol