AT9 on Metal Roof

[rolo]

I have done several AT9 Dishes and had much difficulty. Recently, I mounted one on a wall outside a house and got 101 and 110 at like 81% on 110 and 101 but no 119 - at all... only one transponder on 119 would jump like 23,31, 16, 0,14,26,0,31...ridiculous and random. i moved the dish out onto the roof (at a lower level) which is metal. Now, pointed in the total wrong direction, 101 gets like 80% on even transponders....wierd....

Anyway, does it matter that the roof is metal??? I am a home theater company installer not a full time satellite pro and this has been a nightmare for me..please help...

[boba]

I hope you are insured for roof leaks.

[MIMOTech]

I have done several AT9 Dishes and had much difficulty. Recently, I mounted one on a wall outside a house and got 101 and 110 at like 81% on 110 and 101 but no 119 - at all... only one transponder on 119 would jump like 23,31, 16, 0,14,26,0,31...ridiculous and random. i moved the dish out onto the roof (at a lower level) which is metal. Now, pointed in the total wrong direction, 101 gets like 80% on even transponders....wierd....

Anyway, does it matter that the roof is metal??? I am a home theater company installer not a full time satellite pro and this has been a nightmare for me..please help...


No, Metal roof should not bother your installation. That be said, the AT9 requires precise aiming. First step is to make sure you have a window to the sky that can see from 99 to 119 sat positions. You can go the direcTV web page and put in the zip and the sat location IE. 101 and it will give you the azmuth for that sat do that for each sat location. Take a compase and look closely also you will need the elevation. Once your are sure of the placement then it is time to mount the dish support. This must be done accuratley also, must be exatcly vertical. Follow the instructions closely. Once you mount the dish, leave everything loose enough. again the intructions with the antenna are clear on this. First is to aim for the 101 sat. Adjust elevation and azmuth. A good meter is a must for this part. I use an Accutrac 3. There are two ways to get the LNB active for this measurement. The meter can do it directly or it must be done from the receiver. In the receiver go to the antenna sectiond and select the 101 sat and a transponder. Now you can adjust for the 101 sat. Tighten the azmuth bolts and elevation bolts. Once your have done the 101 you now set up the meter or the receiver for 119. This time you will adjust the tilt fot max singnal on the 119 sat. Loosen the tilt bolts, there are three, jsut loos enough to move the dish. Once you have this done. You can now fine tune the antenna to bring the 99 and 103 into tune. This is done with the fine adjust screws. You will now set up the meter for the 99 sat. adjust the fine screws both azmuth and elevation untill you have maxed the 99 sat. this is a very fine adjumet. There is a methode taught to the installers that works and is in the install manual, but with the Accutrac 3 it can be done simpler and faster by maximizing the signals. Once you are satisfied witht he adjustment. Lock down all the bolts. Check signal on the receiver and you are done. It is acutally easy with the right equipement, such as an Accutrac 3 meter. You just have to it step by step, very important.

P

[rolo]

Why would the directv dealer support guy tell me that mounting on a metal roof is a "big no-no"?

The metal doesnt cause an interference like it will with an OTA antenna?

Thanks

Rolo