Horrible Installation...

[CobraGuy]

I've been a long time "lurker" of this forum. I've been amazed at he quality of many of the posts by knowledgable techs and subscribers. This is my first post and I would like to say hello to everyone!

Here's the reason for my first post. I have been with D* since it's infancy. Many years ago, my local cable company and I got into a heated battle over legal access through my property and I threw them out (they lost!)...and unfortunately, a couple of my neighbors...but that's another story. I just upgraded to HD from D* a couple of weeks ago and I need to redo the satellite installation. The guy wouldn't put it where I wanted it and he didn't aim it with a meter. He used the signal meters on the TV. Plus, he spliced into the old cables from my old dish...and there isn't a bit of writing on them so we don't know what they even are! Plus, there isn't one single ground connection anywhere. Not a one. When I called the rep that sold me the upgrade and I told him about it, he said he's sending him right back out to fix it. I said don't bother...he already screwed it up...why would I want him back to do THAT again? So I'll install it myself. I'm perfectly capable of this. So here's what I want to do...and the associated questions I have:

(1) I want to use a pole mount. I have a block wall I could mount it to, but I'd rather not put it there if possilble. The dish will need to be mounted appx 6' above ground...so I'm looking at about a 9' pole. No problem...I've found 10 footers. But for the life of me, I CANNOT find a pole with a 2" diameter! The closest I get is 1 7/8 galvenized fence post. I also don't think that's heavy enough for that high a mount. So I'm thinking of using black iron pipe that is VERY thick...but 2 3/8 diameter. I can also find the same pipe in galvanized. That should be plenty heavy. I will take a piece of 12" X 12" plate and use U bolts (could even weld it) to fasten the plate to the pole and mount the dish to the plate. Anyone see an issue with that scenario?

(2) I am going to run all new cable to my HR-20. It was suggested to use RG6 Quad over the regular RG6. Since I need to get the connectors anyway, I can get either for about the same investment. Is the quad shield the way to go?

(3) I will be installing the proper grounds. The dish will be grounded to earth through the pole mount, PLUS grounded to the house ground. I will also intall a grounding block for the cables prior to entry into the house, and this block will also be grounded to the house ground. Total distance of cables from dish to receiver will only be about 15 feet from where I want to mount it. Does this sound right to you guys for grounding?

(4) Lastly, and this may be directed more towards the installers, but I'm going to buy a signal meter. I have no issues paying premium price for premium tools...and my shop reflects that. I paid thousands for a Fluke O scope that I only use every few months...but it was money well spent as it's one of the best when I do need it. (come to think of it, I'll bet I could use that for a signal meter!) Anyway, I'm looking at the Acutrac 3 and the latest Birdog. The Birdog has some nice features, but the Acutrac 3 really looks user friendly and should do the job quite nicely without the extra cost and complexity of the Birdog. Does that sound about right to you guys?

Oh yes...I have a Slimline AU9 for a dish.

Thank you all for your time responding! It's greatly appreciated.

[HDTVsportsfan]

:welcome_s

WOW...Heck of a first post.

Well....I found 2" OD pipe from a local contractor that installs sprinkler systems. It works for me. Very thick and very strong. I'm not sure why you'd want to attach a 12"x12" plate. You can just remove the mast that comes w/ the AU9 and mount the dish right on top of the pole. Adjusting azimuth would be alot easier IMO. But hey, if it works for you, knock yourself out.

If you have a choice, i'd go with RG6 Quad. Kinda along the lines of your choice of tool.

Grounding....sounds like a good plan, but my grounding knowledge is limited. Do a search. Coffey77 found a good link for grounding.

I'm not an installer, but i think the AccuTrac would be just fine. Many members here have purchased them and seem to have had good luck w/ them.

Good luck and lt us know how it goes.

[Mike500]

Use a heavy duty schedule 40 1-1/4" nominal pipe or ridgid conduit. It's outer diameter is 1-5/8" They are readily available at Home Depot or Lowe's.

Then, get this adapter set that I saw on eBay, which makes the top of the pole exactly two inches.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMESO%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150114841600&rd=1&rd=1

If you ever switch to Dish Network, the 1-5/8 diameter will work with the Dish 1000.2.

[Mertzen]

2} No real need for quad shield really, especially since you indicated that your runs will be short.

3} Unless the pole goes 8ft into the ground it still would not be a NEC approved ground.

4} I love my accutrac. But the birdog is the best.

[carl6]

Quad shield is only needed if you are in a strong rf environment (near a tv or radio transmitter, something along those lines). It won't hurt to use it, but may not provide any benefit either. Having said that, I used all quad shield.

Find a 2" OD pole, don't use an adapter.

If the only thing you are going to do with your signal meter is install and maintain your own dish, the Accutrac will work just fine. I've got a 22 Pro. If I had lot's of money I didn't need, I would get a high end wide band service monitor that included spectrum analyzer capability, but that's well beyond what even most installers or tech's need, besides the fact that it's of no use if you don't know how to use it.

Carl

[joesigg]

Why pay all the money for poles and cable and meters. If you paid for the installation, make them do it right!

[HDTVsportsfan]

Sometimes it just easier and money well spent. I can understand where he's coming from. He may be "letting them off the hook", but again in the long run it could very well be best in the long run.

[CobraGuy]

Unless the pole goes 8ft into the ground it still would not be a NEC approved ground.



Right. But I'm going to run a ground wire from the pole to the house ground. That should make it compliant.


Sometimes it just easier and money well spent. I can understand where he's coming from. He may be "letting them off the hook", but again in the long run it could very well be best in the long run.

Exactly. I would rather do it myself and have it done right than have them come back and do another half a**** job. Besides, if they come back, it would be on their nickel and you can bet they wouldn't be happy about it.



Quad shield is only needed if you are in a strong rf environment (near a tv or radio transmitter, something along those lines). It won't hurt to use it, but may not provide any benefit either. Having said that, I used all quad shield.

I ordered the quad cable. What the heck...price is about the same and you get better protection. You never know who's going to install something that can cause interference in the future.

Well....I found 2" OD pipe from a local contractor that installs sprinkler systems. It works for me. Very thick and very strong. I'm not sure why you'd want to attach a 12"x12" plate.

All I've found so far is a 2" fence post. That would work, but it's not the most sturdy pipe I've seen. I'm going to go ahead and buy the larger, MUCH thicker pipe from Lowe's and use the plate. What I will do with the 12" by 12" plate is drill the holes to mount the AU9 wall plate to. Then I will mount the plate to the pole either with a couple of heavy duty U bolts or I'll weld it. Then I just bolt the dish to the plate. That really works well for me as the arm of the dish will bring the dish out a ways and I can dig the pole closer to the house and out of the way.

If you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears! You have all been great!