How to Hook Up Satellite TV to a Pre-Wired RV

satellite tv dish image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com

Traveling in an RV can be a wonderful way to go to distant locations and feel like you still have all the comforts of home. Once you are at your intended destination, there are a lot of things that need to be set up such as electricity, water and sewer. If you are planning to stay a while, you might also want to set up other things such as phone service or TV. If you use a satellite service, there are a few things you will need to do in order to get the TV up and running. It isn't a difficult process, but will require a little concentration.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Extra cable depending on setup

Step 1

Put up the satellite dish mount. This will depend on which type you have. A roof mount will require you to climb up, lift the mount up and tighten the bolts that hold it upright. A ground mount is similar to a tripod. You will need to open it up and push the braces down in between the legs to lock them in place. If it comes with a ground anchor, screw that in to the ground so that the wind won't blow the dish over.

Step 2

Slip the dish on to the mount pole and turn the bolts to tighten the dish in place.

Step 3

Screw the cable into the dish. With a ground stand you will need an extra long cable to reach the dish. This will give you the ability to move the dish further away if needed to get a signal.

Step 4

Aim the dish to the southeast. Most systems need this direction to get a signal.

Step 5

Go inside and turn on the system. Open the menu on the screen and go to the area about aiming the satellite.

Step 6

Enter your zip code, the one where you currently are, and wait for directions. You will get a angle of elevation and a degree of direction. The angle is anywhere from 0 to 90 with 0 being horizontal to the ground and 90 being vertical. The degrees of direction are based on 0 being north, 90 being east, 180 being south and 270 being west.

Step 7

Adjust the dish small amounts at a time and check the signal inside. Keep going until you get a signal of at least 90 percent.

Article Written By Tara Dooley

Tara Dooley has written for various websites since 2008. She has worked as an accountant, after-school director and retail manager in various locations. Dooley holds a Bachelor of Science in business management and finance.

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