RCA Satellite TV System Satellite System User Guide

INSTALLER  
GUIDE  
SATELLITE SYSTEM  
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Ta b l e o f Co n t e n t s  
First Things First .............................................................. 3  
An Introduction ................................................................................ 3  
Installation Overview ....................................................................... 4  
The First Big Question: Should I Do This Myself? ........................... 5  
Second Big Question: Do I Have a Clear Line of Sight  
to the Satellite? ................................................................................ 5  
Unpack and Take Inventory ............................................................. 7  
Start Putting The Dish Together ...................................................... 8  
Some Indoor Stuff ........................................................... 9  
Whats To Do Indoors? ..................................................................... 9  
Connecting the DSS® Receiver ....................................................... 10  
Choosing a Connection .................................................................. 11  
Using S-Video to Connect the DSS® Receiver, TV, and VCR ........ 12  
Using A/V Cables to Connect the DSS® Receiver,  
TV, and VCR ................................................................................... 14  
Using Coaxial Cables to Connect the DSS® Receiver,  
TV, and VCR ................................................................................... 16  
Using Coaxial Cables to Connect the DSS® Receiver and TV ...... 18  
Program the DSS® Remote to Control Your TV ............................ 20  
Using the Remote: The Point & Select Rule ................................. 20  
TV Code List (for programming the DSS® remote)...................... 21  
Using the Setup Menu to Find the Elevation and Azimuth ........ 22  
Set the Elevation on the Dish ........................................................ 23  
Some Outdoor Stuff ...................................................... 25  
Precise Site Survey .......................................................................... 26  
Using a Compass to Find the Satellite ......................................... 26  
Do You Have A Suitable Location? ................................................ 27  
Choosing A Mounting Surface ...................................................... 28  
Other Mounting Options.............................................................. 29  
About Grounding the System ........................................................ 30  
How Many Cables and Wires Do I Need? .................................... 30  
Estimating Cable Requirements .................................................... 31  
1
3
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Ta b l e o f Co n t e n t s  
Testing the System ......................................................... 33  
Setting Up the Temporary Stand and selecting a site .................. 34  
Assembling the Test Components ................................................. 34  
Picking Up the Satellite Signal ...................................................... 37  
Troubleshooting the System Test .................................................. 41  
Disconnecting Test Components ................................................... 42  
Mounting the Mast ........................................................ 43  
Mounting On Wall Studs or Solid Wood ...................................... 44  
Mounting on Lap Siding ................................................................ 47  
Mounting on Brick or Poured Concrete ........................................ 51  
Mounting On a Hollow or Cinder Block Wall ............................... 53  
Materials Needed to Mount the Dish on a Pole:.......................... 56  
Mounting the Mast on a Chimney ................................................ 58  
Mounting the Mast on a Roof ....................................................... 59  
Final Approach .............................................................. 63  
Leveling the Mast ........................................................................... 64  
Final Dish Assembly ........................................................................ 66  
Routing Cable and Grounding at the House Entry Point ............ 68  
Running Cable into the House and Connecting to the Receiver 70  
Acquiring and Fine Tuning the Satellite Signal ............................ 71  
Ordering DSS® Programming ......................................................... 73  
Appendix A: Troubleshooting ........................................ 74  
Appendix B: Connecting the Receiver to a Phone Jack.. 79  
Appendix C: Warranty Information ............................... 81  
Index ............................................................................. 84  
2
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Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
An Introduction  
Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Hi, my name is Mark and I wrote this DSS® System  
Installation Manual. You probably werent expecting  
a personal introduction, but then, this digital  
satellite system was designed to give you more than  
you expected.  
1
2
Installing the dish isnt too complicated, but you  
should know that the self-installation route is not  
for everyone. If you have some home improvement  
or construction experience, you should be able to  
complete the job safely and securely.  
So m e O u t d o o r  
St u f f  
3
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
M o u n t in g Th e M a st  
Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
4
5
6
By the w ay, I’d appreciate it if youd  
look over the first six chapters of the  
manual before beginning your  
installation. It w ill save you time and  
effort dow n the line, and w ill answ er a  
lot of the questions you probably have  
right now.  
3
3
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Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
In st a l l a t io n O v e r v ie w  
The manual is organized into sections that need to be performed  
in the order they are presented.  
First Th in g s First . This chapter gives you the information youll  
need to find out whether you really want to tackle the DSS®  
System installation yourself. Youll also perform a rough site  
survey to see if your property has one or more locations with a  
clear line of sight to the satellite.  
So m e In d o o r St u ff. Takes you through the steps for hooking up  
the DSS® receiver to your TV and using the on-screen menu  
system to find the dish pointing coordinates for your location.  
Youll also set the dish to point to the correct elevation (up-and-  
down direction) for your location.  
So m e Ou t d o o r St u ff. Youll perform a second, more precise site  
survey, to identify all the potential mounting sites on your  
property. Youll also identify various mounting options and  
estimate the cabling requirements.  
Te st in g Th e Syst e m . (This is an optional, but recommended  
section.) Walks you through the steps needed to set up a  
temporary mounting site, connect cables, and point the dish to  
receive the satellite signal.  
Mo u n t in g t h e Ma st . In this chapter, youll actually mount the  
dish mast to the mounting surface. This is where the rubber  
meets the road, as they say. Or, to be more precise, where the  
drill bit meets the house.  
Fin a l Ap p ro a ch . Takes you through the steps needed to  
complete the dish installation and point the dish to receive the  
strongest possible satellite signal.  
An d Th e Re st Of Th e Ma n u a l? A series of appendices to be  
used as reference material. Topics include Troubleshooting,  
Connecting the receiver to a Phone Jack, and Warranty  
Information.  
While testing the system is optional, it  
could save you a lot of time and  
effort.  
4
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Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
Th e Fir st Big Q u e st io n : Sh o u l d I Do  
Th is M y se l f ?  
While the installation is not difficult, it does require that you have  
some experience in electrical wiring and minor construction  
techniques. Also, you may have to climb a ladder, so youll want to  
be comfortable working with heights.  
Qu e st io n : Have you installed any of these home products or  
completed tasks similar to them?  
TV antenna outside your house  
ceiling fan  
basketball goal  
dimmer switch  
garage door opener  
If the answer is YES, then you can be reasonably confident that  
you can install the Digital Satellite System yourself.  
If the answer is NO, then this is probably not the time to learn.  
Consider contacting your local authorized DSS® retailer to  
recommend a professional installer.  
Se c o n d Big Q u e st io n : Do I H a v e a Cl e a r  
Lin e o f Sig h t t o t h e Sa t e l l it e ?  
Assuming youre still interested in installing the dish yourself, the  
most important step is to find at least one site on your property to  
mount the dish. The dish must have a clear view to the satellite,  
which means that between the dish and the satellite there can be  
60°  
30°  
NO  
NO trees, now or in future seasons  
60°  
30°  
NO buildings or structures.  
MAYBE  
E  
To find out if you can install the dish on your property, you need  
to make a general site survey.  
General Site Survey  
60°  
30°  
YES!YES!  
To receive the DSS® signal, the dish must be pointed directly at the  
satellite; that means the dish will be pointed to the correct  
elevation (up and down direction) and azimuth (side-to-side).  
Again, there must be NO obstructions between the dish and the  
satellite.  
5
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Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
Where Is The Satellite, Anyw ay?  
The satellite is always located south of Texas. That means if you  
live in Miami, you must have a clear line of sight to the  
southwest; if you live in San Francisco, you must have a clear line  
to the southeast.  
Indianapolis, IN  
look southwest  
N
S
N
S
W
E
W
E
San Francisco, CA  
look southeast  
N
W
E
Miami, FL  
look southwest  
S
Satellite is here  
90°  
60°  
How High Up in the Sky is the Satellite?  
Depending on where you live, the satellite will be at an elevation  
angle between 30 and 60 degrees. Southern states point more  
toward 60 degrees; northern states point more toward 30  
degrees.  
30°  
0°  
Finding a Clear Line of Sight  
1. Go outside and locate at least one site on your property that  
has a clear view to the satellite. You should be reasonably  
certain you are pointing toward Texas (unless youre in Texas,  
in which case you should be looking due south). You may  
want to use a map.  
2. Imagine an arc ranging from 30 to 60 degrees above the  
horizon.  
3. Do you have at least one clear view to the satellite?  
Remember, no trees, leaves, buildings, or windows can be  
between the dish and the satellite.  
If the answer is NO, your site may be unsuitable for installing  
the DSS® system.  
If the answer is MAYBE, you may want to contact a your  
local DSS® dealer for information about having a professional  
installer conduct a thorough site survey.  
After you have decided on a site and  
begin the mounting procedure, you  
w ill perform a more accurate site  
survey using the DSS® on-screen  
menus to determine the precise  
azimuth and elevation settings for  
your location.  
If the answer is YES, your site should be suitable for  
installing the DSS® system. Go ahead to the next section in  
this manual.  
6
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Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
Un pa c k a n d Ta k e In v e n t o r y  
Verify that the DSS® dish box contains these parts:  
mounting foot and mast assembly  
satellite dish  
LNB (Low Noise Block converter)  
LNB support arm  
hardware packet  
Grounding Hardware  
LNB Mounting Hardware  
Reflector Hardware  
1 Hex head bolt  
1 Self locking nut  
1 Star washer  
4 Self locking nuts  
4 Star washer  
1 Phillips head screw  
1 Retainer nut  
Dish  
LNB  
4 Self  
locking nuts  
and star washers  
Retainer nut  
Phillips head screw  
LNB support arm  
Mast  
Self locking nut, star  
washer, hex head bolt  
Mounting foot  
Dont assemble the dish yet!  
This diagram is to show you how you  
w ill put the dish together later.  
7
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Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
St a r t Pu t t in g Th e Dish To g e t h e r  
You wont completely assemble the dish in this section, but you  
will begin the assembly procedure.  
1. Locate the satellite dish, the four self-locking nuts and four  
star washers that came in the hardware packet.  
1-3  
2. Place the dish on the LNB support arm by passing the four  
bolts on the back of the dish through the four holes on the  
support arm.  
3. Attach the dish to the support arm as shown, using the four  
self-locking nuts and star washers. Use a 7/16" wrench to  
tighten the nuts.  
4. Set the dish aside.  
8
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Wh a t s To Do In d o o r s?  
Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
So m e In d o o r St u f f  
1
2
A fine question. Well, there are a few tasks you need to  
accomplish before you can go outside and install the  
dish.  
First, youll connect the DSS® receiver to your TV. One of  
the four connections scenarios shown should match  
your system. Then, youll work on programming the  
remote to control your TV.  
So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
M o u n t in g Th e M a st  
Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Next, youll use the on-screen menu system to find out  
the dish pointing coordinates for your location. These  
coordinates, called elevation and azimuth, tell you  
where and how high up to point the dish. Finally, youll  
begin the dish assembly and set the elevation.  
3
4
5
6
CAUTION  
Do not stack electronic components  
on top of the DSS® receiver.  
9
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Co n n e c t in g t h e DSS® Re c e iv e r  
Youll need to connect your DSS® receiver to your TV and use the  
on-screen menu system to find the dish pointing coordinates for  
your location.  
The following pages show four preferred methods of connecting  
the DSS® receiver to your TV. These connections differ based on  
the type of input jacks available on your TV: S-Video, audio/video,  
or RF. Simply choose one connection that best matches your setup  
and follow the directions on that page.  
Ja c k s a n d Ca b l e s  
S-Vid e o Ja ck a n d Ca b le (S-VHS)  
The S-Video jack provides the best picture quality for your DSS®  
system.  
This jack is available on many TVs and is used in conjunction with  
audio cables to connect the DSS® receiver to your TV. Remember  
also to connect the left and right audio cables because the S-  
Video jack carries only the picture signal, not the sound.  
S-Video Jack  
Au d io /Vid e o Ja cks a n d Ca b le s (RCA-t yp e )  
The audio/video jacks provide very good picture and stereo  
sound quality, and should be used if your TV has no S-Video jack.  
Theses jacks are used for most audio/video connections between  
components. The DSS® receiver audio/video jacks are color coded  
(yellow for video, red for right audio, and white for left audio). If  
your TV has only one input for audio (mono), connect it to the  
right (red) audio jack on the DSS® receiver.  
Audio/Video Jack  
RF Ja cks a n d Co a xia l Ca b le s (F-t yp e )  
The RF jacks provide good picture and mono sound quality, and  
are to be used if audio/video connections are not available for  
your TV.  
These jacks are required for antenna or cable-TV connections.  
The RF jacks on the DSS® receiver are labeled IN FROM ANT and  
OUT TO TV. The coaxial cable supplied with your DSS® system is  
used to connect the RF jacks between the DSS® receiver and your  
TV’s antenna input.  
RF Jack  
10  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Ch o o sin g a Co n n e c t io n  
The following pages show four examples of hookups commonly  
used to connect the DSS® receiver with a TV and other  
components. Refer to your TV and VCR Owners Manuals for  
more information on hooking up your specific components.  
Connection A  
Provides the best possible picture and stereo audio quality.  
To use Connection A, you must have:  
TV with S-Video input, plus separate RF and audio/video  
inputs (jacks).  
VCR with RF input and output  
S-Video, coaxial, and audio/video cables  
Connection B  
Provides very good picture and stereo audio quality.  
To use Connection B, you must have:  
TV with separate RF and audio/video inputs (jacks)  
VCR with RF input and output  
Coaxial and audio/video cables  
Connection C  
Provides good picture and mono audio quality.  
To use Connection C, you must have:  
TV with RF input (jack)  
VCR with RF and audio/video inputs  
Coaxial and audio/video cables  
Connection D  
Provides good picture and mono audio quality.  
To use Connection D, you must have:  
TV with RF input (jack)  
Coaxial cables  
The four types of connections show n  
w ork in most cases, but you may  
w ant to consult your TV or VCR User  
Guides for information specific to  
your brand and model.  
11  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Co n n e c t io n A  
Be st Pic t u r e a n d So u n d Q u a l it y  
To use this connection you must have:  
TV with separate RF, audio/video, and S-Video inputs (jacks)  
VCR with RF input and output  
Coaxial, audio/video, and S-Video cables  
To connect TV, VCR and antenna or cable box.  
1. Connect coaxial cables as shown.  
2. Connect audio/video cables as shown.  
3. Connect S-Video cable as shown.  
To receive DSS® programming:  
1. Tune TV to receive the S-Video output from the DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune DSS® receiver to desired channel.  
To receive off-air programming (no cable box):  
1. Turn off VCR and DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to desired channel.  
To receive off-air programming (w ith cable box):  
1. Turn off VCR and DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to cable box output channel (usually CH2, CH3,  
or CH4).  
3. Tune cable box to desired channel.  
To record DSS® programming:  
1. Tune TV to receive S-Video output from DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune DSS® receiver to desired channel.  
3. Set your VCR to record the DSS output channel (usually CH3  
or CH4).  
Cables needed for this connection:  
one (1) S-Video cable, six (3) audio/  
video cables. You must use RG-6  
coaxial cable from the DSS® dish to  
the Satellite In jack on the DSS®  
receiver. For best picture quality, use  
RG-6 coaxial cable w ith all coaxial  
cable connections.  
To view VCR programming:  
1. Tune TV to VCR output channel (usually CH3 or CH4).  
12  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
TV  
IN  
R
VIDEO  
L
AUDIO  
S-VIDEO  
SATELLITE  
DISH  
DSS  
OUT TO TV  
RECEIVER  
S-VIDEO  
IN FROM ANT  
CH4  
CH3  
SATELLITE IN  
CABLE  
R
L
VIDEO  
AUDIO  
OR  
OFF-AIR ANTENNA  
VCR  
IN FROM ANT  
OUT TO TV  
VIDEO IN AUDIO IN  
CH3  
CH4  
R
L
VIDEO OUT AUDIO OUT  
CAUTION  
Do not stack electronic components  
on top of the DSS® receiver.  
13  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Co n n e c t io n B  
Ve r y Go o d Pic t u r e a n d So u n d Q u a l it y  
To use this connection you must have:  
TV with separate RF and audio/video inputs (jacks)  
VCR with RF input and output  
Coaxial and audio/video cables  
To connect TV, VCR and antenna or cable box.  
1. Connect coaxial cables as shown.  
2. Connect audio/video cables as shown.  
To receive DSS® programming:  
1. Tune TV to receive line output from DSS® receiver  
(often called Input 1).  
2. Tune DSS® receiver to desired channel.  
To receive off-air programming (no cable box):  
1. Turn off VCR and DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to desired channel.  
To receive off-air programming (w ith cable box):  
1. Turn off VCR and DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to cable box output channel (usually CH2, CH3,  
or CH4).  
3. Tune cable box to desired channel.  
To record DSS® programming:  
1. Tune TV to receive line output from DSS® receiver (Input1).  
2. Tune DSS® receiver to desired channel.  
3. Set your VCR to record DSS output channel (usually CH3 or  
CH4).  
Cables needed for this connection:  
six (3) audio/video cables. You must  
use RG-6 coaxial cable from the DSS®  
dish to the Satellite In jack on the  
DSS® receiver. For best picture quality,  
use RG-6 coaxial cable w ith all coaxial  
cable connections.  
To view VCR programming:  
1. Tune TV to VCR output channel (usually CH3 or CH4).  
14  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
TV  
IN  
R
VIDEO  
L
AUDIO  
SATELLITE  
DISH  
DSS  
OUT TO TV  
RECEIVER  
IN FROM ANT  
CH4  
CH3  
CABLE  
SATELLITE IN  
R
L
VIDEO  
OR  
AUDIO  
OFF-AIR ANTENNA  
VCR  
VIDEO IN AUDIO IN  
IN FROM ANT  
OUT TO TV  
CH3  
CH4  
R
L
VIDEO OUT AUDIO OUT  
CAUTION  
Do not stack electronic components  
on top of the DSS® receiver.  
15  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Co n n e c t io n C  
Go o d Pic t u r e a n d So u n d Q u a l it y  
To use this connection you must have:  
TV with RF input (jack)  
VCR with RF and audio/video inputs  
Coaxial and audio/video cables  
To connect TV, VCR, and antenna or cable box.  
1. Connect coaxial cables and audio/video cables as shown.  
To receive DSS® programming:  
Tune TV to channel 3 or 4 (depending on how you set the  
CH3/CH4 switch on the back of the receiver).  
To receive off-air programming (no cable box):  
1. Turn off VCR and DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to desired channel.  
To receive cable programming (w ith cable box):  
1. Turn off VCR and DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to cable box output channel (usually CH2, CH3, or  
CH4).  
3. Tune cable box to desired channel.  
To record DSS® programming:  
1. Tune TV to the channel on which you receive the DSS® signal.  
2. Tune DSS® receiver to desired channel.  
3. Set VCR to record on line input.  
Cables needed for this connection:  
three (3) audio/video cables. You must  
use RG-6 coaxial cable from the DSS®  
dish to the Satellite In jack on the  
DSS® receiver. For best picture quality,  
use RG-6 coaxial cable w ith all coaxial  
cable connections.  
To view VCR programming:  
1. Tune TV to VCR output channel (usually CH3 or CH4).  
2. Turn DSS® receiver off.  
16  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
TV  
IN  
SATELLITE  
DISH  
DSS  
OUT TO TV  
RECEIVER  
IN FROM ANT  
CABLE  
SATELLITE IN  
CH4  
CH3  
R
L
VIDEO  
OR  
AUDIO  
OFF-AIR ANTENNA  
VCR  
IN FROM ANT  
OUT TO TV  
VIDEO IN AUDIO IN  
CH3  
CH4  
R
L
VIDEO OUT AUDIO OUT  
CAUTION  
Do not stack electronic components  
on top of the DSS® receiver.  
17  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Co n n e c t io n D  
Go o d Pic t u r e a n d So u n d Q u a l it y  
To use this connection you must have:  
TV with RF input  
Coaxial cables  
To connect TV and antenna or cable box:  
1. Connect coaxial cables as shown.  
To receive DSS® programming:  
Tune TV to channel 3 or 4 (depending on how you set the  
CH3/CH4 switch on the back of the receiver.  
To receive off-air programming (no cable box):  
1. Turn off DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to desired channel.  
To receive cable programming (w ith cable box):  
1. Turn off DSS® receiver.  
2. Tune TV to cable box output channel (usually CH2, CH3, or  
CH4).  
3. Tune cable box to desired channel.  
Cables needed for this connection:  
You must use RG-6 coaxial cable from  
the DSS® dish to the Satellite In jack  
on the DSS® receiver. For best picture  
quality, use RG-6 coaxial cable w ith all  
coaxial cable connections.  
18  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
TV  
IN  
SATELLITE  
DISH  
DSS  
OUT TO TV  
RECEIVER  
IN FROM ANT  
SATELLITE IN  
CH4  
CH3  
R
L
CABLE  
OR  
OFF-AIR ANTENNA  
VIDEO  
AUDIO  
CAUTION  
Do not stack electronic components  
on top of the DSS® receiver.  
19  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Pr o g r a m m in g t h e DSS® Re m o t e t o  
Co n t r o l Yo u r TV  
In a few pages, youll use the DSS® receivers menu system to find  
the dish pointing coordinates for your location. Youll probably  
find it easier if you use the DSS® remote instead of the receivers  
front panel buttons, so you need to make sure the remote has  
batteries and is working correctly.  
1. Install four AAA batteries into the DSS® remote control. Open  
the battery compartment and match the + and – end of each  
battery to the markings in the compartment. Replace the  
cover.  
2. Determine whether the DSS® remote needs to be  
programmed by pointing the remote at the TV and pressing  
the TV button. Press CHAN UP or DOWN to see whether the  
TV responds to the remote commands. If the TV does not  
respond, you need to program your remote. Heres how:  
OFF ON  
TV  
DSS  
MENU SELECT  
3. Look up your TV’s brand and code number(s) on the TV Code  
list on the following page.  
GUIDE  
DISPLAY  
4. Press and hold the TV button.  
CLEAR  
PREV CH  
5. Enter the three-digit code from the code list.  
1
4
7
2
3
6
9
6. Release the TV button and press POWER or CHAN UP/DOWN  
to see if the TV responds to the remote commands. If it  
doesnt, try the next code listed for your brand.  
CHAN  
5
8
0
VOL  
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 until the TV responds to the remote  
commands.  
ANT FAV INPUT ALT AUD MUTE  
Using the Remote: The Point & Select Rule  
You only need to know one rule to use the DSS® system: Point  
and Select. The Point and Select method has two steps.  
1. Point by pressing the arrow keys on the remote. Pressing the  
arrows keys (referred to as the “arrows”) moves the on-  
screen highlight to different items in the Program Guide and  
the menu screens. Pressing an arrow once moves the  
highlight one space in the direction of the arrow.  
2. Select a highlighted item by pressing the MENUSELECT  
button on the remote. Selecting an item tells the menu  
system to go ahead and make the change you have  
indicated.  
20  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
TV Code List (for programming the DSS® remote)  
A-Mark...................................... 102  
Admiral ..................................... 005  
Amtron ...................................... 064  
Akai .................................. 002, 103  
Anam ................................ 104, 105  
Anam National.................. 038, 106  
AOC ......... 011, 019, 027, 088, 107  
Bell&Howell ............................. 005  
Candle ....................... 011, 027, 033  
Citizen .............. 011, 027, 033, 064  
Colortyme .................. 011, 027, 084  
Concerto ............................ 011, 027  
JBL .............................................. 013  
Jensen ................................. 011, 027  
Radio Shack ...... 000, 021, 025, 036,  
037, 059, 064, 078  
RCA .................. 000, 006, 011, 019,  
027, 034, 038, 044, 046, 072,  
088, 100, 101, 109  
JVC ............ 012, 024, 036, 037, 040,  
048, 051, 074  
Kawasho ..................... 002, 011, 027  
Kenwood ............ 006, 011, 014, 027  
Kloss Novabeam ................. 035, 043  
KTV............................................. 078  
Loewe ......................................... 013  
Luxman ............................... 011, 027  
LXI ...... 000, 013, 018, 021, 023, 054  
Realistic ..................................... 021  
Sampo ................................ 011, 027  
Samsung ... 006, 011, 014, 015, 019,  
027, 036, 037, 077, 110  
Sanyo . 017, 021, 039, 056, 057, 058  
Scott........................... 028, 037, 064  
Sears ......... 000, 006, 011, 014, 017,  
018, 021, 023, 027, 039, 040, 041,  
051, 071, 083, 095  
Magnavox .......... 006, 007, 010, 011,  
013, 016, 027, 033, 035, 043,  
049, 066, 087, 089  
Sharp ........ 011, 020, 025, 027, 037,  
052,053, 059, 060, 108  
Contec/Cony ............ 036, 037, 040,  
042,064  
Marants ....................................... 013  
Marantz .............. 011, 013, 027, 069  
Memorex .................................... 005  
Signature ............................ 005, 094  
Sony........................................... 002  
Soundesign ................ 011, 027, 033  
Craig ......................................... 064  
Curtis Mathes ............000, 011, 015,  
027, 037  
MGA .................. 006, 011, 014, 019,  
022, 027, 041, 056, 061, 068  
Sylvania .... 006, 007, 010, 011, 013,  
016, 027, 033, 035, 043, 049, 066,  
087, 089  
CXC .......................................... 064  
Daewoo ........... 011, 019, 027, 0112  
Daytron .............................. 011, 027  
Dimensia .................................. 000  
Mitsubishi .......... 006, 011, 014, 019,  
022, 027, 041, 055, 056, 061, 068  
Symphonic ......................... 064, 076  
Tatung ........................................ 038  
Technics ..................................... 012  
Techwood .......................... 011, 027  
MTC............................ 011, 019, 027  
Multivision .................................. 081  
NAD ................................... 018, 023  
NEC .... 011, 014, 019, 027, 038, 084  
Panasonic .... 012, 013, 038, 086, 111  
Electrohome ..............006, 011, 014,  
027,038, 061, 068  
Emerson ... 011, 026, 027, 028, 029,  
030, 031, 032, 037, 042, 053, 064,  
065, 067, 075, 076, 078, 079, 094,  
095, 096  
Teknika ..... 011, 019, 027, 033, 036,  
037, 040, 066  
Telecaption ................................ 090  
TMK ................................... 011, 027  
JC Penney .......... 000, 008, 011, 019,  
027, 040, 068, 077, 086, 088  
Envision ............................. 011, 027  
Fisher ................ 017, 021, 039, 041  
Funai......................................... 064  
Philco ................ 006, 007, 010, 011,  
013, 016, 019, 027, 033, 035, 037,  
038, 043, 087, 089  
Toshiba ..... 018, 021, 023, 040, 071,  
077, 085, 090  
Universal ........................... 008, 009  
Vidtech .............................. 019, 027  
GE.... 000, 008, 009, 011, 012, 027,  
038, 068, 086, 089, 091  
Philips ........ 002, 006, 007, 010, 011,  
013, 016, 033, 035, 037, 038, 043,  
066, 073  
Goldstar ................... 003, 004, 006,  
011, 019, 027, 037, 050  
Wards ............... 000, 005, 006, 007,  
008, 009, 010, 011, 013, 019, 025,  
027, 028, 035, 043, 059, 066, 076,  
082, 089  
Pioneer ....... 011, 027, 045, 062, 093  
Portland .............. 011, 019, 027, 037  
ProScan ....................................... 000  
Proton ................. 011, 027, 037, 072  
Quasar ........................ 012, 038, 092  
Hallmark ............................ 011, 027  
Hitachi ............. 009, 011, 027, 036,  
037,040, 047, 048, 063, 080, 094,  
097,098  
Yamaha .............. 006, 014, 019, 027  
Zenith ................................ 001, 099  
Infinity ...................................... 013  
21  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Usin g t h e Se t u p M e n u t o Fin d t h e  
El e v a t io n a n d Az im u t h  
The DSS® receiver is preprogrammed to give you the coordinates  
for pointing your dish at the satellite. All you have to do is enter  
your zip code. First, plug in your DSS® receiver.  
Setup  
The first time that you turn on the receiver, you are shown the  
Setup menu. The Setup menu features an interactive setup  
routine that guides you through the steps needed to obtain and  
fine-tune your signal.  
To access the Setup menu after the initial startup:  
1. Press MENUSELECT to bring up the Main menu.  
2. Point to Assistance and press MENUSELECT.  
3. Choose Setup and press MENUSELECT.  
Pointing the Dish  
The first few Setup menu screens describe the interactive setup  
procedure. To find out where you need to point the dish, select  
Find Coordinates.  
There are two methods for obtaining the elevation and azimuth  
but you only need to use one:  
Enter your zip code  
or  
Enter your latitude and longitude.  
Record the elevation and azimuth numbers. (You may want to  
bend the corner of this page so you can refer to it easily.)  
Elevation:  
Azimuth:  
Turn off the DSS® receiver and unplug it.  
Proceed to the next step, Set the Elevation on the Dish.  
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So m e In d o o r St u f f  
Se t t h e El e v a t io n o n t h e Dish  
The first part of the dish pointing process is to set the dish to  
point up toward the satellite. This is called “setting the  
elevation.”  
1. Locate the dish and support arm.  
2. Loosen the two elevation nuts so the support sleeve can  
rotate easily.  
2
support sleeve  
elevation nut  
3. Rotate the support sleeve so that the white elevation  
indicator lines up with the tick mark corresponding to  
elevation setting you recorded on the previous page.  
3
0
The elevation indicator is the white line to  
the left of the elevation nut. In this example,  
the elevation indicator is set at 32.  
4. Tighten both nuts.  
23  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
Youre finally ready to install the dish, right? Sorry, not  
just yet. First you have to select the best mounting site.  
You may already know where you want to mount the  
dish, but its a good idea to examine all the options.  
Heres an overview:  
Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
So m e In d o o r St u f f  
1
2
First youll make a precise site survey to find the exact  
places where the dish can be installed with a clear line of  
site to the satellite. (Youll use the elevation and azimuth  
numbers that you wrote down in the last chapter.) Next,  
based on your site survey, youll identify the different  
mounting options and estimate cable requirements. After  
all of that, youll have a good idea where to install the  
dish.  
So m e O u t d o o r  
St u f f  
3
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
M o u n t in g Th e M a st  
4
5
6
Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
A compass is required for this section.  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
Pr e c ise Sit e Su r v e y  
In Chapter 1, you conducted a general site survey to find the  
location or locations that will provide the dish with a clear line of  
site to the satellite. Now youll use a compass to make a more  
precise survey.  
Using a Compass to Find the Satellite  
1. Go outside and hold the compass flat in the palm of your  
hand. Hold your hand still until the needle stops moving (the  
dark or colored half of the compass needle always points  
north).  
Rotate until N lines up with  
the dark half of the arrow  
1-3  
2. Rotate the compass so that the “N” (for north) is directly  
under the dark part of the compass needle. Your compass is  
now aligned with north. The tick marks around the edge of  
the compass represent azimuth degrees.  
If you live in  
San Francisco,  
satellitewill be to  
3. Locate the tick mark on the compass that corresponds to the  
azimuth number you wrote down on page 22. (Dont you  
wish you had dog-eared that page?) Point your arm in the  
direction of your azimuth setting.  
the Southeast  
If you live in Miami,  
If you live in Miami, satellite  
will be to the Southwest  
4. Raise your arm to approximately the elevation angle you  
wrote down on page 22.  
90°  
60°  
4
30°  
0°  
5. Repeat this survey in several places on your property.  
Remember...  
To get a signal, the DSS® dish will have to be pointed directly at  
the satellite, with NO obstructions between the two. This means  
NO trees and NO buildings. Take into consideration future tree  
growth, house remodeling or additions and new construction in  
your area.  
The satellite signal WILL NOT PASS through leaves or branches.  
Try to keep the compass aw ay from  
any metal objects. Metal objects can  
cause inaccurate compass readings.  
The satellite signal WILL NOT PASS through glass; dont try to  
install your dish indoors!  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
An o t h e r Sit e Su r v e y ?  
Youve gone through the site survey once already, but  
experience tells us this second survey is crucial.  
Do Yo u H a v e A Su it a b l e Lo c a t io n ?  
Based on the site surveys you made in the previous section, do  
you have a clear view to the satellite from at least one location  
on your property?  
60°  
30°  
NO  
NO, I have no clear view to the satellite.  
Your site may not be suitable for installing the DSS® system. A  
professional installer may have an alternative solution—consider  
contacting your DSS® System dealer to find the name of an  
authorized DSS® System installer.  
60°  
30°  
Maybe YES, Maybe NO.  
MAYBE  
If youre not certain whether you have a clear view to the  
satellite, you have two choices :  
Continue with the installation and verify that you a clear  
view to the satellite by testing the system (explained in  
Chapter 4).  
Contact your DSS® System dealer to find the name of an  
authorized DSS® System Installer. The installer can help you  
verify that your property is suitable for installing the DSS®  
system.  
60°  
30°  
YES!  
YES, I Have A Clear View to the Satellite  
Your site should be suitable for installing the DSS® system.  
Continue to the next section.  
WARNING: Do NOT install the dish  
near pow er lines, electric lights or  
pow er circuits. Contact w ith pow er  
lines, lights or pow er circuits may be  
fatal. It is recommended that the dish  
be located more than 20 feet from  
overhead pow er lines.  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
Ch o o sin g A M o u n t in g Su r f a c e  
Once you have identified the site (or sites) for mounting the  
dish, you need to choose a mounting method. The method for  
mounting the dish depends on where you want to mount the  
dish and the type of mounting surface. You can install the dish  
on several surfaces:  
Wa ll St u d s o r So lid Wo o d This is the simplest mounting  
method. However, if you choose to mount the dish on a deck  
railing, pick a site that will not be used for a handrail.  
La p Sid in g (You may need to install spacers underneath the  
dish mounting foot to keep the foot level.)  
Brick o r Po u re d Co n cre t e  
Ho llo w Brick o r Cin d e r Blo ck Wa ll  
Keep in mindyou may need to brush snow or ice off the dish.  
The dish should not be mounted in a dangerous or inaccessible  
place.  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
O t h e r M o u n t in g Op t io n s  
Po le Mo u n t  
A pole mount is good if you want or need to install the dish  
some distance away from your house. You may need  
supporting guy wires if the pole extends too far above the  
ground.  
Do not use a pole mount in wet or marshy areas.  
Ch im n e y Mo u n t  
You will need to purchase a special chimney mount kit. (See  
your DSS® dealer for more information.)  
Use the chimney only if you cannot locate a mounting site on  
the side of your house, on your deck or patio, or on a pole in  
your yard.  
Your chimney must be sturdy and in good condition. High  
winds can put great strain on the dish and the chimney itself.  
To prevent heat or soot damage, there must be enough room  
for the dish to be mounted without extending above the top  
of the chimney.  
Keep in mindyou may need to brush snow or ice off the  
dish. The dish should not be mounted in a dangerous or  
inaccessible place.  
Ro o f Mo u n t  
Use t h e ro o f m o u n t o n ly a s a la st re so rt . You can  
damage your roof and cause leaks by sealing the mounting  
holes improperly.  
Problems with roof installations increase with the age of the  
roof and the type of roofing materials.  
DO NOT mount the dish on slate or shake shingles.  
Keep in mindyou may need to brush snow or ice off the  
dish. The dish should not be mounted in a dangerous or  
inaccessible place.  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
Ab o u t Gr o u n d in g t h e Sy st e m  
Now that youve selected your permanent mounting site (or  
narrowed it down), you need to determine where youll run the  
RG-6 coaxial cables and how youll the ground the DSS® system.  
Grounding the DSS® system to the central building ground helps  
protect the DSS® system and other components from lightning  
damage. Dish installation should comply with local codes and the  
National Electrical Code (NEC). Grounding the DSS® system is  
something you can probably do yourself. But if youre not sure,  
you should contact a qualified electrician.  
How Many Cables and Wires Do I Need?  
Grounding block  
One (1) RG-6 coaxial cable to run from the dish to a grounding  
block. The grounding block should be located near the point  
where the cable will enter the house.  
Cable entry into house  
RG-6 coaxial cable #2  
RG-6 coaxial cable #1  
One (1) RG-6 coaxial cable to run from the grounding block to  
run the DSS® receiver.  
One (1) grounding wire (#10 copper or #8 aluminum) to run  
from the mast mounting foot directly to the central building  
ground. This connection grounds the dish itself. (If you choose  
the pole mount option, #6 copper bonding wire is recommended  
for grounding the dish.)  
DSS receiver  
One (1) grounding wire (#10 copper or #8 aluminum) to run  
from the grounding block to the central building ground. This  
connection grounds the coaxial cable.  
Grounding wire #1  
Grounding wire #2  
TV  
To Central Building Ground  
CAUTION  
It is extremely important to ground  
the dish AND the coaxial cables to a  
single point in the central building  
ground. A nearby lightning strike can  
easily damage an ungrounded dish,  
the receiver and your TV. Connecting  
both ground w ires to the same point  
in the central building ground meets  
code requirements and provides the  
best protection for your equipment.  
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So m e O u t d o o r St u f f  
Est im a t in g Ca b l e Re q u ir e m e n t s  
Heres how to determine where to put the grounding block  
and estimate the length of the RG-6 coaxial cables and  
ground wires.  
1. Locate the central building ground. You will ground the  
dish and the cable grounding block to a single point in  
the central building ground.  
Acceptable central building ground points may include:  
Grounding Block  
grounded interior metal cold water pipe within five feet  
of the point where it enters the building  
INTO HOUSE  
TO DISH  
grounded metallic service raceway  
grounded electrical service equipment enclosure  
8-foot grounding rod driven into the ground (only if  
bonded to the central building ground by #6 or heavier  
bonding wire)  
TO CENTRAL BUILDING GROUND  
other acceptable grounding electrodes that comply with  
sections 250 and 810 of the National Electrical Code (NEC)  
2. Choose a location to mount the grounding block. The  
block should be as close as possible to the point where  
the cable will enter the house.  
3. Estimate the distance between the grounding block and  
the central building ground.  
You need one (1) length of grounding wire ____________  
feet long to run from the grounding block to the central  
building ground.  
4. Estimate the distance between the dish and the central  
building ground.  
You need one (1) length of grounding wire ____________  
feet long to run from the mounting site to the central  
building ground.  
You must use RG-6 coaxial cable from  
the DSS® dish to the Satellite In jack  
on the DSS® receiver. Other types of  
coaxial cable, such as those used for  
cable television (RG-59) do not w ork  
for the DSS® system.  
5. Estimate the distance between the intended mounting  
site and the grounding block.  
You need one (1) RG-6 coaxial cable ____________ feet  
long to run from the dish to the grounding block.  
If your total RG-6 coaxial cable length  
is more than 112 feet, you may need  
additional installation equipment to  
compensate for the longer cable  
length.  
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Testing the System  
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
Ea r n Ex t r a Cr e d it  
Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
So m e In d o o r St u f f  
1
2
This chapter includes instructions for setting up the dish  
on a temporary site in order to test the system. While  
this is not strictly required, its recommended to test the  
system before you begin the permanent installation. By  
creating a temporary setup, you can make sure  
everything in the system is working correctly before  
permanently mounting your dish.  
Keep in mind you wont want to be troubleshooting  
the system while youre doing something up on the  
roof. In cases like this, its best to safely test the system  
on the ground and move on to mounting the dish after  
youre certain you can acquire the signal.  
So m e O u t d o o r  
St u f f  
3
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
4
5
6
Materials Needed for the Test:  
Temporary stand for the DSS® dish, RG-6 coaxial  
cable, lag bolts, clamps (or a person to act as a  
“dish holder”).  
M o u n t in g Th e M a st  
Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Tools Needed for the Test  
satellite finder template (provided)  
7/16" wrench  
phillips-head screwdriver  
compass  
CAUTION  
Use caution w hen installing, adjusting  
or dismantling the dish and mast. The  
w eight of the dish may cause the dish  
and mast to sw ing dow n and strike  
you, a bystander or nearby objects.  
This could cause personal injury or  
damage to the dish. Never insert your  
fingers inside the mast. Alw ays grip  
the mast around its outside  
circumference.  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
Se t t in g Up t h e Te m p o r a r y St a n d  
1. Choose a location for the system test. Here are some  
considerations:  
Satellite finder template  
1,2  
You must test the system outside  
youll need a flat surface for the temporary stand  
the site you pick for the test must have an unobstructed view  
to the satellite  
N
O
R T H  
the site you pick for the test should be close to a window or  
door near your TV (so you can easily see and hear the on-  
screen signal meter).  
2. Find a temporary stand for the dish and place it in the site  
youve chosen for the test. The stand must be sturdy enough  
to support the weight of the dish and remain level when the  
dish is placed on top of it. Consider using:  
Smooth board  
Level surface, sidewalk or grass  
a workbench or wooden base (using clamps to hold the mast  
foot)  
a level sidewalk or driveway (using a second person to hold  
the mast foot).  
Once youve found a location and a temporary stand, you can  
assemble the dish and test the system.  
Asse m b l in g t h e Te st Co m p o n e n t s  
1. Loosen the nuts on the mounting foot so that the mast  
rotates easily.  
Rotate all the way back until  
top of mast is vertical  
1,2  
2. Hold the mounting foot so it lays on a flat surface, then  
rotate the mast all the way back until the top part is vertical.  
Loosen nuts  
Top part of  
mast is vertical  
Front of foot  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
3. Tighten the bolts on the foot so that the mast will not rotate.  
4. Secure the mounting foot to the temporary stand. Try using  
clamps, lag bolts, or a helper to hold the mast foot in place.  
5. Place the dish assembly on the mast.  
5
7
mast  
6. Make sure you have a length of RG-6 coaxial cable that will  
reach from the temporary dish setup to your DSS® receiver.  
7. Push the cable through the bottom of the mast and out the  
top. Pull about three (3) feet of cable out of the top. Loop  
the cable and push it through the LNB support arm.  
cable  
LNB support arm  
mast  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
8. Connect the end of the cable to the LNB.  
LNB  
8
9. Insert the end of the LNB into the end of the LNB support  
arm. Push any extra cable back through the LNB support arm.  
10. Insert the special hex retainer nut into the mounting hole on  
top of the LNB support arm.  
10  
hex retainer nut  
Phillips-head screw  
11. Finally! Run the cable from the end of the mast through a  
window or door and connect it to the SATELLITE IN jack on  
the back of the DSS® receiver.  
11  
OUT  
TO  
PHONE JACK  
TV  
S-VIDEO  
VIDEO  
R
AUDIO  
L
WIDE BAND DATA  
SATELLITE IN  
C
H4  
IN  
FROM  
ANT  
C
H3  
Hint  
Insert the hex retainer nut into the  
LNB before inserting the Phillips-  
head screw.  
You w ont be able to pick up a signal  
unless you connect the dish to the  
SATELLITE IN jack. Make sure you  
dont connect the cable to the IN  
FROM ANTENNA jack.  
36  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
Pic k in g Up t h e Sa t e l l it e Sig n a l  
In this section, youll pick up the satellite signal by pointing the  
dish toward the satellite. Youve already set the elevation on the  
dish, so now youll need to point the dish to the correct azimuth.  
Keep in mind that for the system test, youre only interested in  
receiving a signal—the strength of the signal is not important.  
When you mount the dish permanently, youll spend some extra  
time fine tuning the signal to receive the strongest possible  
signal.  
Po in t t h e Dish  
1. If necessary, loosen the nuts on the support sleeve so that the  
dish and LNB support arm can rotate easily left and right.  
1
Support Sleeve Nuts  
2. Hold the compass flat in the palm of your hand away from  
the dish. Hold your hand still until the needle stops moving  
(the dark or colored half of the compass needle always points  
north).  
Rotate until N lines up with the  
dark half of the arrow  
2, 3  
3
Rotate the compass so that the “N” (for north) is directly  
under the dark part of the compass needle.  
Your compass is now aligned with north. The tick marks  
around the edge of the compass represent azimuth degrees.  
If at any time during the test you  
hear one continuous tone, or see the  
message “signal locked” on the on-  
screen signal meter, then you know  
the system is w orking and you can  
skip to Disconnecting Test  
Components.  
37  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
4. Locate the tick mark on the compass that corresponds to the  
azimuth number you wrote down in the last chapter.  
5. Point the LNB support arm in the same direction as the  
azimuth tick mark on the compass.  
North  
5
6. Lightly tighten the nuts on the LNB support sleeve so the LNB  
does not swing out of position when you take your hands  
away.  
Br in g Up t h e O n -sc r e e n Sig n a l St r e n g t h  
M e t e r  
1. Plug in the DSS® receiver and the TV.  
2. Turn on the TV and tune to the correct channel. (Which  
channel you tune to is determined by the connection you  
chose on pages 12-19.)  
• If you connected the receiver using the S-video or audio/  
video cables (as shown on pages 12 and 14), tune the TV to  
the S-video input channel or the video input channel.  
• If you connected the receiver using the RF cable connection  
(as shown on pages 16 and 18), tune to channel 3 or 4  
(depending on how you set the CH3/CH4 switch on the back  
of the receiver). Press the ANTENNA button on the receivers  
front panel.  
3. Press DSS on the remote, then press CLEAR.  
If the TV shows DSS® programming or the program guide,  
youve already picked up the signal. Skip to Disconnecting  
Test Components.  
4. Press MENUSELECT on the remote to bring up the DSS® Main  
menu.  
5. Point to and select Dish Pointing.  
6. Point to and select Signal Meter.  
You may need to adjust the TV’s volume so you can hear the  
signal meter from the temporary setup.  
38  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
a d j u st t h e Az im u t h  
1. If necessary, loosen the nuts on the support sleeve so that the  
LNB support arm can rotate left and right.  
2. Locate the piece of tape at the top of the mast. This tape is  
marked with evenly spaced “tick” marks.  
2
Line up edge of  
bracket with tick  
marks  
3. Carefully rotate the dish one tick mark to the right.  
4. Pause to listen for five (5) seconds.  
ROTATE RIGHT  
One tick mark  
3-6  
5. If you dont hear the continuous tone from the signal meter,  
rotate the dish back to the original azimuth position, then  
rotate the dish one tick mark to the left. Pause to listen for  
five seconds.  
Support  
6. Continue rotating the dish further right and left one tick  
mark at a time. Make sure to pause for five seconds before  
changing the dish position.  
HANDS OFF  
ROTATE LEFT  
One tick mark  
39  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
If n e c e ssa r y, a d j u st t h e El e v a t io n  
If you still havent picked up the satellite signal, you may need to  
adjust the elevation.  
1. Return the LNB support arm to the original compass  
direction.  
2. Tighten one of the three nuts on the support sleeve so the  
dish will not rotate left and right.  
3. Loosen the elevation nut on the LNB support arm so the dish  
can move up and down.  
3
4
0
Change elevation only  
one tick mark at a time  
4. Adjust the dish upward slightly to increase the elevation one  
tick mark. Pause to listen for five seconds.  
TILT UP  
One tick mark  
4-6  
5. If you still dont hear the continuous signal tone, move the  
dish back to its original elevation, then move the dish down  
one tick. Pause to listen for five seconds.  
Elevation nut  
6. Continue rotating the dish further up and down one tick  
mark at a time. (For example, youve tested the system two  
tick marks to the right, then you move two tick marks left to  
the original position, then two more tick marks left, etc.)  
Make sure to pause for five seconds before changing the dish  
position.  
HANDS OFF  
Did y o u h e a r o n e c o n t in u o u s t o n e ?  
NO Go to the next step, Troubleshooting the System Test,  
page 41.  
TILT DOWN  
One tick mark  
YES Your system is working and you have located the precise  
direction to point the dish. You may want to pick out a landmark  
to help you remember the direction. Skip to Disconnecting Test  
Components, page 42.  
40  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g t h e  
Sy st e m Te st  
Follow these steps if you cant pick up the satellite signal:  
1. You must use RG-6 coaxial cable from the DSS® dish to the  
Satellite In jack on the back of the DSS® receiver. RG-59  
coaxial cable allows signal loss and should not be used with  
the DSS® system.  
2. Make sure that the access card is in the access card slot in the  
receiver.  
3. Make sure the cable from the dish is connected to the  
SATELLITE IN jack (NOT the IN FROM ANTENNA jack).  
4. Make sure youre using the correct azimuth and elevation for  
your zip code by returning to the Point Dish Using Your Zip  
Code display screen. Enter your zip code, making sure that  
the elevation and azimuth numbers match those you  
recorded earlier in the book.  
5. Verify that the dish is pointed toward the correct elevation.  
Check the elevation setting on the LNB support arm. Make  
sure the elevation indicator (the edge of white-painted  
metal, NOT the washer or bolt) is set at the elevation you  
recorded.  
Make sure the mast is vertically level: if the mast is on a level  
surface, the mast should be pushed all the way back.  
6. Verify that the LNB support arm is pointing in the correct  
compass direction.  
If you suspect a problem w ith one of  
the RG-6 cables, you may w ant to  
test the cable by connecting one end  
to the TV and the other to the DSS®  
receivers OUT TO TV jack. Then see  
if you can bring up the on-screen  
menus. If the on-screen menus do  
not come up, the cable may be  
faulty. If the menus do come up, the  
cable should be okay.  
Using a compass, make sure the LNB support arm is pointing  
toward the azimuth number you recorded.  
7. Make sure there are no obstructions (including your body or  
hands) between the dish and the satellite.  
8. Restart the signal meter and try again to pick up the satellite  
signal.  
9. Readjust the azimuth, making sure to rotate the dish left and  
right one tick at a time, pausing to listen for five seconds  
between adjustments.  
If you are still unable to pick up the  
satellite signal, refer to Appendix C,  
Warranty Information, for further  
information on identifying the  
problem.  
10. Readjust the elevation, making sure to rotate the dish up and  
down one tick at a time, pausing to listen for five seconds  
between adjustments.  
41  
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Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
Disc o n n e c t in g Te st Co m p o n e n t s  
Do n o t skip t h is st e p ! Now that you know your components  
are working, and you have a clear idea of how to connect the  
system, youll need to follow a different procedure to make a  
permanent connection.  
You dont need to disconnect all the components, just those that  
require other steps to ensure that the installation will be stable  
and permanent.  
1. Turn off and unplug all components in your system (TV, DSS®  
receiver, etc.)  
2. Disconnect the coaxial cable from the SATELLITE IN jack on  
the DSS® receiver.  
3. Use a screwdriver to remove LNB’s screw and hex retainer.  
Carefully slide the LNB out of the LNB support arm.  
4. Disconnect the coaxial cable from the LNB.  
5. Push the coaxial cable through the LNB support arm and  
mast to remove it.  
6. Remove the LNB arm assembly from the mast.  
7. Remove the mast from the temporary stand.  
42  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
In Chapter 3, you conducted a precise survey and  
performed other steps to help you decide on the  
permanent mounting site for your DSS® dish. In this  
chapter, youll actually begin the installation by  
mounting the dish mast on the surface youve chosen  
for your permanent site.  
Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
So m e In d o o r St u f f  
1
2
Wh ic h M o u n t in g Su r f a c e Did  
Yo u Ch o o se ?  
So m e O u t d o o r  
St u f f  
3
Find the mounting surface on this chart and turn to the  
page specified for step-by-step instructions for  
mounting the dish mast on that surface.  
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
M o u n t in g Th e M a st  
Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
4
5
6
Mounting the Dish On:  
Go to Page:  
Wall Studs or Solid Wood  
Lap Siding  
44  
47  
51  
53  
56  
58  
59  
Brick or Poured Concrete  
Hollow Walls or Cinder Block  
Pole  
Chimney  
Roof  
CAUTION  
Use caution w hen installing, adjusting  
or dismantling the dish and mast. The  
w eight of the dish may cause the dish  
and mast to sw ing dow n and strike  
you, a bystander or nearby objects. This  
could cause personal injury or damage  
to the dish. Never insert your fingers  
inside the mast. Alw ays grip the mast  
around its outside circumference.  
Materials Needed  
Each section in this chapter gives you a  
complete list of the materials and tools  
you w ill need for that particular  
mounting surface.  
43  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g O n Wa l l St u d s o r  
So l id Wo o d  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Materials Needed to Mount the Mast on Wall Studs  
or Solid Wood:  
(2) 5/16" x 3" lag screws  
(4) 5/16" x 2" lag screws  
(4) 5/16" washers  
Two (2) 5/16" x 3" lag screws  
Four (4) 5/16" x 2" lag screws  
Tools Needed to Mount the Mast on Wall Studs  
or Solid Wood:  
4
Four (4) 5/16" washers  
electric drill with 1/8" and 3/16" wood bits  
bubble level  
1/2" wrench  
3/8" wrench  
7/16" wrench  
pencil  
Important Considerations:  
Do NOT mount the dish where someone might use it as a  
handrail.  
Make sure the wooden surface is structurally sound  
Do NOT mount the dish on any type of composite paneling,  
such as fiber board, particle board, or strand board.  
Hint  
Do NOT mount the dish under an eave or overhang that may  
block or partially shadow the dish.  
To locate a stud underneath panel  
siding, locate the nails securing the  
panel to the w all. The nails usually  
align w ith the center of the stud and  
provide an easy guide.  
44  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
St e p -b y -st e p In st r u c t io n s f o r  
M o u n t in g o n Wa l l St u d s o r  
So l id Wo o d  
1. Locate the center of a stud where you want to mount the  
mast foot.  
1
2
3
Make sure you locate and secure the mounting foot to  
the center of a wall stud. Do n o t m o u n t t h e d ish n e a r  
t h e e d g e o f a st u d .  
indicate location  
of stud  
2. Hold the mounting foot in a position so the center line is  
centered on a stud or solid wood surface (like a deck  
rail).  
Stud  
Line center holes  
on stud  
3. If you are mounting on a sloped or vertical surface, use a  
level to verify that the center line is perfectly vertical.  
level on center  
line of template  
Level  
Not Level  
4. Use a pencil to mark the two center holes and the four  
outside corner holes of the mounting foot.  
45  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
5. Remove the mounting foot and drill two 1/8" holes in  
the two center hole locations and four 3/16" holes in the  
four outside corner locations.  
6. Use a 7/16" wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting  
foot so that you can rotate the mast to access both of the  
center mounting holes.  
7. Hold the mounting foot over the holes so that the top  
part of the mast will rotate and point straight up.  
7
8. Install two 5/16" x 3" lag screws into the two center  
holes on the mounting foot. Securely tighten the screws.  
9. Put washers on the 5/16" x 2" lag screws, insert the  
screws into the four outside holes and securely tighten  
them.  
No  
10. Turn to Final Approach on page 63 for instructions on  
leveling the mast.  
Yes  
Yes  
IMPORTANT  
Do not mount the DSS® dish on any  
type of aluminum or vinyl siding.  
Do not mount the dish on any type  
of composite paneling, such as fiber  
board, particleboard, or strand board.  
46  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g o n La p Sid in g  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Materials Needed to Mount the Mast on Lap Siding  
(2) 5/16" x 3" lag screws  
(4) 5/16" x 2" lag screws  
(4) 5/16" washers  
Tools Needed to Mount the Mast on Lap Siding:  
Two (2) 5/16" x 3" lag screws  
electric drill with 1/8" and 3/16" wood bits  
bubble level  
1/2" wrench  
3/8" wrench  
7/16" wrench  
pencil  
Four (4) 5/16" x 2" lag screws  
Four (4) 5/16" washers  
4
Important Considerations:  
Do NOT mount the DSS® dish on any type of aluminum or  
vinyl siding.  
Do NOT mount the dish on any type of composite paneling,  
such as fiber board, particle board, or strand board.  
Do NOT mount the dish under an eave or overhang that may  
block or partially shadow the dish.  
47  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
St e p -b y -st e p In st r u c t io n s f o r M o u n t in g  
o n La p Sid in g  
1. Locate the center of a stud where you want to mount the  
mast foot.  
1
2
If possible, choose a position where the mounting foot fits on  
one siding board. When the mounting foot spans two pieces  
of siding, it should positioned so that most of the foot is on  
the top board.  
Make sure you locate and secure the mounting foot to the  
center of a wall stud. Do n o t m o u n t t h e d ish n e a r t h e  
e d g e o f a st u d .  
Hin t : To locate a stud underneath panel siding, locate the  
nails securing the panel to the wall. The nails usually align  
with the center of the stud and provide an easy guide to the  
location of the studs.  
indicate location  
of stud  
2. Hold the mounting foot in a position so the center line is  
centered on a stud.  
line center holes  
on stud  
stud  
try to fit mounting  
foot on one board  
if boards are too narrow,  
place template all the  
way to the top board  
48  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
3. Use a level to verify that the center line is perfectly vertical.  
level on center  
line of template  
3
7
Level  
Not Level  
4. Use a pencil to mark the two center holes and the four  
outside corner holes of the mounting foot.  
5. Remove the foot and drill two 1/8" holes in the two center  
hole locations and four 3/16" holes in the four outside corner  
locations.  
6. Use a 7/16" wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting foot  
so that you can rotate the mast to access both of the center  
mounting holes.  
7. Hold the mounting foot over the holes so that the top part  
of the mast will rotate and point straight up.  
No  
8. Install two 5/16" x 3" lag screws into the two center holes on  
the mounting foot. Lightly tighten the screws.  
Yes  
9. Does the mounting foot fit on a single siding board?  
YES Proceed to step 10.  
NO Skip to the section titled “Installing a Spacer” on  
page 50.  
10. Put washers on the 5/16" x 2" lag screws, insert the screws  
into the four outside holes and securely tighten all screws.  
11. Turn to Final Approach on page 63 for instructions on  
leveling the mast.  
49  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
In st a l l in g a Spa c e r  
When the mounting foot spans two pieces of siding, it should be  
positioned so most of the foot is on the top board. A spacer  
should be installed to help hold the bottom of mounting foot in  
place. The spacer can be made of either solid wood or plastic.  
1. Measure the area under the mounting foot that needs to be  
filled.  
1
2. Trim a wood or plastic spacer to fit the area that needs to be  
filled.  
3. Loosen the lag screw in the lower center hole of the  
mounting foot.  
lap board  
spacer  
4. Insert the spacer under the mounting foot.  
5. Use a pencil to mark the location of the two lower outside  
holes on the spacer.  
6. Remove the spacer and use a 3/16" bit to drill the two holes  
you marked on the spacer.  
7. Slide the spacer under the mounting foot and align the holes  
in the spacer with the holes in the lap siding.  
8. Put washers on the 5/16" x 2" lag screws, insert the screws  
into the four outside holes and securely tighten all screws.  
9. Go to “Final Approach” on page 63 for instructions on  
leveling the mast.  
50  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g o n Br ic k o r Po u r e d Co n c r e t e  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Materials Needed to Mount the Mast on Brick  
or Poured Concrete:  
(4) B4015 or equivalent double-expansion anchors  
(4) #20, 1/4" x 3" machine screws  
(4) 5/16" flat washers  
4
B4015 or equivalent  
double expansion anchors  
Tools Needed to Mount the Mast on Brick  
or Poured Concrete:  
electric drill with 1/2" masonry bit  
bubble level  
1
4
#20,  
/
4
x 3"  
machine screws  
screwdriver  
5
4
/16" washers  
hammer  
7/16" wrench  
pencil  
Important Considerations:  
Do NOT mount the dish under an eave or overhang that may  
block or partially shadow the dish.  
IMPORTANT  
The w all anchors used must have a  
strength of at least 300 pounds of  
pull-out pressure. B4015 or  
equivalent double-expansion anchors  
are recommended.  
51  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
St e p -b y -st e p In st r u c t io n s f o r M o u n t in g  
o n Br ic k o r Po u r e d Co n c r e t e  
1. Hold the mounting foot in position on the mounting surface.  
1
2
2. If you are mounting on a vertical or sloped surface, use a  
level to ensure that the center line is vertical.  
level on center  
line of template  
Level  
Not Level  
3. Mark the four outside holes on the mounting foot.  
4. Remove the foot and drill (4) 1/2" holes in the locations you  
marked.  
5. Insert (4) B4015 or equivalent double-expansion anchors.  
6. Use a 7/16" wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting foot  
so that you can rotate the mast to access both of the center  
mounting holes.  
7. Hold the mounting foot over the holes so the top part of the  
mast will rotate and point straight up.  
7
No  
8. Insert and tighten the machine screws.  
Yes  
9. Go to “Final Approach” on page 63 for instructions on  
leveling the mast.  
52  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g O n a H o l l o w o r Cin d e r  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Bl o c k Wa l l  
Materials Needed to Mount the Mast on a Hollow or  
Cinder Block Wall:  
(4) 1/4" hollow wall togglers  
(4) #20, 1/4" x 3" machine screws  
(4) 4/16" flat washers  
1
4
/4" hollow wall togg  
1
4
#20,  
/
4
x 3"  
machine screws  
Tools Needed to Mount the Mast on a Hollow or  
Cinder Block Wall:  
5
/16" washers  
4
electric drill with 1/2" masonry bit  
bubble level  
screwdriver  
7/16" wrench  
pencil  
Important Considerations:  
Do NOT mount the dish under an eave or overhang that may  
block or partially shadow the dish.  
53  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
St e p -b y -st e p In st r u c t io n s f o r M o u n t in g  
o n a H o l l o w o r Cin d e r Bl o c k Wa l l  
1. When installing togglers in cinder blocks, it is important to  
position them in the core of the block. To position the foot  
on the wall, measure 7-1/2" from one edge of the block and  
mark the center of the block.  
1
3
7 1/2"  
2. Center the mounting foot on the mark you made.  
3. Level the center line of the mounting foot using a bubble  
level.  
level on center  
line of template  
Level  
Not Level  
4. Mark the four outside corner holes.  
5. Remove the mounting foot. Drill a 1/2" hole at the locations  
you marked.  
6. Install the togglers:  
a. Carefully fold one end of the metal channel along the plastic  
straps. Hold the metal channel flat against the plastic straps  
and slide it through the hole.  
6a  
Wall  
Metal channel  
Fold in  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
b. Pull the ring so the metal channel rests flush behind the wall.  
Hold the ring tight and slide the plastic cap along the straps  
until the cap is flush with the wall.  
6b  
6c  
Wall  
Plastic cap  
Metal  
channel  
Ring  
c. Push the straps side-to-side to snap them off flush with the  
wall.  
d. Repeat for all four holes.  
7. Use a 7/16" wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting foot  
so you can rotate the mast to access both of the center  
mounting holes.  
8. Hold the mounting foot over the holes so the top part of the  
mast will rotate and point straight up.  
8
No  
Yes  
9. Place washers on each of four #20, 1/4" x 3" machine screws  
and attach the mounting foot to the wall. Securely tighten  
the screws.  
10. Go to “Final Approach” on page 63 for instructions on  
leveling the mast.  
55  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g t h e Dish O n A Po l e  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Materials Needed to Mount the Dish on a Pole:  
(1) 1-1/4" inner diameter Schedule 40 galvanized steel pipe with  
a measured outer diameter of 1.6"  
(3) bags quick-setting concrete  
Tools Needed to Mount the Dish on a Pole:  
bubble level  
screwdriver  
hammer  
hacksaw  
shovel or post hole digger  
pencil  
Important Considerations:  
Do not install the pole in wet or marshy areas.  
The pole must go at least 3 feet below the surface.  
If the length of pipe above ground is too long, guy wires may  
be needed to increase the stability of the mount in windy  
conditions.  
You will need to ground the pole in addition to grounding  
the dish and coaxial cable.  
IMPORTANT  
In this mounting method, a pole  
that has been secured in the ground  
w ith concrete replaces the mounting  
foot and mast assembly that w as  
supplied w ith the DSS® dish. The  
dish is held on the pole by the  
sleeve of the LNB support arm.  
56  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
St e p -b y -st e p In st r u c t io n s f o r M o u n t in g  
t h e Dish o n a Po l e  
1. Dig a hole 36" deep and 8" to 12" wide at the mounting  
location.  
1
The depth of the hole must extend at least 6" below the  
frost line. For most installations, a pole 6' long is sufficient,  
since this allows 3' of the pole to be below the ground and  
3' above ground.  
at least 3'  
8"-12"  
2. Use a hacksaw to cut a 45o angle at the bottom of the pole.  
This will prevent the pole from rotating in the concrete over  
time.  
2
4
45° cut  
3. Place the pole in the hole and use a small amount of dirt or  
stones to hold the pole upright. You need to attach guy  
wires to help keep the pole upright.  
4. Level the pole using the bubble level. Level the pole at two  
different locations that are at right angles to each other.  
Top view of pole  
Put level in 2 places at right  
angles to each other  
pole  
Level  
Not Level  
5. Fill the hole with quick drying cement. Stop when the  
cement is about two inches from the top of the hole.  
6. Let the cement completely dry before you mount the dish on  
the pole.  
7. Go to “Final Approach” on page 63.  
57  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g t h e M a st o n a Ch im n e y  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Materials Needed to Mount the Mast on a Chimney:  
(1) RCA D915 Chimney Mount Kit  
Tools Needed to Mount the Mast on a Chimney:  
bubble level  
7/16" wrench  
screwdriver  
tin snips  
pliers  
ladder  
pencil  
Important Considerations:  
Make sure the chimney is sturdy and in good condition.  
There should be enough room for the dish to be mounted  
without extending above the top of the chimney. This will  
prevent the dish from being damaged by heat and soot.  
If possible, position the dish on the side of the chimney that  
faces the prevailing wind.  
IMPORTANT  
To M o u n t t h e M a st o n a Ch im n e y  
Use the chimney only if you cannot  
locate a good mounting site on the  
side of your house, on your deck or  
patio, or on a pole in your yard. High  
w inds can put great strain on the  
mounting and the chimney if the dish  
is not mounted properly.  
1. Follow the instructions in the RCA D915 Chimney Mount Kit  
to install the mast on your chimney.  
2. Go to “Final Approach” on page 63.  
58  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
M o u n t in g t h e M a st o n a Ro o f  
DANGER! AVOID Po w e r Lin e s!  
When following these instructions, take extreme care to avoid  
contact with overhead power lines, electric lights, and power  
circuits. Contact with power lines, electric lights, or power  
circuits may be fatal. It is recommended that the dish be  
located more than 20 feet from overhead power lines.  
Materials Needed to Mount the Mast on a Roof:  
(2) 5/16" x 3" lag screws  
(4) 5/16" x 2" lag screws  
(4) 5/16" washers  
roof sealant  
Two (2) 5/16" x 3" lag screws  
Tools Needed to Mount the Mast on a Roof:  
electric drill with 1/8" and 3/16" wood bits  
bubble level  
1/2" wrench  
3/8" wrench  
7/16" wrench  
ladder  
Four (4) 5/16" x 2" lag screws  
Four (4) 5/16" washers  
4
pencil  
Important Considerations:  
Do not mount the dish on slate or shake shingles.  
Do not mount the dish on an overhang.  
On a flat roof, do not mount the dish on a low place where  
water collects.  
IMPORTANT  
Use the roof mount only as a last  
resort. You can easily damage the  
roof by w alking on it or cause leaks  
by not properly sealing the mounting  
holes. Problems w ith roof  
installations increase w ith the age of  
the roof and the type of roofing  
materials.  
59  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
St e p -b y -st e p In st r u c t io n s f o r M o u n t in g  
t h e M a st o n a Ro o f  
1. Locate the center of a rafter where you want the mounting  
foot to be located.  
1
rafters  
facing  
board  
nails  
2. Hold the mounting foot in a position so the center line is  
centered on a rafter.  
3. Use a bubble level to make sure the center line is perfectly  
vertical.  
3
level on center  
line of template  
Level  
Not Level  
4. Use a pencil to mark the six holes in the mounting foot.  
5. Remove the mounting foot and drill a 1/8" hole in the two  
center line locations you marked.  
6. Drill four 3/16" holes in the four outside corner locations you  
marked.  
Hint  
Use the nails in the facing board to  
locate the rafters.  
60  
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M o u n t in g t h e M a st  
7. Fill all six holes with a small amount of roof sealant.  
8. Use a 7/16" wrench to loosen the nuts on the mounting foot  
so you can rotate the mast to access both of the center  
mounting holes.  
8
No  
Yes  
9. Hold the mounting foot over the holes so the top part of the  
mast will rotate and point straight up.  
10. Use two 5/16" x 3" lag screws in each of the centerline holes  
to attach the mounting foot to the roof. Secure the four  
outside corner holes with four 1/4" x 2" lag screws. Securely  
tighten all six screws.  
11. Seal the mounting foot with roof sealant. When applying  
the sealant, make sure you seal the areas shown.  
11  
Sealant  
12. Go to “Final Approach” on page 63.  
61  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Heres the stuff youll do to finish up the DSS®  
Installation:  
Fir st Th in g s Fir st  
So m e In d o o r St u f f  
1
2
Route coaxial cable from the LNB to a ground  
block and from the ground block to the receiver.  
Ground both the satellite dish and the coaxial  
cables.  
Position the satellite dish to receive the best  
possible signal for your location.  
So m e O u t d o o r  
St u f f  
Materials Needed in this Section:  
3
(2) RG-6 coaxial cables (lengths as estimated previously)  
(2) grounding wires (#10 copper or #8 aluminum wire,  
lengths as estimated previously)  
(2) grounding rod clamps  
Te st in g t h e Sy st e m  
M o u n t in g Th e M a st  
Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
4
5
(1) grounding clamp adjustable to 1-1/2" (for pole mount  
only)  
(1) grounding block  
cable ties  
cable clips  
silicone grease  
phone cord  
6
Tools Needed in this Section:  
compass  
7/16" wrench  
Phillips-head screwdriver  
bubble level  
CAUTION  
drill with 1/2" wood drill bit  
Use caution w hen installing, adjusting  
or dismantling the dish and mast. The  
w eight of the dish may cause the dish  
and mast to sw ing dow n and strike  
you, a bystander or nearby objects.  
This could cause personal injury or  
damage to the dish. Never insert your  
fingers inside the mast. Alw ays grip  
the mast around its outside  
circumference.  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Le v e l in g t h e M a st  
Le ve lin g t h e m a st is o n e o f t h e m o st im p o rt a n t st e p s in  
in st a lla t io n . If the mast is not level, the elevation and azimuth  
settings will not be accurate. This will make it difficult to obtain  
the satellite signal.  
The mast must be level in both the side-to-side and the front-to-  
back directions. The side-to-side leveling determines whether  
the mounting foot is level. The front-to-back leveling  
determines whether the mast is level.  
Le v e l in g Sid e -t o -Sid e  
1. If you have used a pole mount, you should have already  
leveled the pole. Skip to “Final Dish Assembly” on page 66.  
2. If you mounted the mast on a vertical surface, such as a wall,  
you leveled the mast side-to-side when you mounted the  
mast foot. Skip to “Leveling Front-to-Back” on the next  
page.  
3. To check whether the mast is level side-to-side, place a  
bubble level on the mast as shown in the figure.  
Level Not Level  
3
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
4. Is the bubble centered in the levels window?  
4
YES  
Continue to “Leveling Front-to-Back”.  
NO  
a) If the bubble is not centered, determine which side of the  
mounting foot needs to be raised.  
b) Unscrew the lag or machine screws from that side of the  
mounting foot.  
c) Place 5/16" washers between the mounting foot and the  
mounting surface. Use enough washers to level the  
mounting foot.  
Add washers  
until foot  
is level  
d) Secure the mounting foot with the lag or machine screws.  
Le v e l in g Fr o n t -t o -Ba c k  
1. Loosen the two bolts securing the mast to the mounting foot  
so the mast moves freely.  
2. Place a bubble level on the mast as shown in the figure.  
Move the mast so the bubble is centered in the levels  
window.  
Level Not Level  
2
3. Tighten the two bolts securing the mast to the mounting  
foot.  
Rotate mast as needed  
Adjustment  
Level Not Level  
Rotate mast as needed  
Adjustment  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Fin a l Dish Asse m b l y  
1. Place the dish-LNB arm assembly on top of the mast.  
1
2. Find the length of RG-6 coaxial cable that will extend from  
the satellite dish to the cables point of entry into the house.  
If the distance of the RG-6 coaxial cable is greater than 112  
feet you may need to break up the lengths of cable and  
connect them with a in-line amplifier to ensure a high signal  
strength. The in-line amplifier must be attached at a  
location inside the house.  
3. Push the coaxial cable through the bottom of the mast and  
out the top. Pull about 2 feet of cable out of the top. Loop  
the cable and push it through the LNB support arm as shown.  
3
4
cable  
4. Place some silicone grease on the LNB connector and connect  
the end of the coaxial cable to the LNB.  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
5. Insert the end of the LNB into the end of the LNB support  
arm (push any extra coaxial cable back through the support  
arm).  
5
6. Find the special hex retainer nut and insert it into the LNB  
mounting hole on top of the LNB support arm.  
6
Hin t : The hex retainer nut must be inserted into the top of  
LNB before the phillips head screw is inserted into the  
bottom of the LNB, otherwise it is very difficult to thread the  
screw to the nut.  
nut (insert first)  
phillips-head screw  
7. Find the phillips head screw and insert it into the LNB  
mounting hole from the bottom of the LNB support arm.  
Tighten the screw with a screwdriver  
8. Find the length of ground wire that will reach from the  
satellite dish to the central building ground.  
9. Do you have a pole mount?  
hex head bolt &  
wire
YES  
9
star washer  
Attach the grounding wire to the metal pole using a 1-1/2"  
grounding clamp.  
NO  
• Find the 1/4" hex head bolt, the 1/4" self-locking nut, and  
the star washer that came in the hardware packet.  
wire
• Place the washer on the bolt, place the bolt in the hole in  
the foot of the mast and loosely attach the nut to the bolt.  
hex head bolt  
• Wrap the ground wire around the bolt between the star  
washer and the surface of the mounting foot and tighten the  
nut.  
star washer  
IMPORTANT The National Electrical Code specifies that coaxial  
cable that is exposed to lightning shall be connected to the  
grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable  
entry as possible.  
self-locking nut  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Ro u t in g Ca b l e a n d Gr o u n d in g a t  
t h e H o u se En t r y Po in t  
1. Locate a grounding block.  
Grounding Block  
1
2. Attach the grounding block to the side of your house close to  
the point you have chosen as the coaxial cable entry point.  
You may have to use anchors, togglers, or wood screws  
depending on the surface on which you are mounting the  
grounding block.  
3. Route the coaxial cable extending from the bottom of the  
mast to the grounding block. A few important reminders:  
If you are routing the coaxial cable along the ground, make  
sure the cable is buried deep enough so that it will not be  
damaged or uncovered.  
If you are routing the coaxial cable above the ground, use  
cable clips to secure it to a wall or surface.  
Make sure you route the coaxial cable in an area where  
people or animals are not likely to come in contact with the  
cable.  
4. Make a 3" - 5" drip loop using cable clips at the grounding  
block as shown. This will prevent water from running into  
the connection at the grounding block.  
To Dish  
4,5  
5. Connect the end of the coaxial cable to the grounding block.  
Grounding Block  
Drip Loop  
6. Locate the central building ground.  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
7. Locate the grounding wire that will extend from the  
grounding block to the central building ground. Attach the  
grounding wire to the grounding block by placing it through  
the wire hole in the grounding block and tightening the  
screw.  
To Dish  
7
Grounding Block  
Ground Wire  
Drip Loop  
To Central Building Ground  
8. Route the grounding wire from the grounding block to the  
central building ground.  
9. Route the grounding wire you previously attached to the  
foot of the mast (or to your metal pole) to the central  
building ground.  
10. Ensure that the routing of both grounding wires are secure.  
Here are a few important reminders:  
If you are routing the grounding wire along the ground,  
make sure the wire is buried deep enough so that it will not  
be damaged or uncovered.  
If you are routing the grounding wire above the ground, the  
wire and the coaxial cable should be tied together with cable  
ties every 3 to 6 feet. Then use cable clips to secure the two  
to a wall or surface.  
Make sure you route the grounding wire in an area where  
people or animals are not likely to come in contact with the  
cable.  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Ru n n in g Ca b l e in t o t h e H o u se a n d  
Co n n e c t in g t o t h e Re c e iv e r  
1. Drill a 1/2" hole in the location you want the coaxial cable to  
enter your house.  
1-3  
INTO HOUSE  
TO DISH  
CAUTION Make sure there are no wires or pipes behind the  
wall in the area of the hole.  
2. Locate the RG-6 coaxial cable that will extend from the  
grounding block to the receiver. Connect one end of the  
coaxial cable to the grounding block.  
TO CENTRAL BUILDING GROUND  
3. Make a 3" - 5" drip loop using cable clips at the grounding  
block as shown.  
4. Route the coaxial cable through your house to the back of  
the receiver. You may route the coaxial cable through a floor  
or wall or directly to the back of the receiver.  
If you are routing through a wall, you may choose to install a  
wall plate at the point the coaxial cable enters the inside of  
the house and use a third RG-6 coaxial cable.  
5. Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable to the SATELLITE IN jack at  
the back of the receiver as shown.  
5
DO NOT connect the coaxial cable to the IN FROM  
ANTENNA jack!  
OUT  
TO  
PHONE JACK  
TV  
S-VIDEO  
VIDEO  
R
AUDIO  
L
WIDE BAND DATA  
SATELLITE IN  
C
H4  
IN  
FROM  
ANT  
C
H3  
6. Use silicone sealant to seal all outside connections and the  
hole you drilled for the coaxial cable to enter your house.  
7. Take a phone off the hook to prevent electric shock from  
incoming calls.  
8. Connect a phone cord from the back of the receiver to a  
phone jack in your home (for instructions on connecting the  
receiver to a phone jack, refer to Appendix B).  
8
Ab o u t t h e Ph o n e Co n n e ct io n The DSS® receiver calls a 1-  
800 toll-free telephone number once a month or so to  
update your access card. It is also used to order pay-per-view  
events. These calls only take a few seconds.  
OUT  
TO  
TV  
PHONE JACK  
S-VIDEO  
VIDEO  
R
AUDIO  
L
WIDE BAND DATA  
SATELLITE IN  
C
H4  
IN  
FROM  
ANT  
C
H3  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
Ac q u ir in g a n d Fin e Tu n in g t h e  
Sa t e l l it e Sig n a l  
The signal strength meter is used to determine whether you are  
receiving the satellite signal. It also indicates the strength of the  
satellite signal. (Refer to your Users Manual for information on  
using the on-screen menus and other features on your DSS®  
system.)  
The signal strength meter produces short, low-pitched tones  
when you are not locked onto the satellite signal. When you  
have locked onto the signal, the tones become a continuous,  
higher-pitched tone.  
The meter on the screen displays the strength of the signal you  
are receiving. The signal strength is also displayed by digits on  
the screen.  
1. Bring up the on-screen signal meter:  
Turn on your TV and the DSS® receiver.  
Press DSS on the remote, then press CLEAR.  
Press MENUSELECT on the remote to bring up the DSS®  
Main menu.  
Point to and select Dish Pointing.  
Point to and select Signal Meter.  
2. Adjust your TV’s volume so that you can hear the signal  
meter from the dish location. You may want a friend to  
watch the signal meter and relay the signal strength to you.  
(I call this the “two-person-point-and-shout” method.)  
While the maximum signal strength is  
100, the signal strength you achieve  
w ill probably be less. Although there  
is no difference in picture quality  
betw een a signal strength of 60 and  
85, the higher the signal, the less  
likely you are to experience negative  
effects in degraded conditions such as  
rain or snow (called “rain fade”).  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
3. Using a compass, rotate the dish so that the LNB arm points  
in the azimuth direction. Loosen the support sleeve nuts as  
needed.  
3
4
support sleeve  
nuts  
4. If you do not hear a continuous tone, use the following  
procedure to adjust the dish until you hear one continuous  
tone:  
At the top of the mast is a piece of tape with evenly spaced  
tick marks. Carefully rotate the dish one tick mark to the  
right and pause for 5 seconds.  
line up edge of  
bracket with tick  
marks  
If you still do not hear a continuous tone, rotate the dish  
back to the original position and then one tick mark to the  
left and pause for 5 seconds.  
ROTATE RIGHT  
one tick mark  
Continue rotating the dish one tick mark at a time further  
right and left from center (making sure to pause for 5  
seconds at each position) until you hear the continuous tone.  
support  
HANDS OFF  
ROTATE LEFT  
one tick mark  
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Fin a l Ap p r o a c h  
5. AFTER YOU GET A SIGNAL, continue adjusting the azimuth  
(compass direction) by rotating the dish in small increments  
left and right until you achieve the highest possible signal  
strength.  
TILT UP  
5-9  
one tick mark  
leiou
6. Tighten the support sleeve nuts so the dish will not rotate  
left and right.  
elevation  
nut  
7. Slightly loosen the elevation nuts on the LNB support arm so  
you can adjust the dish up and down.  
8. Restart the signal meter.  
HANDS OFF  
9. Adjust the elevation of the dish upward and downward until  
you achieve the highest possible signal strength.  
Move the dish upward one tick mark, pause for 5 seconds,  
and check the signal strength.  
Move the dish downward (back to the original position) and  
then down one tick mark, pause for 5 seconds, and check the  
signal strength.  
TILT DOWN  
one tick mark  
When the dish is pointed so the highest signal strength is  
displayed on the signal meter, tighten the elevation nuts on  
the LNB support arm.  
Or d e r in g DSS® Pr o g r a m m in g  
Congratulations!  
You have successfully completed the installation of your DSS®  
Satellite Dish Antenna. There is only one step left for you to do  
before you sit down and start watching TV: Contact the service  
providers, DIRECTV and USSB, to receive DSS® programming.  
Pro g ra m m in g w it h DIRECTV:  
Pro g ra m m in g w it h USSB:  
Ca ll 1-800-347-3288.  
Ca ll 1-800-204-USSB.  
STILL NO SIGNAL?  
If you are unable to achieve a signal,  
refer to Appendix A,  
Troubleshooting, page 74.  
When you order programming, you need to know your Access  
Card number. To get the number, select Options from the Main  
menu, and then select System Test. Wait for the system to run all  
of its tests. The Access Card number is displayed at the end of  
the system test.  
Write the Access Card number in the  
space below for easy reference:  
—————————————————–  
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Ap p e n d ix A: Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g  
Ev e r y In st r u c t io n M a n u a l N e e d s a  
Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g Se c t io n ...  
...And this is it. Most times, problems experienced with the DSS®  
system can be corrected quickly and simply.  
DSS® Re c e iv e r Wo n t Tu r n O n  
1. Make sure the problem is not with the receiver — turn on the  
receiver from the front panel and see if the green light  
comes on. If the light does NOT come on, continue with step  
2. (Make sure the DSS® receiver is plugged in.)  
2. Try plugging the receiver into a different electrical outlet.  
3. Check the fuse box or circuit breaker of your home.  
If there is still no power to the DSS® receiver, turn to Appendix C,  
Warranty Information, for further information on identifying the  
problem or replacing your DSS® receiver.  
Ca n ’t Br in g Up t h e O n -sc r e e n M e n u s  
1. Tune your TV to the correct channel. If during any of these  
steps you see the programming guide or a message stating  
searching for a satellite signal,” then your receiver is  
connected and working properly. If not, go to Step 5.  
• If you connected the receiver using the S-video or audio/  
video cables (as shown on pages 12 and 14), tune the TV to  
the S-video input channel or the video input channel.  
• If you connected the receiver using the RF cable connection  
(as shown on pages 16 and 18), tune to channel 3 or 4  
(depending on how you set the CH3/CH4 switch on the back  
of the receiver). Press the ANTENNA button on the receivers  
front panel.  
2. Make sure that your DSS® receiver is receiving power.  
3. Turn the receiver on using the front panel ON/OFF button.  
Hint  
4. Re-check the connections between the DSS® receiver and  
You may w ant to try the minimum  
your television (pages 12-19).  
connection (Connection D on page 18)  
if you think you may have a problem  
w ith any of your cables or you think  
you may be connecting the system  
incorrectly.  
5. If you still cannot access the DSS® system, turn to Appendix C,  
Warranty Information, for further information on identifying  
the problem or replacing your DSS® receiver.  
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Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g  
Re m o t e Pr o b l e m s  
1. Verify that your DSS® receiver is receiving power.  
2. Verify that your TV is set to the correct channel to receive the  
DSS® signal: the S-video channel, the video input channel, or  
channel 3 or 4 (depending on how you set the CH3/CH4  
switch on the back of the receiver).  
3. Verify that you can access the DSS® on-screen menus by  
pressing MENU/SELECT on the front panel.  
4. Turn your receiver off using the ON/OFF button on the front  
panel.  
5. Press DSS on the remotethis should turn the receiver on  
(the green light should come on) and set the TV to DSS®  
mode.  
6. If you see DSS® programming, the program guide, or a  
message stating “searching for a satellite signal,” then your  
remote is working properly. If not, go to Step 7.  
7. Make sure there are batteries in the remote. Check to see  
the batteries are working properly.  
8. Verify that you have correctly programmed the remote to  
work with your TV (page 20).  
9. Sometimes a remote control can lock up or behave erratically.  
To reset the remote, remove the batteries, press and hold the  
VOL DOWN button for 60 seconds, then replace the batteries.  
If the DSS® receiver is working and the system still does not  
respond to your remote control, there may be a problem with  
the remote. (Remember, receiver functions can be controlled  
from the front panel.) Turn to Appendix C, Warranty  
Information, for further information on identifying the problem  
or replacing your receiver.  
If you remove the batteries from the  
remote, you may have to reprogram  
the remote to control your TV. See  
programming the remote on page 20.  
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Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g  
Ca n ’t Pic k Up t h e Sa t e l l it e Sig n a l  
Most problems with signal acquisition can be traced to one of  
these points:  
1. Make sure youre using RG-6 coaxial cable to connect the LNB  
to the grounding block and the grounding block to the DSS®  
receiver. Standard Cable TV cables (RG-59) will NOT transmit  
the DSS® satellite signal properly. Im p o rt a n t : Do NOT  
connect the RG-6 cable from the dish or grounding block to  
any existing TV cable in your house.  
2. Make sure the access card is fully inserted into the access card  
slot.  
access card  
2
4
ON/OFF  
DISPLAY  
ANTENNA  
MENU  
SELECT  
3. Check all cable connections to make sure they are securely  
fastened to the proper connectors, from the TV, to the DSS®  
receiver, all the way out to the dish LNB.  
4. Make sure the cable from the dish to the receiver is  
connected to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of the  
receiver (NOT the ANTENNA IN jack).  
OUT  
TO  
PHONE JACK  
TV  
S-VIDEO  
VIDEO  
R
AUDIO  
L
WIDE BAND DATA  
SATELLITE IN  
C
H4  
IN  
FROM  
ANT  
C
H3  
5. Verify that you are using the correct azimuth and elevation  
for your zip code:  
Choose Point Dish Using Your Zip Code and re-enter your zip  
code. Verify that the elevation and azimuth match those you  
recorded earlier.  
6. Make sure the dish is set to the correct elevation.  
Check the elevation setting on the LNB support arm. Make  
sure the elevation indicator (edge of metal painted white,  
NOT the washer or the bolt) is set at the elevation you  
recorded.  
6
Make sure the dish mast is level (pages 64-65).  
0
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Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g  
7. Use a compass (page 26) to verify that the LNB support arm is  
pointed toward the azimuth number (compass direction) you  
recorded.  
8. Make sure there are no obstructions (trees, buildings,  
windows, your body or hands, etc.) that might be interfering  
with the satellite signal.  
8
yes  
no  
9. Bring up the on-screen signal meter and try to acquire the  
signal again.  
Rotate the dish left and right (one tick at a time) pausing at  
each location for 5 seconds until the signal meter produces  
one continuous tone.  
10. If you cant acquire a signal by rotating the dish left and  
right, adjust the elevation of the dish.  
Return the LNB support arm to the original azimuth (left-to-  
right compass direction) and tighten one nut on the support  
sleeve.  
Loosen the elevation nuts on the LNB support arm and rotate  
the dish upward and downward (one tick mark at a time).  
Pause at each position for 5 seconds until the signal meter  
produces one continuous tone.  
11. If you suspect you have a problem with your RG-6 coaxial  
cables, consider testing the cable by using it to connect the  
DSS® receiver to the TV. If you can access the on-screen menu  
system, the cable should be okay.  
If you are still unable to achieve a signal, turn to Appendix C,  
Warranty Information, for more information.  
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Tr o u b l e sh o o t in g  
Te m p o r a r y Sa t e l l it e Sig n a l Lo ss  
If you lose the satellite signal temporarily, the problem can  
usually be traced to one of these points:  
1. Ra in Fa d e . Rain fade is a normal, temporary loss of a  
satellite signal due to the inability of the satellite signal to  
penetrate unusually heavy clouds, rainfall, or snowfall. Rain  
fade tends to be brief, lasting only as long as the heavy  
cloud condition persists.  
To minimize rain fade effects, maximize your signal strength.  
Then, when rain fade occurs, you have the best chances of  
having a signal that is still strong enough to view.  
Also, make sure the dish is mounted securely. The strong  
winds that accompany rainstorms can move the dish out of  
position if it is not mounted securely.  
2. Ove rh e a t e d Co m p o n e n t s. The DSS® receiver must receive  
adequate ventilation to work safely and properly. If the  
receiver overheats, the satellite signal may deteriorate. Do  
not stack VCRs or other components on top of the DSS®  
receiver.  
Yo u h e a r a d ia l in g so u n d w h il e t a l k in g  
o n t h e p h o n e  
Your DSS® receiver is probably attempting to call the billing  
center. Under normal conditions, the receiver hangs up any time  
it detects a voice on the line. However, some phone companies  
have a dial tone that the receiver may mistakenly interpret as a  
human voice.  
To address this possibility, the receiver is designed to go ahead  
and call the billing center after four unsuccessful attempts to get  
a dial tone. If youre using the phone when the receiver calls  
out, youll hear a dialing sound. Dont worry: your phone  
connection will not be broken.  
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Ap p e n d ix B: Co n n e c t in g t o a Ph o n e Ja c k  
Wh y Do Yo u N e e d a Ph o n e Ja c k ?  
The DSS® receiver calls a 1-800, toll-free telephone number once  
a month to update your access card. In addition, to easily order  
pay-per-view events, you should have the DSS® receiver  
connected to a phone line. These calls only take a few seconds,  
and the system will usually hang up if you pick up the phone  
while the receiver is calling out.  
There are two options available for connecting your DSS®  
receiver to a phone line. You may:  
use a phone jack near your DSS® receiver  
use a DSS® Wireless Phone Jack System  
Co n n e c t in g Dir e c t l y t o a Ph o n e Ja c k  
1. Locate a phone jack near the DSS® receiver.  
2. If a phone is already connected to the existing jack, plug in a  
t-connector.  
2
3. Plug one end of the line cord that will run to the DSS®  
receiver into the existing jack or t-connector. You will hear a  
distinct click” when the lever on the modular plug locks into  
the jack.  
3,4  
4. Plug the other end of the line cord into the connection on  
the back of the DSS® receiver labelled “Phone Jack”.  
OUT  
TO  
TV  
PHONE JACK  
S-VIDEO  
VIDEO  
R
AUDIO  
L
WIDE BAND DATA  
SATELLITE IN  
C
H4  
IN  
FROM  
ANT  
C
H3  
5. Plug any phone lines that were connected to the existing jack  
into one side of the t-connector.  
6. Hang up any phones that you left off-hook.  
To connect the DSS® receiver to the  
phone jack, you w ill need a  
telephone line cord that has modular  
plugs at both ends. The line cord  
should be long enough to reach from  
the phone jack to the DSS® receiver.  
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Co n n e c t in g t o a Ph o n e Ja c k  
Usin g a DSS® Wir e l e ss Ph o n e Ja c k Sy st e m  
Since a phone jack may not be located near your DSS® receiver,  
the DSS® Wireless Phone Jack system allows you to easily put a  
phone jack right where you want it. The system consists of a  
base unit hooked to an existing phone jack and an extension unit  
that is placed near the DSS® receiver  
For more detailed information on installing the DSS® Wireless  
Phone Jack System, refer to the instructions that come with the  
system.  
Run the System Test to Check the Phone Connection  
The system test will check to ensure the phone line connection to  
the DSS® receiver is functioning correctly. The system test also  
performs a signal test, a tuning test, and an access card test.  
During the phone test, the receiver checks for a dial tone and  
performs an internal test. If the phone test does not detect any  
problems, the message “OKwill be displayed on the screen.  
However, if the phone test detects a problem, the message  
Check phone connectionswill be displayed.  
To run the system test, press MENUSELECT on the remote to  
bring up the Main menu; select Options. Select System Test.  
If the “OKmessage is displayed, the wireless phone jack system  
is working correctly.  
If the phone test finds a problem, do the follow ing:  
Make sure there are no phones off the hook.  
Make sure the phone line modular plugs are properly  
connected to the jacks. Remember, you will hear a distinct  
click” when the lever on the modular plug locks into the  
jack.  
Make sure the phone jack is working correctly by connecting  
a working telephone to the phone jack.  
If you installed a new phone jack, make sure the wires at the  
telephone jack are connected to the correct color-coded  
screws.  
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Ap p e n d ix C: Wa r r a n t y In f o r m a t io n  
Dig it a l Sa t e l l it e Sy st e m (DSS®) Lim it e d Wa r r a n t y  
What your w arranty covers:  
Any defect in materials or workmanship.  
Basic installation, provided installation is performed by a Thomson Consumer  
Electronics Authorized Installer.  
For how long after your purchase:  
90 days - Installation which includes parts and labor.  
90 days - Unit exchange, which includes parts and labor.  
91 days to 1 year – Unit exchange, which includes parts only; you pay the labor.  
What w e w ill do:  
During the initial 90 days:  
Exchange the defective portion of your DSS® with a new or, at our option, refurbished  
unit and correct any basic installation defects at no cost to you.  
After the 90 days and within one year:  
Exchange the defective portion of your DSS® with a new or, at our option, refurbished  
unit. We will bill you a flat exchange charge to replace a defective receiver. This charge  
covers the labor cost for its repair. Labor costs for the removal and re-installation of  
any equipment are your responsibility.  
How you get service:  
Call 1-800-679-4776 and have your units date of purchase and model/serial number  
ready. The model/serial number information is on the back of your receiver.  
A representative will troubleshoot your problem over the phone.  
If the representative determines that you should receive a replacement receiver you  
will be provided with a Return Authorization (RA) number and the location of a  
nearby exchange point if one exists. No returns will be accepted without the RA  
number.  
If the representative determines that your antenna/dish is defective they will arrange  
for its repair or replacement.  
If the representative determines that installation is defective they will arrange for its  
repair.  
To receive a replacement receiver before you return yours:  
If you are located near an exchange point:  
1. We will send a replacement unit to our exchange point next business day delivery in  
the continental U.S.A.  
2. The exchange location will notify you of its arrival.  
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Wa r r a n t y In f o r m a t io n  
3. Take your unit and your evidence of purchase date, such as a bill of sale, to the  
exchange location and you will be provided the new or refurbished unit. Please  
retain all accessories such as the remote control hand unit.  
4. If the repairs are covered by your warranty, you will not be billed.  
If you are not located near an exchange point:  
1. Provide your Discover, Mastercard, or Visa account number and expiration date to  
your phone representative. This is for security purposes only and your account will  
not be charged at this time.  
2. We will send you a replacement unit next business day delivery in the continental  
U.S.A.  
3. If you return the unit to us within 14 days from the date you were provided an RA  
number, only items not covered by warranty will be charged to your account. If your  
unit is not received within 14 days, the suggested retail value of the receiver will be  
charged to your credit card. This amount will be credited if the unit is subsequently  
received.  
4. Ship your defective unit back to us using the replacement units carton. Shipping  
instructions will be included on the carton along with your RA number which will  
allow you to easily ship the unit back to us. Make sure you insure your shipment in  
case of damage or loss. Include with the shipment:  
Evidence of purchase date such as a bill of sale.  
A brief note describing the receivers problem.  
Your name, address, and phone number.  
Thomson assumes no responsibility of warranty shipments from the customer to the  
factory if not shipped in the manner prescribed by Thomson.  
To receive a replacement receiver after w e have received your unit:  
Write the RA number on the outside of the carton used to return the unit. Make  
sure you insure your shipment in case of damage or loss.  
Carefully pack the unit using the original box and packing material if possible. Please  
retain all accessories that were included with your unit such as the remote control  
hand unit.  
Include with the shipment:  
Evidence of purchase date such as a bill of sale.  
A brief note describing the receivers problem.  
Your name, address, and phone number.  
Include a cashiers check or money order for payment if there are any out of  
warranty labor or parts charges which were indicated by the representative, and you  
elect not to use your credit card.  
After we receive your product, a new or refurbished unit will be shipped to you next  
business day delivery in the continental U.S.A.  
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Wa r r a n t y In f o r m a t io n  
What your w arranty does not cover:  
Acts of God, such as but not limited to lightning damage.  
Adjustment of customer controls.  
Damage from misuse or neglect.  
A unit that has been modified or incorporated into other products or is used for  
institutional or other commercial purposes.  
Batteries.  
Units purchased, serviced, or operated outside the USA. Only the DSS® receiver is  
covered by this warranty if the system is purchased in the state of Alaska.  
Loss of programming.  
Shipping damage if the unit was not packed and shipped in the manner prescribed by  
Thomson.  
Storage fees may be charged by the exchange point if you fail to pick up the  
replacement unit in a timely manner.  
Any installation other than a basic installation. A basic installation consists of:  
- Antenna mounted to a single family dwelling using 100 ft. or less of cable.  
- Antenna grounded to meet National Electrical Code (NEC).  
- Routing of the cabling through a normal frame structure or only one layer of  
masonry.  
- One TV connected to the antenna.  
- A telephone cable and connection installed at the connected TV.  
Installations performed by anyone other than Thomson Consumer Electronics  
Authorized Installers.  
Product Registration:  
Please complete and mail the Product Registration Card packed with your DSS®  
product. It will make it easier to contact you should it ever be necessary. The return of  
the card is not required for warranty coverage.  
How state law relates to this w arranty:  
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights that vary  
from state to state.  
If you purchased your product outside the USA:  
This warranty does not apply. Contact your dealer for warranty information.  
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In d e x  
DSS installation  
A
installation overview 4  
DSS on-screen signal m eter  
using to fine-tune the satellite signal 71  
DSS receiver  
access card 41, 73  
acquiring the satellite signal 37, 71  
aim ing the dish  
using the on-screen signal m eter 38  
assem bling the dish  
final assem bly 66  
connecting 10  
E
audio/video jacks 10  
azim uth  
elevation  
setting 23, 40  
setting 39  
F
B
fine-tuning the satellite signal 71  
adjusting the azim uth 72  
brick surface m ounting option  
considerations 28, 51  
adjusting the elevation 73  
m aterials and tools needed 51  
G
C
grounding the system  
cable requirem ents 30, 67  
grounding block 68  
cable, RG-6 coaxial. See RG-6 coaxial cable  
cable, routing  
considerations 30  
house entry point 68  
into the house 70  
through the m ast 35, 66  
chim ney m ounting option 58  
considerations 29, 58  
m aterials and tools needed 58  
cinder block m ounting option  
considerations 28, 53  
H
help-line (toll-free) 81  
L
lap siding m ounting option  
considerations 28, 47  
m aterials and tools needed 53  
com pass  
m aterials and tools needed 47  
use of a spacer 50  
how to use 26  
using for the site selection 26  
using to aim the dish 37  
using to locate the satellite 26  
concrete m ounting surface option  
considerations 28, 51  
LNB  
attaching to the LNB support arm 67  
connecting the RG-6 coaxial cable 66  
M
m ast  
m aterials and tools needed 51  
connecting  
RG-6 coaxial cable to LNB 36  
the DSS receiver to TV 10  
leveling 64  
m aterials  
for final connections 63  
m ounting on  
D
a chim ney 29, 58  
a hollow wall 28  
a pole 29, 56  
a roof 59  
brick 28, 51  
DIRECTV 73  
drip loop 68  
DSS dish  
aim ing toward the satellite 37  
assem bling 8  
cinder block 28, 53  
lap siding 28, 47  
poured concrete 28, 51  
wall studs or solid wood 28, 44  
m ounting options 43  
attaching to the LNB support arm 8  
contents of the DSS dish box 7  
final assem bly 66  
grounding 30  
m ounting options 28, 43  
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In d e x  
m ounting on cinder block 53  
m ounting on concrete 51  
m ounting on lap siding 47  
m ounting on wall studs or solid wood 44  
troubleshooting 74  
description of 28  
m ounting sites  
considerations of 28, 29  
O
phone jack 80  
rem ote 75  
obstructed view 27  
signal acquisition for system test 76  
P
U
phone line cord  
existing 79  
unobstructed view 27  
USSB 73  
installing a new jack 80  
troubleshooting 80  
point & select 20  
pole m ount option  
considerations 29, 56  
m aterials and tools needed 56  
product help-line 81  
W
wall stud m ounting option  
considerations 28, 44  
m aterials and tools needed 44  
warranty inform ation 81  
R
Z
rem ote control 20  
RF jacks 10  
zip code 22  
RG-6 coaxial cable  
drip loops 68  
grounding 68  
routing into house 70  
roof m ounting option  
considerations 29, 59  
m aterials and tools needed 59  
S
S-Video jack 10  
service providers 73  
site survey  
general site survey 5  
line of sight to the satellite 5, 27  
precise 26  
T
testing the system 33  
aim ing toward the satellite 37  
assem bling the test com ponents 34  
continuous tone 40  
on-screen signal m eter 38  
tem porary stand 34  
troubleshooting the system test 41  
tools and m aterials needed for  
m ounting on a chim ney 58  
m ounting on a pole 56  
m ounting on a roof 59  
m ounting on brick 51  
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CREATIN G A GREEN ER FUTURE  
At Th o m so n Co n su m e r Ele ct ro n ics we are dedicated to the preservation  
of our natural heritage and to a healthy and safe way of life for current  
and future generations. This is a global effort which encompasses every  
THOMSON facility throughout the world.  
We believe that clean air, clean water, a protected earth, and healthy  
people are not only practical and desirable goals, but achievable ones as  
well. Our Corporate Environmental, Health and Safety Charter  
acknowledges our commitment to protect these precious assets and  
provides a challenging vision and guideline for conducting our business.  
Below are a few examples of Thomsons achievements in our efforts to preserve our natural resources.  
The Air  
The Water  
The Earth  
Thomson has replaced solvent based paints  
at many locations resulting in an 80%  
reduction in toxic air emissions for  
equivalent material used.  
Thomson recovers over 2 million pounds of  
fine glass particles from process water each  
year and recycles them back into its glass  
furnaces.  
Thomson reclaims millions of pounds of  
hazardous waste annually, diverting it  
from landfills.  
Thomson treats millions of pounds of  
waste water sludge annually and renders it  
nonhazardous.  
Thomson has eliminated the use of ozone  
depleting substances at television  
manufacturing facilities around the world.  
Thomsons state-of -the- art waste water  
treatment plants filter out over 26 million  
pounds of solids from process water each  
year.  
Thomson recycles over 50 million pounds  
of nonhazardous material annually that  
otherwise would have been treated as  
trash, an overall recovery rate of 50% .  
Thomson collects and returns over 1.5  
million pounds of air pollution control dust  
to the glass making process annually.  
Thomson U.S. glass factory recycles 2,500  
gallons of water per minute and cleans 2.6  
million gallons of water per day.  
Thomson has launched worldwide energy  
savings programs which contribute to  
efforts to reduce air emissions from  
electrical generating facilities.  
Thomson globally recycles millions of  
pounds of broken television picture tube  
glass annually through both internal and  
external reclaim processes.  
Thomson is researching new processes  
and is developing new manufacturing  
equipment and technologies to further  
reduce large volume water use.  
Th o m so n has also increased its usage of recycled materials for packaging of our products. For example, in the  
U.S. and Mexico our television plants use recycled content in our television cartons and instruction booklet.  
The inks used for the print on cartons and instruction booklets is soy based and nontoxic. For a free brochure  
regarding Thomsons Environmental Health and Safety Programs, write to Thomson Consumer Electronics’  
address below, attention Environmental Programs: INH340.  
Please do not send any products to the Indianapolis address listed in this manual or on the carton. This will  
only add delays in service for your product.  
The following materials were used in printing  
this publication:  
100%  
RECYCLEDPAPER  
10330 No rt h Me rid ia n St re e t  
In d ia n a p o lis, IN 46290  
MINIMUM50%POSTCONSUMER  
©1995 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.  
Trademark(s)® Registered  
Marca(s) Registrada(s)  
Printed in U.S.A.  
TOCOM 15162360  
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