Most satellite TV providers offer all the equipment and setup costs for their clients. The kit may include a dish, cabling, and a DVR. Part of the after-sales service provides installation.
The service works as a rental agreement, where you pay to keep the DVR and enjoy the channels.
If you opt-out of the contract, the company will take back the DVR, but you keep everything else, including the dish.
If you no longer use Directv, having the dish sitting around can be a bother. It is even worse if you are trying to upgrade and do yard work on your property.
Since Directv will not take the dish back, how can you dismount it?
How To Remove Directv Satellite Dish From Ground
Step 1: Detach the cable
Before disconnecting the wires, you should ensure that you disconnect the power to the dish to avoid electrocution.
Upon installation, the crew has to route the cables from the DVR to the external dish. You will need a Phillips head screwdriver and a wrench to remove the wires.
Locate the Low Noise Block and unscrew the two Phillips head screws. You will see that the cables are secured by either a plastic encasing or rounds of duct or masking tape.
You can cut through the tape to expose the wires and pull on them to disconnect the wiring from the dish.
Step 2: Dismount the dish
Directv secures their dishes to mounting brackets. The mounting nuts are 0.5 inches in diameter, so for this, you will need an appropriately-sized wrench.
When dismounting the dish from the brackets, ensure that it is secure such that it doesn’t fall off the moment you unscrew the nuts.
Slowly lift the dish vertically, ensuring that you do not tilt it, as it could cause the reflector to remain upright.
Step 3: Detach the footplate
The footplate is the hardest to detach. For this step, you will need a crowbar. It is usually a two-person job. The step is optional, so you can skip it if you can find a use for the plates.
Using your wrench, remove the nuts holding the footplate. Place a crowbar underneath the plate and lift it off the ground.
If you feel that the procedure is too complicated, you can hire a handyperson to do it.
How To Properly Mount A Directv Dish
Mounting the dish is not complicated. In many cases, Directv will have someone mount it for you.
However, it is not always the case. The area might be remote, or some regions require that you pay an installation fee to get up and running.
Here is how you can install the dish.
Step 1: Find the perfect location.
Though you can technically mount the dish on the ground, it is better to use a raised surface. The ideal spot should be at the highest flat surface.
Mounting on the ground is not ideal because height matters. After all, you will avoid objects that block the signal. It would help to mount the dish on a flat surface because of the handle design.
It is also safer to mount the dish off the ground because running cables on the wall are safer than against the ground.
You want to find a location with decent reception. It would be best if you, therefore, mounted the dish facing the general direction.
Step 2: Trace around the mount
The mount placement is vital because, if done incorrectly, it will cause the dish to fall off the wall.
Place the mount against the wall, and using a pencil, trace the outline and the screw holes before proceeding with the mount.
Step 3: Drilling
To mount the bracket securely, you will need to drill shallow reference points on your initial outline.
Using an appropriately sized drill bit, plug about a third of an inch into the wall where you want the mounting screws to go.
Step 4: Securing the mount metals.
Place the bracket and enter the mount metals into the holes. Use a hammer and chisel to drive the metal into the wall. Place the plugs and hammer them in until the bracket is secure.
Step 5: Fasten the mount
Place the L-shaped mount on the bracket and guide the nut through the holes. Tighten them so that the support is firm.
Step 6: Attach the antennae to the Low Noise Block.
Place the plate with the prongs facing you on the left and right. Hold the arm between the prongs, extending the tail end past the plate’s opposite side.
The sides of the panel fit over the plate’s prongs and are secured with bolts. On the end of each bolt, add a washer and nut.
After you’ve double-checked that they’re securely fastened, do this. It will keep the antenna from swinging around in the wind.
Step 7: Secure the antenna bracket to the back of the dish
Place the bolts through the screwing holes and fasten them with the washers. The head goes into the dish and not vice versa. Ensure that the washers are firmly in place and tight, or the dish will fall off the bracket.
Step 8: Install the Low Noise Block
The LNB is in charge of the dish’s operation. To begin, slip the LNB handle onto the open end of the arm.
Remove the LNB from the box after securing it using nuts and bolts. Before bolting it in place, position it on the handle, facing the dish.
How To Get The Best Reception
You will struggle to obtain good reception unless you use your antenna correctly. Everyone has battled to get good reception from the antenna for various reasons.
So, how can you improve the signal quality?
Once every few weeks, perform a scan.
You may correct most signal losses with a simple rescan. It may be good to scan once every few weeks to uncover new channels.
Make use of an amplifier.
If you want to share the same signal between many televisions, you’ll need an amplifier. The amplifier will magnify the signals, resulting in better and more consistent visual quality.
Examine the connections.
Make sure the antenna is correctly attached. On the connecting terminals of the external antenna, rust is forming. It causes the antenna to work inefficiently.
Shift the antenna to a new place.
Move the antenna to a different place if you can’t receive a stable signal despite many channel searches. Moving the antenna might help in areas with a lot of signal interference.
Make use of an attenuator.
You could have trouble getting the optimal signal because you’re too close to a transmission box. An attenuator will assist enhance signal quality if you can’t move the antenna away from the transmission box.
Purchase a better antenna.
If you’ve done everything above and still can’t get a signal, it might be time to invest in a more robust antenna.
How Can You Repurpose An Old Dish?
You can use your old dish in several ways. The metal plate does not have to end up in a landfill. Here are some creative ways you can repurpose your old dish:
1. Solar cooker
A dish’s concave shape makes it perfect for solar cooking. The body allows it to redirect light beams into a focal point where they converge and focus, consequently producing heat.
All you need for the project is tinfoil and suspension wires. Line the inside of the dish with the highly reflective aluminum and position it in the sum.
Find the convergence point using a dark cloth. Suspend a cooking pot using wires over the convergence point and start cooking.
2. Birdbath
An easy project you can undertake is converting the dish into a birdbath. You will need an appropriate sealant to fill the mounting holes and ensure that the dish does not leak for the project.
You can paint over the dish, so you do not expose the metal directly to water to prevent corrosion. Lastly, fill the dish with water to create a birdbath. It is a simple yet helpful project for the birds in your area.
3. Long-range Wi-Fi receiver
You can use the dish with the Low Noise Block as a distant Wi-Fi receiver. It can be handy, especially in remote areas.
4. Phone Signal Amplifier
The Low Noise Block can amplify weak mobile and radio signals, giving better reception in remote areas.
Conclusion
Most satellite TV companies cover all of their customers’ equipment and installation fees.
A dish, wiring, and a DVR are included with the setup. Installation is included as part of the after-sales service.
If you don’t watch Directv anymore, having the dish around might be inconvenient. It’s made considerably worse if you’re attempting to improve your home or undertake yard chores.
If you opt-out of the contract, the firm will retrieve the DVR, but you will keep everything else, including the dish.
