RCA Self Installation
Jan 05 '00
I'm definitely not "Mr. Construction", but I'm also not afraid to try something like installing a satellite dish and wiring. I found this to be a considerable challenge, but glad to have had the experience.
If you are thinking about trying this yourself, I hope the following information will help your installation go smoothly.
RCA sells a "self install kit". I recommend that you buy it, or see if your dealer will make it part of your purchase package. Buying it separately can become quite expensive. It contains a video tape telling you what you will be doing and introducing you to the pieces of the system, as well as a self installation manual. It probably will contain all you need for a single receiver system, depending on how you mount your dish. If you are installing a dual receiver system, you will probably have to go back and get a few items to finish out your installation, such as the clips that allow you to hook up two phone devices to a single phone jack.
(NOTE: I wish I'd kept a list of these items to pass on to you, but I did not. Maybe one of my readers will add comments to assist others later.)
The satellite is positioned due south of Texas. Knowing this will help you decide which side of the house you will give you the easiest installation for your dish. If you have to mount the dish on any other side, you may have to purchase additional hardware, a pole and/or wood to mount the satellite dish.
Unless you are very lucky, you will have to drill at least one hole in the exterior wall of your house. If you are replacing cable TV with the satellite system, you may be able to hook your satellite dish connection to the cable TV connection on the exterior of your home.
Unless you are able to use existing wiring inside your home, you will probably have to drill holes to get the cable from the attic or basement inside the walls and make a hole to run the cable out through the wall. This was the easy part for me. The store where you bought your system most likely sells "coax wall outlets". Cutting a 2X3" hole and using the wall outlets was among the easier parts of the installation.
I bought a 100' piece of cable and cut into the lengths I needed. Putting the connecters on the cable pieces may be difficult if you are inexperienced, but many electronics stores sell the crimpers, which include instructions for putting the connectors on the end of the cable. This is a likely problem area for do-it-your-selfers.
Once you have the cable run from the dish to the walls where the receivers will be placed, you are coming down the home stretch. The manual that comes with your "self install kit" tells you how to hook up your VCR and TV to the receiver. After you make the connections, you are ready to sit back and enjoy that beautiful picture! :)
If you buy a dual receiver system make sure you connect both receivers to your telephone system. DirecTV's customer service told me that you will be billed for two packages, instead of the mirror service on the second receiver, if either unit is unable to dial into their system.
Well, I hope this helps you, both in making your decision whether or not to install it yourself, and to help you prepare for the installation. I spent about 4 hours installing my system, but I'm known to be more the "slow and methodical" type, than a speed demon! :)
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Epinions.com ID:
stan-c
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Member: Stan
Location: Memphis, TN, USA
Reviews written: 7
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