Television has never been this entertaining, thanks to technological advancements. Gone are the days you would experience signal problems that meant missing your favourite program.

Satellite offered television has been nothing short of a miracle. Here’s why.

• It is now possible for consumers to receive signals to many channels.
• The image quality is sharper than in cable television
• It is now possible to watch tv even if you live in a remote place
• There are many channels to watch compared to cable television
• It is easier to troubleshoot satellite television than cable because of the differences in configuration.

How Satellite Television Works

Satellite television ensures your experience watching television is exceptional. Its difference from broadcast TV is in signal transmission. Satellite television sends signals through space satellites, while broadcast television sends signals from signal towers directly to the antennas on your tv set. The signals come from the programmers of the various TV channels who send their feeds to DISH.

At DISH, there is a feed collection centre called an uplink centre. From this collection centre, a single data stream is beamed to the space satellites through the satellites on the ground at the collection centre at a 270 Mbps speed. The space satellites then take that single data feed and use another band to send the signal directly to the satellite dishes in homes. Furthermore, the satellites use a different band to send the signal to homes to prevent interference. The satellite dish in your home will then collect this signal and send it to a receiver inside your house. At the receiver, decryption and conversion of the signal to video and audio take place-all at lighting speed.

What Is a Satellite Dish?

A satellite dish is a telecommunications device you can use for broadcasting and data transmission. 

Primarily, a satellite dish’s function is to receive microwave signals and then convert them to electric signals that you can transmit to electronic devices like TVs and computers. One can use satellite dishes in different kinds of data communication, and their signals can reach anywhere without using cable connections. However, to enjoy the services , you need to know where to point your satellite dish.

Aligning Your Satellite Dish

Alignment is crucial for quality signals. The dish must have a clear line of sight with a signal tower. A correct alignment will also enhance the quality of the images. It is, therefore, necessary to let a satellite installation expert guide you in the direction your dish should face.

It will be best to ensure your dish has an unobstructed view of a signal tower when aligning. So, it will help if you avoid any buildings or trees in front of your dish.Your dish should have a clear line of sight with satellites in space.

So, which direction should your satellite dish point? Because of the vast distance between your dish and space satellites, getting the right angle for your dish to get the best frequencies is essential. Make the proper vertical, skew and horizontal adjustments for correct dish alignment.

Using a signal meter will give you the accurate angle and direction for your dish alignment. Signal meters rely on the guidance of the signal tower and Sky satellite closest to you. Use a signal meter to avoid the inaccuracies of trial and error. For example, you can use an app that can find your position to calculate the optimal angle for your dish alignment. With the positional parameters in place, climb to where your dish is and make the adjustments manually.  

Horizontal or Azimuth Dish Alignment

The Azimuth position is the correct horizontal dish alignment for your dish to receive a signal that is clear and has no interruptions. The horizontal alignment pertains to the satellite that emits the signal.

Your dish should face east or west in the direction you expect the signal to come from. This alignment depends on your location. It’s advisable first to find the proper horizontal alignment because it makes it easier to find the appropriate elevation alignment for your dish.

Steps for Horizontal Alignment of Your Dish

• Find the required azimuth setting for your dish. You can easily find the setting online.
• Install your dish at the chosen site.
• Unfasten the bolts of the dish’s mounting collar with a wrench that’s adjustable.
• Stand behind the dish with a magnetic compass in hand and rotate the dish horizontally until its needle aligns with the south and north dial readings.
• Keep metal objects away from the magnetic compass because they may alter your readings. 
• Rotate your satellite dish until it is in the direction indicated by the compass.
• Retighten the bolts on the mounting collar once you position the dish correctly. 

Vertical or Elevation Dish Alignment

Your dish should also be in the correct vertical alignment to receive an uninterrupted and clear signal. The vertical alignment refers to the angle of elevation of your satellite dish in relation to the earth’s surface. This alignment also depends on your location.

Steps to Vertically Align Your Satellite Dish

• Once you install your dish on the chosen location, you need to set your elevation angle.
• At the back of your dish, you will find bolts in slots with markings that indicate elevation.
• Unfasten these bolts and align them with your ideal elevation numbers.
• After making the adjustments, retighten the bolts.
• If your dish is unnumbered, you can have someone monitor the broadcast signal as you lift the dish vertically.
• Lift the dish until it reaches its highest level, where the signal is strongest. Then, stop lifting and make the adjustments, and re-tighten the bolts. 

Indications That Your Satellite Dish Is Pointing in the Wrong Direction

These are some of the telltale signs that your satellite dish is not receiving the best signal:

• Frozen and pixelated images
• Signal loss
• Total picture loss
• Sound breakup

When you experience these problems, the primary issue is the direction your dish is facing. However, it is important to note that even the slightest adjustment can have a reasonable impact on signal reliability.

For the correct alignment you might consider contacting UK satellite installation companies and receive maximum pleasure as you enjoy your favourite show.

Issues That Cause Reception Problems

• Wrong dish installation
• Snow
• Obstructions
• Heavy rain
• It may require a reboot
• Size of your dish
• Damaged cables