How to Install a DIRECTV Receiver at Home (Step-by-Step)

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If you are looking to install a DIRECTV satellite TV, you can either have a professional from the company install a new satellite for you or follow the installation instructions on their site and install it yourself. This wikiHow article will teach you how to set up a DIRECTV satellite.

• Call DIRECTV to have a professional come install your satellite dish.
• You can opt to install the dish yourself, but you must call DIRECTV to set up your TV programming.
• Select a spot on the roof facing the southern sky that isn't blocked by trees or other obstructions.

Have DIRECTV Install a Satellite

• If you want to upgrade your existing DIRECTV satellite receiver to a Slimline to receive HD television, call 1-800-531-5000 and say "order new equipment." You should be routed to an appropriate contact. Installing the upgraded satellite receiver is free if you already have a H20 or HR20 model of a DIRECTV HD receiver.

Have the receiver installed in a location with an unblocked view of the southern sky. Most satellite receivers are installed on a roof or balcony. If possible, trees and buildings should not block the receiver.

Install a DIRECTV Satellite Receiver Yourself

Download the self-installation guide from the DIRECTV website. You may need a software program such as Adobe Reader to view the file.

Follow national and local guidelines for installing your dish. There may be requirements or codes that restrict the size of your satellite dish or how high you can mount it. DIRECTV offers 6 satellites in sizes from a round 18-inch (45 cm) dish to a 36 by 22-inch (90 by 55 cm) oval dish.

Find an appropriate location for your satellite receiver. Look for a clear, southern-facing area with a high vantage spot.

• Connect 1 end of a coaxial cable to the satellite receiver through the jack labeled "OUT TO TV." Connect the other end to the antenna's "IN" jack on the television.
• Connect both the television and satellite receiver to a power outlet. Turn them both on.
• View the receiver's menu by tuning the television to channel number 3 or 4 if the back of the receiver has a "CH 3/CH 4" switch. If there is no switch, turn to UHF channel 14 or channel number 65 on cable.
• Navigate the menu using buttons on the receiver's front panel and the receiver's manual to find the correct azimuth (horizontal) and elevation (vertical) coordinates.

Determine and survey the dish's exact mounting site. Using the receiver's pointing coordinates, find the mounting site for your dish.

Start assembling the satellite receiver dish. Bolt or screw in the satellite's plastic or metal reflector to its support arm. This lets you preset the satellite to its correct elevation.

Mount the mast, or pole, for the receiver. Multiple options exist for this step depending on where you install the dish (roof, hollow wall, on brick or concrete, etc.). Consult the self-installation guide to see instructions and the necessary tools for each option.

Make sure the mast is level to get a satellite signal. Use a bubble level to help you determine it is even.

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Put the satellite receiver dish on its mast. Hook up the RG-6 coaxial cable to the Low Noise Block converter (LNB). Attach the LNB to the receiver's support arm.

Position a grounding block as closely as you can to the place where the dish's cable will run into the house. Run the receiver dish's cable to the grounding block. The connection to the block binds the dish to an acceptable grounded point in the main building ground, such as an enclosure for electrical service equipment or a metallic service raceway.

Run the RG-6 coaxial cable to the back of the receiver inside the house. The RG-6 cable should also be connected to the grounding block.

Make sure a landline phone is off its hook to avoid getting an electric shock from any incoming calls. Connect the receiver to a phone jack with the phone line.

Check for a signal using the "Dish Pointing" menu's signal meter displayed on your TV screen. Adjust the dish's pointing to achieve your maximum signal strength.

Community Q&A

It depends on the connector on your surround sound system and your receiver sound. You will need to buy a wire that has a port compatible with your receiver in one end and with your sound system on the other end.

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It depends on what you call a pole. The dish needs to be mounted to a non-moving object. If your pole is like a wood 4x4, or a 2" diameter metal pole securely held into the ground with concrete, you should have no problems. When you mount the dish to a pole, the dish should not move at all. Mine is mounted on an 8 ft 4x4 wooden post pole placed in a 3 ft deep post hole. After verifying the post was level, it was backfilled with dirt and 12-18 inches of concrete.

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