electronics

10 Tips For Satellite Tv Systems

10 Tips For Satellite Tv Systems
By Jen Wilson
Here are 10 tips about satellite tv systems. As always, reference your owner's manual for all safety precautions.

1) Surge protection - Do not attempt to run your satellite tv system without a surge protector. Get a good one. We recommend a high end one from Radio Shack. Make sure the surge protector has inputs for the coax cable and telephone jack as well. Do not forget to protect any antenna inputs you might have coming in to your receiver. Do not think that you can get by without this. Sooner or later it will come back to haunt you and cost you money that will not be covered under warranty.

2) Sudden Shock!- With DVR receivers, think about where you put the unit. Make sure it is stable and will not get wet, hit, knocked off, etc. DVR systems have hard drives in them, which must be handled with extreme care.

3) Ventilation - Just like computers, the newer DVR receivers has fans and need to maintain certain temperatures. Be careful when placing them in cabinets. Receivers must have proper ventilation.

4) Moving a DVR - If you have to move a DVR, unplug it and wait for at least 30 seconds. This gives unit time for a proper shutdown.

5) Cleaning - Keep all electronics CLEAN! Get a can of air duster (made for electronics) to blow your receiver out periodically. Do this at least once a month. More if you live in a dusty area. Remember that dust is electronics worst enemy. Unplug the receiver before cleaning.

6) Pointing the dish - How the dish is pointed is one of the most critical elements of how your home dish satellite TV will work. Just 1/8 of an inch out of proper alignment can cause problems. YOU MUST USE A COMPASS if you are going to point the dish correctly. Do not even attempt if you do not have a compass or do not understand how to shoot an azimuth. Check and make sure nothing is obstructing the view of the sky (i.e. – power lines, tree limbs) before adjusting. It takes very little movement of the dish to make minor adjustments. Make very small adjustments (movements) while you or someone else is watching your signal strength screen. Do not try to make large adjustments. After making an adjustments, give the system a few seconds to respond on the signal strength. Refer to your owner's manual for the specifics of your particular system and observe all safety precautions.

7) System doing weird things - Most issues can be resolved by simply resetting the system (screen freeze, channels not listed). Hold the power button on the receiver for a few seconds or unplug the unit from the wall (if unplugging from the wall, wait 30 seconds). Sounds too easy, but you will be surprised at how many times this will do the trick.

8) Cold dangers - Do not store your receiver in a cold environment (below 40° F). When it warms back up, moisture can form inside and damage the electronics inside (applies to most electronics) If it is cold to the touch, let it set at room temperature UNPLUGGED for at least 45 minutes. If there is apparent moisture buildup, let the system dry out at room temperature before plugging back in.

9) Coax Cables- Use only RG-6 cables! Do not use cable company TV cables (RG-59). Using RG-59 cables can cause signal loss. Always use a small wrench or pliers to tighten

cable connections. Do so GENTLY! Just enough force so the cable connections cannot be loosened by hand. Overtightening connections can cause them to break or damage expensive equipment. Connections being too loose can cause loss of signal and / or moisture buildup inside of connections. All connections must be watertight!

10) Grounding – The outside components of your system must be grounded (i.e. - dish, cable splitters). The step is often neglected by installers. There should be some type of ground wire running from the outside components to a ground stake (a piece of metal driven into dirt or concrete). If you are about to purchase a system, make sure your installer does this very important step.

About the Author
Jen Wilson maintains the website Wilsons Electronics . Electronics information and tips. Online Electronics Dictionary. Satellite TV and Internet Satellite Systems available.

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