Basic Installation Specification

Specifications for a Basic 1.2 Meter Antenna Installation

Site Selection:
A site survey should be performed by the customer prior to the parts acquisition and installation to assess that all the conditions for a proper installation can be met and that the correct equipment is acquired.  There should be considerations for: 

• View of the satellite from the proposed location
• Cable routing to the indoor or sheltered modem
• Available ground or roof composition
• Most appropriate style of antenna mount
• Electrical grounding availability.

Antenna Location

• The antenna should be installed in a location that is not easily accessed by vandals or tampered with.
• View of the Echostar 105  (@105W) satellite from the antenna cannot be obstructed. From the perspective of the antenna, the line of sight should be clear in all directions by at least 10 degrees from the satellite’s location in the sky.  
• The line-of-site should also be clear of tree growth, seasonal foliage changes and future development that can be anticipated.

1.2 Meter Antenna Mount Types
A non-penetrating antenna mount is the most commonly applicable type of mount due to its ease of installation and versatility. 

• Used on a building roof, the roof must be flat (3 degree or less pitch) and be engineered to support 850 lbs. spread over the 37.5 square foot (6’X6.25’) area of the antenna frame. 
• The roof surface must be solid enough so that the constructed mount does not have any perceivable bounce or sway.  
• If used on the ground, the ground should be level and graveled, or have a composition that will not settle or sink significantly over time. 
• It should be implemented so that the main vertical mounting pole is nearly plumb.

Other preferred mounting option: 

• An alternate mount for 1.2M antennas is designed to attach to a vertical pole that is 2.88” to 4.5” in diameter such as would be used as a tower leg, or other sturdy industrial steel structures. 
• The bracket should be attached to the pole as low as possible to minimize wind torque yet should be able to have a clear view of the satellite and not impede grounds maintenance below the reflector.
• The host pole should be securely attached to the ground and supported from above the antenna mount.
• It should be implemented so that the main vertical mounting pole is nearly plumb.

Other specialty mounting options are available for peaked roofs and various other situations but due to the specialty nature of these options they are not within the scope of this document. Call us for options in more complex installation scenarios. 

RF Cabling and Wiring Path

• The antenna installation should be located so that it does not use more than 100’ of dual RG6 cable.  The maximum functionality for RG6 cable is 150’ but that distance is not recommended by ODN.  If longer distances are required, an RG11 style cable set must be used.   

• All outdoor RF cable connections should be filled with a dielectric grease and be sealed with a rubber mastic tape.  

• A “service loop” of approx. 5’ of extra cable length should be included in the wiring path below the antenna feed arm, to accommodate future cable repairs.  

• Any outdoor cable running under or across the ground should be installed in a rigid conduit. 

• The cable path should include a pair of lightening surge protection devices near the interior side of where the cable enters the building, shelter or cabinet.  To function as intended, the surge protector has to be connected to an electrical ground.

• The remaining distance of interior cable from the surge protection set to the modem should use any existing wire management accommodations available in the shelter, building or cabinet.  

Grounding and Surge Protection

• The metal frame or mounting bracket of the non-penetrating roof mount should be grounded to the nearest ground bus, ground rod or grounded metal building frame using stranded copper 2AWG cable.  

• The shortest practical cable route from the antenna frame to an electrical ground source should be utilized. 

• The antenna mounting frame should be attached to the ground cable using a dual bolt spade lug.

• In the RF signal path, the RG6 transmit and receive cables should be grounded to the exterior ground bus, if available. 

• On the interior of the shelter or cabinet, a pair of in-line lightening surge protection devices shall be installed in the RF signal path and electrically connected to an interior ground bus.  

• The modem should be grounded to the ground bus on the equipment rack.  The ground connection can be made with a pair of 10 AWG cables connected via loop connectors to the used RF ports on the rear of the modem.