Positioning a satellite dish entails certain mathematical calculations and, in many cases, it may warrant the services of a technician, just to move a few feet away. The cost of moving a satellite dish shall depend on the size of the dish, the ease or rather the complexity of the move, and whether the move was done under the direction of a professional satellite installer or whether it was done independently. If you follow proper preparations and pay attention to details that may affect your TV, shifting your satellite dish does not need to disrupt your TV programs.
Pre-Move Considerations
Before moving your satellite dish, there are several things you’ll need to figure out:
- Dish Size – The bigger the dish the harder it would be to maneuver since it would be cumbersome to be moved around. Normal parabolic dishes used in homes are about 24-36 inches in diameter but there are extra-large dishes of diameter 6 or more feet. The specification of the dish also affects the move’s difficulty.
- Location Problems – New locations might have some obstructions such as trees, buildings, etc. which will interfere with the signals received from satellites. You also need to follow all the limitations set in place by the HOA.
- Cabling Requirement – In the process of repositioning a dish it might be required to pull new coaxial cables to the new location. This results in extra expenses on cabling work that are added to the total cost of the project.
- Professional Assistance – It is challenging to move a large satellite dish with anyone else, and it needs at least two people to help. As for the installation, unless you are good at fixing and wiring, you will most likely need to hire a professional.
Getting ready for the move
Looking into what it takes to relocate a satellite dish when one deems it necessary means that the process starts with safely removing the dish from the existing mount without causing any harm to the equipment. This first requires the detachment of any cable ties or weather protective coverings and then gently, yet firmly, disconnecting the coaxial cables. Prepare the new location and if the previous mounting pole cannot be moved it should be replaced by a new one.
If possible, transfer the dish in mild weather so as not to worsen its condition in the process of transportation. Horizontally position a dish and avoid vertically rotating the dish. Store all parts in such a manner that they would not move around, especially when being transported, in a way that harms some of the alignment parts.
Installing the Relocated Dish
Satellite dish installers who work professionally have all it takes to include the right tools and knowledge to have your relocated dish working efficiently once more. The installation process involves:
- Safely installing the dish assembly on the new pole or roof area which is chosen to be more appropriate. Different mounting brackets and poles may be required in the new site depending on the kind of structures in that area.
- Azimuth and elevation setting, using alignment tools and fine-tuning until the satellite signal is obtained. Precision positioning is the most challenging aspect for DIY movers to get right.
- Replacing the coaxial cable connecting the dish with the satellite receivers by running new cables. If it is a long run, it is recommended that cables be buried to enhance safety and appearance.
- Tweaking signal quality and putting through signal connectivity checks to be sure all the receiver channels are coming in loud and clear.
Estimated Costs
Sometimes a change of location does require professional help, but this does come at a higher price of professional service charges. In general, you can expect to pay: In general, you can expect to pay:
- $100-$300 for a basic dish reposition to just a few feet where existing cabling is adequate.
- Ranges from $200-$600+ for a relatively more complicated move to a new roof or pole mount that requires extra cables, parts, and wiring. Hence, larger dishes are costly and so is the larger distance to be repositioned.
- $100-$300+ for an electrician to connect and bury new exterior cables if trenching is needed to install under-paper outdoor areas or landscaping.
Although doing the move yourself saves cash on labor, it is not advisable to try moving dishes yourself since you may end up damaging the components or have a weak signal if the position of the dishes is off. Leaving all the complexities of making your satellite dish appear physically active once again after moving to skilled personnel is reassuring that everything is going to flow as planned.
Though moving a satellite dish isn’t as easy as a simple matter of repositioning a piece of furniture, a bit of careful planning for expenses and the proper execution of the move will have your TV entertainment up and running in no time. It is always more cost-effective to hire professional installers to take charge of all the complexities of moving to ensure that one can keep on enjoying their programs.
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