How to Install Dish Network Satellite TV Indoors

Co-authored by Daniel Stoescu

Last Updated: June 1, 2022

If you aren't permitted to place your Dish Network satellite dish on a wall outside your apartment, condominium, or home, you can place it inside instead. The guide below details how to set the dish, connect it to your receiver, and configure your receiver on your TV.

1

Order your package.

First you have to place your order to get your DISH package. Before you jump in, learn a bit more about their pricing policy, plans, packages, contracts by reading latest information about their services.

2

Purchase a satellite stand to hold your dish.

You can buy dish stands from a satellite TV retailer.

3

Face the dish out a window in your home.

Try to use a window that has as few trees and other obstructions in its view. A south-facing window is the most ideal direction for Dish Network dishes. Make sure the dish is within 100 feet (30.48 m) of your TV.

4

Run a cable from your dish to your TV receiver.

You may have to drill holes in your walls and caulk them accordingly. Make sure there is no important piping, wiring, or other obstructions when making holes in the wall.
- You should ground the dish by wrapping some satellite wire on a screw on the dish stand. The other end of the wire should be run outside the residence and wrapped around some kind of metal object on the building. This will help prevent damage in the case of lightning storms.

5

Connect your receiver to the nearest phone jack.

This ensures that your dish can connect to the network.

6

Get signal strength coordinates.

You can open the signal strength menu on your TV to see the proper coordinates. This includes azimuth (direction), skew (rotation) and elevation (angle), for your location.

7

Position your dish for best possible reception.

Since your dish is inside behind a window, you won't have as much range as an outside-mounted dish. You will need a compass to position your dish correctly and a friend to monitor your signal strength menu to achieve the best possible position.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I wire a satellite dish?

Daniel Stoescu
Master Electrician
Daniel Stoescu is a Master Electrician and the Owner and Operator of Home Tech Solutions, LLC in Hampton, Virginia. With over a decade of experience, Daniel specializes in wiring residential, commercial, and light industrial structures. The Home Tech Solutions team has over four decades of combined experience and offers comprehensive solutions for residential electrical needs.

Daniel Stoescu

Master Electrician

Expert Answer

Install a grounding electrode conductor of minimum 10 AWG (copper) and 8 AWG (aluminum) that's connected to the building's existing system. Then, properly ground the mast and the satellite dish according to the NEC and Local Authority Codes and Requirements.
Question

Can I set up the dish on a balcony?

Community Answer

Yes, you should be able to as long as it is a secure place.
Question

Can I mount my satellite dish in my attic?

Community Answer

No. The dish must have a clear line of sight to the satellite. Even dense cloud or heavy rain will reduce the signal to some degree and the branches of a tree can kill it altogether. It would not work through a skylight either.

Warnings

Positioning your dish behind obstructions and not taking the time to coordinate it correctly will result in a much weaker signal. If all your windows are surrounded by obstructions it may be best to seek an alternative TV source, such as cable.

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