When pointing a satellite dish you will have to point it directly at the satellite if you want to get good reception. You will have to make sure there are no obstacles between the dish and the satellite. An obstacle can be anything that interferes with the satellites signal including houses, buildings or trees. The satellite TV signal will not pass trough these so you have to make sure the area you place the dish in is receptive before beginning installation.
In order to correctly set up a satellite dish you will need a compass. You will have to check both the azimuth and elevation and make sure that you have at least one clear view from the location where you want to place the dish. Remember, there should be no obstacles between the dish and the satellite. If you are not sure that the location you are considering is a good one, you should ask a satellite TV dealer for advice.
If you live in the US you should know that the satellite is always to the south of Texas. People who live in Florida will have to point their satellite dish in a place that has a clear line towards the southwest. If you live in California you are going to need a clear line towards the southeast. The direction depends on your location. In the southern United States you will need an elevation angle of 60 degrees, while in the north you need one of around 30.
As you install the satellite dish, you should make sure that the pole assembly is vertically plumb. If it is not aligning the dish will be very hard.
You should also fasten the pole mount securely to prevent it form tilting, which can cause a lot of problems. The mount should be fastened as well.
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