How to Realign a DirecTV Dish

If your DirecTV satellite dish is moved, you will need to realign it to ensure a strong signal. The process is similar to the initial installation alignment. Even if you didn’t install the dish yourself, realigning your satellite dish is a fairly easy process. Once you have the coordinates for your location, it’s just a matter of making minor adjustments until the signal strength is strong.

Use the buttons on your receiver or the remote to access the Direct TV Menu. Select “Fav’s & Setup,” then “System Setup.” Select “Satellite,” then select “Repeat Satellite Setup.” Enter your zip code and write down the numbers displayed for azimuth, elevation and tilt. Azimuth is the side-to-side alignment, elevation is the up-and-down alignment and tilt is the rotation. Leave the screen on the “Dish Pointing” menu.

Check that the elevation indication is aligned to the elevation you wrote down. Verify that the azimuth setting and tilt on the dish is correct as well.

Use the signal meter on the “Dish Pointing” menu. Verify that you are getting a signal. Fine-tune the alignment of your dish to acquire the strongest possible signal. Turn the volume on your television up so you can hear the signal tone outside, or have a friend or family member alert you when the tone is continuous.

Slightly loosen the azimuth support sleeve nuts. Rotate the azimuth one tick mark to the right and pause for five seconds. If you do not hear a continuous tone, move the dish to the original position, then rotate left and pause for five seconds. Continue this pattern, moving one additional tick mark each time until a continuous signal tone is obtained. Tighten the support sleeve nuts to hold the azimuth setting in place.

Slightly loosen the elevation nuts on the support arm. Rotate the dish upward one tick mark and pause for five seconds. If you have not obtained peak signal strength, move the dish to the original position, then rotate it down and pause for five seconds. Continue this pattern, moving one additional tick mark each time until the strongest signal strength is obtained. Tighten the elevation nuts.