How to Use a Direct TV Antenna to Get Dish Network Service
By Marshal M. Rosenthal
Satellite service providers use the same type of parabolic dish in order to focus the transmissions of the overhead satellite. A DirecTV antenna dish can be used to receive satellite transmissions from the Dish Network satellite service. The position of the DirecTV antenna dish will have to be relocated and the transponder that interprets the satellite signal must be changed to accommodate the Dish Network signal. The procedure requires a few tools as well as a few parts from a satellite supply store.
Step 1
Go to a website that provides the location a satellite dish must face in order to access the Dish Network satellite from your area; for example, the AntennaWeb website (see Resources). Make a note of the direction.
Step 2
Remove the coaxial cable that is connected to the DirecTV antenna dish's transponder. Remove the screws from the mounting bracket attached to the DirecTV antenna dish with a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the DirecTV antenna dish from the wall that it was mounted on.
Step 3
Go to a side of the wall that faces the direction of the Dish Network satellite. Place the DirecTV antenna dish's bracket on the wall. Mount the bracket to the wall with screws using a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 4
Loosen the screws on the side of the DirectTV transponder that is on the lateral transponder arm attached to the front of the DirecTV antenna dish with the Torx screwdriver. Remove the transponder from the arm. Dispose of it properly.
Step 5
Loosen the screws on the side of the Dish Network transponder with the Torx screwdriver. Place the Dish Network transponder on the lateral transponder arm in the same position that was formerly occupied by the DirecTV transponder. Tighten the screws. Duct tape can be used to hold the transponder in position if it cannot fit on the arm.
Step 6
Screw the end of the coaxial cable that was connected previously to the DirecTV transponder into the coax output of the Dish Network transponder. Loosen the two side knobs on the bracket. Hold the compass in front of you. Adjust the DirecTV antenna dish vertically and laterally, while viewing the compass, so that it is pointing at the Dish Network satellite, according to the direction that you were told at the website. Tighten down the side knobs.
Step 7
Contact Dish Network either at their website (see Resources) or by the phone number provided at the website. Sign up for a subscription to Dish Network. Unpack the Dish Network satellite receiver when it arrives in the mail. Remove the HDMI cable from the HDMI output on the DirecTV satellite receiver. Unplug the DirecTV satellite receiver from the wall socket and remove any other plugs attached to its back. Place the DirecTV satellite receiver aside.
Step 8
Plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI output of the Dish Network satellite receiver. Plug its cord into the wall socket for power. Attach any cables to the back of the receiver in the same manner as when they were attached to the DirecTV receiver.
Step 9
Turn on the TV. Press the "Sat" button on the Dish Network remote. Press "Select" to take the receiver out of standby. Call the Dish Network and provide the needed authorization information--serial numbers for this will be found on the box the receiver came in. The receiver will now begin to authorize and update itself--this can take anywhere from a half hour to two hours or more before television can be watched.
Step 10
Press the power button on the remote to turn the receiver off when the television station appears on the TV screen.
References
Tips
- You can realign the DirecTV antenna dish using a built-in signal guide on the Dish Network satellite receiver.
Writer Bio
Marshal M. Rosenthal is a technology maven with more than 15 years of editorial experience. A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography with a Bachelor of Arts in photographic arts, his editorial work has appeared both domestically as well as internationally in publications such as "Home Theater," "Electronic House," "eGear," "Computer and Video Games" and "Digitrends."