In no particular order . . .

I have to say that because otherwise people might become confused . . . hmm, are the top tips at the top, or do the tips get better as you go down the list? If I only want to know the absolutely top tips do I need to read the whole page?  YES! And there are plenty more top tips where these came from, so keep checking back from time to time in case we’ve remembered a few more.

Satellite TV Top Tips

• Pointing your dish – this shouldn’t really be an issue seeing as the major satellite TV providers offer a free installation service when you buy your equipment, but there are all sorts of different reasons why people might have to move their satellite TV dish and try to avoid paying to get the job done properly. Well, it’s important that you point your dish in the right direction . . . at the satellite. If it’s not pointing accurately (even 1/8 of an inch can cause reception problems) then your reception will suffer. Use a compass . . . not one of those which help you to draw circles in math class, but one of those which shows you where north is . . . south is directly opposite. You should also make sure that the top part of the satellite dish mast is about vertical, use a bubble level to check this out. If it’s not right then you won’t be able to find the satellite signals. Actually on second thoughts, satellite TV top tip number 1 is to get somebody to install it who knows what they’re doing.
• Cleaning your satellite TV system – hey, the satellite dish is outside and stuff gets dirty outside, right? Don’t use any chemical products on the dish, just a clean dry cloth will do just fine but remember to handle it all very carefully so that you don’t move your satellite dish out of alignment.  Now then, the satellite receiver on the inside also needs a little routine cleaning . . . dust is the worst enemy of electronic equipment, so every once in a while you should  blow out the satellite receiver with a can of air duster (it’s made for the job).  NOTE – you should always unplug your satellite TV receiver and leave it for at least 30 seconds before you start cleaning it.
• Resetting your satellite TV system – lots of electronic equipment needs resetting from time to time, I mean, how many times do you re-boot your computer to fix things? Anyway, a multitude of issues can be resolved by simply resetting your satellite TV system, either unplug it from the wall or hold the power button down for a few seconds . . . yes, it really is that simple!
• Surge protection for your satellite TV system – get a good one, it’s definitely worth it. Your surge protector must have inputs for the telephone jack and coax cable as well, and don’t forget about any antenna inputs which might be coming in to your satellite TV receiver, that’ll need to be surge protected too. If you don’t have surge protection cover it’ll end up costing you money . . . mark my words, and the equipment won’t even be covered under warranty.
• Ventilation for your satellite TV system – these systems are electronic, and just like computers they need to maintain certain temperatures so they are fitted with inbuilt fans. This means that they need proper ventilation so don’t hide them away in unventilated cabinets, and don’t place them directly on top (or beneath) any other electronic gadgetry.
• Don’t let your satellite TV system get cold – well, I mean not extremely cold, it certainly shouldn’t be in an environment which drops below 40 degree F. If it does get that cold then moisture will form on the inside and damage the electronics when it eventually warms back up again and thaws out. If your satellite TV system feels too cold to even touch then unplug it and leave it for around 45 minutes in room temperature, unless, of course, the whole room is below 40 degree F.

Surprised at some of these tips? Many of them seem more like looking after a new puppy don’t they, keep him warm, keep him well ventilated, clean him regularly, but these really are top tips to ensure that your satellite TV system keeps on entertaining you for many years to come, which is also a bit like a new puppy!