DSS Parts and Accessories Store

• I was told by a salesman that rooftop antennas
  will be obsolete because they can't pick up the new
  digital broadcasts. Is this true ?    NO
  
  
• Can homeowner associations or groups tell me I can't put my antenna (or dish) on my roof?    NO! 
  
  
• Do I need to pay a professional to install my dish. NO, but,
  you may wish you had. There are self installation kits available and
  they are pretty good. The 2 problems you will have are:
  
  1. Mounting. The dish must be rock-solid or every little breeze
  will move it. Even a fraction of an inch will cause the very annoying
  "Searching for satellite signal" message to appear on your black
  screen.
  
  2. Aiming. The book tells you to move the dish this way or that
  about 3 degrees. Unless you are a navigator or astronomer -
  how do you know what 3 degrees is. If you just "nudge it", you
  probably moved it 5 degrees. The window is very small.
  Remember your aiming at a 10 or 15 foot wide satellite - IN ORBIT! 
  
  
• The Spec's on Digital TV and the truth from CEMA
  the Consumer Electronics Manufacturing Association
  
  The CEMA Home Page
  
  
• I have just received hail damage to my dish, will it
  still work OK?
  
  
• I have a satellite dish and don't want the eyesore of an antenna. Do I have to have an antenna to get local broadcast channels?
  
  
• How do TV antennas work. How do I aim one?
  
  
• Can I install the satellite dish inside my house?  No. In order to
  receive the signal, the dish must have a direct line of sight to
  the south through a window. You cannot use it inside your
  attic. If you attempt to aim through a window, many types of
  glass degrade the satellite signal. Therefore, we strongly
  recommend that you install your satellite dish outside in a
  suitable location.
  
  
• Can I paint the satellite dish? It's okay to paint your dish if you don't use lead-based or glossy paint. Glossy paint could damage the Low Noise Block (LNB) converter by increasing the signal reflection. Never paint the LNB itself. Lead is used to shield nuclear reactors since it blocks radiation. Most spray paints are lead based. Must be an acrylic flat paint.

Glossary