Background
The TV reception on the site where my parents have a static Caravan in the Scottish Borders is not great and varies from season to season and time of day due to the leaves on the trees. The TV aerial was not in the best position, being low down on the front of the caravan. Various companies had tried over the years to improve the signal using a variety of amplifiers etc but the fundamental problem was the positioning of the aerial. I did not want to attach the aerial to the caravan as i have seen so much damage done over the years due to high winds ripping the aerial off and puncturing the external skin simply invites water to find a way in causing rot to the wooden frame. I had some surplus satellite TV equipment from a previous project and had also been given some additional kit by another caravan owner who was giving up their site due to ill health. I decided that it would be good to install a satellite dish as there was a clear view to the south and this would eliminate all the TV aerial reception problems experienced over the years. As the satellite system also receives radio it solved that poor reception problem also.
Before going down to the caravan i had pre-built the support pole where the satellite dish would be mounted. I used stainless steel coach screws to bolt together two sections of pole to provide sufficient width to mount the dish bracket without any fear of the pole splitting.
I also added a decorative 'bird house' type capping to the pole. This stops water getting into the top of the pole causing it to rot and also provides a more attractive finish.
I also added a decorative 'bird house' type capping to the pole. This stops water getting into the top of the pole causing it to rot and also provides a more attractive finish.
The first job at the caravan was to dig the hole for the dish support pole. I proposed to use quick setting 'Postcrete' to secure the base of the pole in the hole. The manufacturer recommended that for the total length of pole i proposed to use, one third of it's length should be below ground level. This required a hole of approximately 24 inches(60cm) deep. I ensured that the hole had the same horizontal dimensions for it's full and vertical depth to ensure the pole would be securely held in the ground.
When the hole was complete i placed the pole in the hole and as per the 'Postcrete' manufacturers instructions filled the hole with the required amount of water and then pored in the Postcrete from the bag. i used a stick to ensure that the water and concrete were properly mixed. Using a spirit level i ensured the pole was vertical and then held it in place for 5-10 minutes while the concrete set. It is amazing just how quickly the Postcrete does set. I then repeated the procedure for the second bag of Postcrete. When the second bag of mix had set i back filled the hole with the soil, firmly tamping it down and then replaced the gravel on top.
( Note: the dish was temporarily removed from the bracket to make handling the pole easier while it was being aligned in the hole.)
( Note: the dish was temporarily removed from the bracket to make handling the pole easier while it was being aligned in the hole.)
After the pole was aligned the satellite dish and LNB were mounted on the bracket and set roughly in position using a compass. A perforated dish was used to minimise the wind loading the pole would experience during high wind periods. I had previously obtained the elevation angle from a website and this was set at the same time using the markings on the bracket. I used an audio in-line detector to locate the best signal for the satellite and then connected the co-axial cable to the receiver already set up inside the caravan. I then used the diagnostics menu on the receiver to fine tune the dish position and then secured it in position. The stations were then tuned into the receiver using 'blind scan' mode.
A year after the initial installation a second cable was led from the quad LNB on the dish to the bedroom in the caravan where a second receiver was installed.
A year after the initial installation a second cable was led from the quad LNB on the dish to the bedroom in the caravan where a second receiver was installed.