Siting your satellite internet dish

By David Haskin

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After deciding to subscribe to a satellite TV provider, the next decision you face is practical as well as aesthetic: Where do you locate the antenna dish?

The primary requirement is that the dish should have a clear view of the southern sky. That's because the satellites used for Internet access are typically in orbit about 22,000 miles above the earth, usually somewhere above the equator in so-called geosynchronous orbit. That means the satellite doesn't continuously circle around the earth but, rather, always stays in the same relative position above the earth.

But if there are trees or other impediments on the low southern horizon, how high does the dish have to point? That depends on where you live, says Brad Behmer, director of sales for satellite provider WildBlue. The further north you are, the lower the angle that is required to link up with a satellite located above the equator.

"In the extreme Northeast or Northwest (United States), the angle can be as low as 24 or 26 degrees," Behmer said. "You'll get as high as 45 degrees in Texas. If you were at the equator, it would practically point straight up."

In terms of the actual location of the mount, there are three broad options: Ground mount it on a pole, mount it on a south-facing side wall of your home, or place it on the roof. Besides finding a location with a clear southern view, the decision on where to mount the dish will be based primarily on aesthetics, building construction and, to a lesser degree, on cost.

"If the consumer has the right type of siding on the home and we can easily mount the dish, that's probably best," Behmer said. "If there are trees, getting the dish higher (on the roof) is best so it can look over the trees. But if you're in California where there are a lot of tile roofs, roof mounts won't work. And in places like Arizona where they have a lot of stucco, that's a place where a ground mount would be best." Ground mounting costs a bit more for time and materials because the installer must anchor the pole in concrete and bury the cable between the dish and the house, Behmer said.

Then, there's the personal matter of aesthetics. The dishes aren't as big as they used to be, but they're still, typically, about a yard across.

"A lot of people don't want to see the antenna, so they'll put it on the back side of the roof or house if they can," Behmer said.

Just remember, reception is going to be of paramount concern, so put function before form!