Anyone Install a Motosat Sat Dish On Their Own?

[TechWriter]

I'm pricing Motosat Internet Sat dishes (like G74, XF3) and kowabunga are they expensive!

So I've looked at buying used from eBay and installing myself to save $$$.

Anyone else done this?

[bbohn]

I've installed two by myself. The first was for Dish regular (110&119 satellite) and second was for Dish HD (after the first was removed). It is fairly easy to do if you take your time. Step one is to instal the dish device on the roof. It goes on the center line of the roof and is easily screwed down with appropiate care with caulking. Step two is to run the wires (2) across the roof to a point just above the Motosat box and receiver compatment. I secured the wires at several points on the roof with cable clamps (screwed) and carefully caulked. Third, drill a 1/4 hole from the inside up thru the roof (Don't drill down as you might miss where you want to be). Lastly, hook up the wires to the Motosat box. They are color coded so that is easy to do with the fitting that plugs into the box. Also, you will need a fitting at the end of the coax to plug into the box. Power also has a fitting that plugs into the box and then into a transformer and then into AC power in the box area.
Try to get an owners manual as you will need the trouble codes and satellite settings. Just go slow and you will do just fine. Email be if you need more info. bbohnnd@midco.net I did the installation on an 04 Dutch Star.

[TechWriter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbohn I've installed two by myself. The first was for Dish regular (110&119 satellite) and second was for Dish HD (after the first was removed).

Thanks but I'm looking for info on Internet, not TV dish install.

[Tincup]

I've only installed an automatic dish for Directv but the installation for Internet should be the same, the only difference I can see is where and how you'll bring the power and data cables into your rig. In my case I was able to use the existing wiring and the whole job took about half an hour.

If you Google "Motosat installation guide" you'll get 2-3 PDF manuals on how to do it, down to installing connectors on the cable. It's a 27 page manual that's very complete. If you're handy with tools and can follow directions you shouldn't have any trouble installing it yourself. And save a bunch of bucks

Good luck!

[TechWriter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tincup I've only installed an automatic dish for Directv but the installation for Internet should be the same, the only difference I can see is where and how you'll bring the power and data cables into your rig. In my case I was able to use the existing wiring and the whole job took about half an hour. If you Google "Motosat installation guide" you'll get 2-3 PDF manuals on how to do it, down to installing connectors on the cable. It's a 27 page manual that's very complete. If you're handy with tools and can follow directions you shouldn't have any trouble installing it yourself. And save a bunch of bucks

For sure - saving $$$ is the name of this game!

The physical dish install isn't worrying me. I've installed a Traveler before. It's configuring the SAT router and setting up ISP service.

[Spikester]

If you have room to store, you might want to think about a tripod mount, don't have to worry about interference with immovable objects.

Spike

[paz]

I didn't install my DataStorm F1 internet dish myself, but I watched some of the installation being done. The biggest problem was getting it up to the roof. Like the newer G74, the F1 weighs a reported 125 lbs. They used a scissor lift to get it up to the roof. I doubt if ladders would work. Too hard to get ladders close enough to each other for 2 or 3 people to get hold of the dish and get it to the roof.

If you have access to a lift or some type of scaffold, the rest of the installation isn't hard - if you have the nerve to drill holes in your roof. There are some technical things like getting the modem commissioned that I didn't understand, but you may find some help at the Datastorm Users Forum.

As Spikster says, you could use a tripod-mounted system. Last I checked they were around $1500. A tripod will also save you $20 a month for your internet service. The ISPs providing service to automatic dishes are called value added retailers (VAR), and they charge $20 more than Hughesnet does.

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz As Spikster says, you could use a tripod-mounted system. Last I checked they were around $1500. A tripod will also save you $20 a month for your internet service. The ISPs providing service to automatic dishes are called value added retailers (VAR), and they charge $20 more than Hughesnet does.

You can use a VAR to get Hughes service for either an automatic dish or a tripod. Or you can go direct to Hughes for either. The biggest difference is that if you use a VAR, you can get a satellite change if you're moving to an area where the coverage isn't good, or if you have line of sight problems with a location you're going to be at for a while. If you're a Hughes direct customer, you can't.

Also, a VAR provides first line technical support, which you're much more likely to need with a portable rig of either kind. Hughes first line support is from India, and they won't help with any kind of portable system support at all.

joe