Installing SAT Antenna

[tsmit32]

I'll be installing a new satellite antenna on the roof of my 2003 Endeavor. This is a new install, not a replacement of a previously installed antenna. I received a roof strucural drawing form a tech at Monaco. I found a single RG-6 cable and a 12vdc plug in the cabinet above the driver on the left side.

I will need to have 3 RG-6 and one control cable from the new antenna and the tech at Monaco said that the RG-6 that they installed is not usable for pulling these cables to location of the new antenna. I could run the new cables from the new antenna along the roof aways untill I could reach them from inside the TV cabinet. The TV cabinet is open awaiting my install of a 32" HDTV so working from inside of the cabinet is very doable.

Any one with ideas or experience with installing a satellite antenna please talk to me.

[tsmit32]

I'll be installing a new satellite antenna on the roof of my 2003 Endeavor. This is a new install, not a replacement of a previously installed antenna. I received a roof strucural drawing form a tech at Monaco. I found a single RG-6 cable and a 12vdc plug in the cabinet above the driver on the left side.

I will need to have 3 RG-6 and one control cable from the new antenna and the tech at Monaco said that the RG-6 that they installed is not usable for pulling these cables to location of the new antenna. I could run the new cables from the new antenna along the roof aways untill I could reach them from inside the TV cabinet. The TV cabinet is open awaiting my install of a 32" HDTV so working from inside of the cabinet is very doable.

Any one with ideas or experience with installing a satellite antenna please talk to me.

[FLYTYER]

You need to tell us what satellite TV service you will be using and what dish you are planning on installing (manual, auto), etc..

[Bill Adams]

The tech is correct that you cannot use the existing cable as a pull cable as it is firmly wired into place.
Just run the cables from the roof mount across the roof to a location where you can get access to the cabinet. The cables that come with the dish are likely about 30' long and you should be able to locate the antenna nearly anywhere on the roof with enough clearance.
If this is the MotoSAT unit it even comes with the cover plate necessary to seal up the new hole in the roof. The only thing you will need is some Dicor caulk (or other good lap sealant) and some screws.
Be sure to drill up from inside and then drill down from the roof without going all the way either direction. There are lots of wires up there and you don't want to cut any of them. I recommend you drill a 1" hole up and then use a long pilot drill to reach the roof. Drill through the roof with this and you can then drill the 1" hole from the roof down for perfect alignment. Be sure where you plan to drill up will not hit any roof top obstructions before you start.

[John Hilley]

What I do is use a long 1/8" drill bit and drill up all the way thru the roof. I then use a hole saw and cut thru the the roof, which is quite thin. I then look into the area and make sure it is safe to cut the bottom hole. 1" is about right.

[Bill Adams]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">What I do is use a long 1/8" drill bit and drill up all the way thru the roof. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I do not recommend this procedure. I used to do exactly that until I encountered an RV that had enclosed a couple of wires inside a hard plastic tube. The pilot drill went cleanly through this tube and shorted out the wires inside. Had I drilled the 1" hole inside first and then used the pilot drill to clear everything between the lower hole and the roof I would not have had this problem.

[tsmit32]

Thanks everyone for the help.

I've got a Winegard SK-3005 5 LNB dish ordered.