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5.3
Pre-Installation Site Requirements
Site Survey
Prior to installation, it is recommended that a detailed site survey is conducted. Listed below are
some key points to check and plan for during and after site survey
ODU Location
o
Determine an area with clear line of site to the southern sky.
o
Determine distance from the dish to head end and plan for cable selection and routing
appropriately. Route cable and grounding (electrode bond) according to DIRECTV and
local requirements.
o
Determine mounting method.
Headend Location
o
The headend should be located in a clean, climate controlled environment.
Additional considerations
o
Access to grounding location per DIRECTV, National Electric Code (NEC) and local
requirements.
o
Access to all distribution wiring closets.
o
Access to an internet connection.
Distribution Networks
o
RF networks need to be tested to pass digital signal to industry standards. Care should
be taken to inspect the system for old crimp style connectors, poor quality amplifiers,
taps and splitters. Wall plate splices and TV jumpers should also be inspected and
replaced as necessary.
o
Signal levels should be within industry specifications. 0-5dBmV with >38dB
Modulation Error Rate (MER) at the TV.
o
IP Networks need to utilize multicast address schemes and be configured for Internet
Group Management Protocol (IGMP).
Existing Video Services
o
Careful consideration should be focused on any existing services that will remain on
the distribution network.
o
It is recommended that you record the RF frequencies of all services on the network
including:
Video on Demand
Private channels
Cable modem (CMTS)
Off air programming
