What do you do with a SATTV INTERNET that you already have lying around your home, and are no longer using? It is just as easy to turn that old dish on your car into a high-gain WiFi or amateur radio dish. Converting a normal dish can greatly expand the range of wireless broadband signals or transmit wireless signals over a longer distance using radios. Please read below for a step-by-step guide on how to transform your satellite dish into an efficient antenna.
What You Need
- A satellite dish (The bigger the better)
- Twisted pair copper with connectors
- Support pole and mounting gear
- Paint/primer (optional)
- Power drill
- Soldering iron
- Different methods of assembly
Step one involves deciding on the type of antenna and where it will be positioned.
They suggest that before you proceed to dismantle your satellite dish, you should have an idea of what you want to do with the antenna after repurposing it. Or perhaps, you are looking to improve the range of your WiFi signal and install an amateur radio antenna. Which spectrum bands do you want to communicate on? The answers to these questions can be helpful in making the necessary changes.
You will also need to find a good place to install the antenna with clear view of the direction you intend to transmit/receive. The best place but any place that has an unobstructed view of the horizon will suffice. This is where you’ll need to be able to securely mount the pole and orient your antenna.
Step 2: Disassemble The Satellite Dish
First, to start assembling the SAT dish, one has to disassemble the old satellite dish almost entirely. Take off the LNB that is positioned at the focal point of the dish together with the loose ends of the coaxial cables and other accessories.
Next, somehow remove the dish metal components so that only the solid surface remains. Disassemble the feed arm and their protective cover and wash away any additional bolts or screws or debris such as pieces of plastic. They also want to strip down to the bare parabolic dish.
The third step is to clean and prime the dish surface.
You may also find it useful to sand down the surface of the dish after you have removed the paint and other layers. After sanding it, clean the dish and paint 1-2 times with the metal primer spray paint. This will prevent it from rusting and will provide paint with a surface on which to settle.
Wait until the primer is dry to start painting. Paint the surface with two coats of spray paint or a color that will reflect when your antenna is operational. Do not fill the tiny holes located around the circumference of the dish. It is advised that you leave your paint to dry for several hours before mounting your images.
Step 4: Mount the dish to your support pole.
After this, place the satellite dish on a firm metallic pole that will enable you to adjust the face of the dish towards the intended signal path. Secure it to the pole using heavy bolts that are fitted into the original holes. Pole straps or metal brackets on the back are desirable in the design for better strength.
Ensure that your support structure can enable you to change the elevation as well as the rotation angle, used when pointing the antenna. You also need to be able to secure the whole assembly once an optimal orientation has been achieved during the alignment. Tighten all screws/bolts and install pole supports whenever required.
Step 5: Solder the RF Cables and Adjust the Feed Point
The next step is connecting your RF cables and adjusting feed point on the dish focal area. When installing a WiFi antenna, screw on an N-Female or RP-SMA connector over the circular waveguide port. If you are constructing an amateur radio antenna, then install an SO-239 connector instead.
Secure the connector in place with some weather resistant sealant around the portion where cables are connected. Pull your coax down from the mount point to your transmitter/receiver and other communication equipment. Additional weatherproofing should also be done, and support all connections with electrical tape.
The final step involves adjusting the antenna to its position and using
When every component is mechanically in place, you are free to adjust your antenna for an ideal alignment and try out the improvement! Link with a hardware such as a wireless router or the radio transceiver. Finally, fine tune the dish vertical or horizontal while observing the signal strength for a peak.
After achieving the alignment with the strongest signal response, tighten all adjustment bolts and supporting structures tightly. For any ports and cables to be used indoors in the long-term, cover them in a weatherproof casing if they are vulnerable to the weather. Make it a habit to troubleshoot your connections to ensure that cabling is not damaged and your high performing antenna continues to operate optimally! Enjoy your increased range!
Conclusion
Using an old satellite dish as an antenna is a good do it yourself project because it saves materials that would otherwise end up as trash. With the right part, assembly, and alignment – _ you can mold the precise parabolic dish into a high-gain antenna suitable for enhancing WiFi coverage or for radio transmission/reception!
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