How do you align a dish correctly in Betty's Bay?
With a calibrated signal meter, not by watching the TV. We set azimuth, elevation and skew to the correct figures for Betty's Bay, then check the signal quality reading rather than just signal strength. A dish that looks fine can still be a degree out, which is exactly what fails in weather.
My dish has moved. Is that normal?
In Betty's Bay it is common, because of mountain wind off the Kogelberg, salt spray and dense fynbos. A dish on a weak bracket, or one bolted to a fascia board rather than a solid wall or rafter, will creep over a season. Realignment fixes the symptom, but if the mounting is the problem we will tell you.
What bracket should be used near the sea?
A galvanised or stainless bracket, with stainless fixings. Ordinary zinc-plated hardware rusts within a season or two in salt air, stains the wall, and eventually lets the dish move.
Can the dish go somewhere less visible?
Often yes, as long as it still has clear line of sight to the satellite. We will look for a position that keeps it off the street elevation where possible. What we will not do is put it somewhere that looks tidy but loses signal in weather.
Do trees or new buildings affect the signal?
Yes. Satellite needs a clear path. Growing trees are a slow, gradual cause of signal loss that people often blame on the decoder. If something has grown into the path we will find it during the signal check.
How much does dish alignment cost?
Alignment on its own is a straightforward callout. Give us a ring on 079 754 5527 and describe the symptom, and we will quote before we come out. If the dish or bracket needs replacing we will tell you up front rather than surprising you afterwards.