Explorer Installation Guide

Safety
Take care to ensure your safety during the installation process. Working on the roof of the RV
can be hazardous. Make sure you use a proper ladder and get some help with hoisting tools and
the antenna to the roof. Having a second person to help you will help and make the whole job
safer.

Note: You will not need to remove the white covers from the Explorer during the installation
process.

Step 1. Make sure you have all of the contents

Remove the contents from the shipping container and survey to make sure you have everything
before you get started.
Check to see that you have:
-antenna positioner, antenna reflector, view/stow switch, bag of installation hardware including
coax and power cables. If you want to shorten any coax cable you will need some spare F
connectors for RG-6 coax and the correct stripping and crimping tools.

Step 2. Get the Tools

Determine if you have the correct tools and materials to complete the job.
You will need: Electric drill motor, 3/16” drill bit, wire cutters, a crimper for wire terminations,
two 7/16” open end wrenches and one 5/16” open end wrench, one 1/2” open end wrench and a #
2 phillips screwdriver or a #2 Phillips bit for the drill motor. You will also need a 1/2” wood bit
for the drill motor.
Obtain a tube of sealant for the holes you will drill in the roof. Consult the manufacturer to
determine the correct sealant.

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Step 3. Attaching the Reflector
Attach the reflector to the antenna postioner as shown using the four ( 4) carriage bolts and
locknuts and washers. Use a ½” open end wrench to tighten the nuts. Make sure the reflector is
solidly attached and does not rattle.

Step 4. Locating the Explorer on the Roof

Survey the RV roof to find the best location for the Explorer. The ideal location is one which is
-Close to the satellite receiver inside the RV
-Relatively flat
-Clear of nearby obstructions such as other antennas, air conditioner units, vents, other antennas,
etc.

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Apply a generous bead of sealant where the mounting feet will attach to the roof. Put the
positioner back in place and drive in the eight (8) ¼” mounting screws with the lock washers
under the screw heads.

Step 6. Installing the View/Stow Switch

Inside the RV determine where to install the view/stow switch and see where you feel the hole in
the roof should be drilled. An overhead cabinet is the best location for the satellite receiver and
view/stow switch. A cabinet with the video distribution junction box is ideal. Attach the
view/stow switch to the cabinet sidewall using the two (2) # 8 wood screws provided. Using a
short length of RG-6 or RG-59 coax, connect the “Receiver” connection on the view/stow switch
to the “Satellite In”coax connector on the back of the satellite receiver. Caution, finger tight
only.

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Step 7. Routing the cables through the Roof
Back on the roof, using the 1/2” wood bit, drill a hole from the outside to the inside taking care
not to hit anything and not to damage the inside trim of the RV.

Plan this hole to be at least 12” away from the positioner and close to the view stow switch on
the inside.
Route the coax cable or cables and the 12 VDC power and return wires through the hole to the
inside. Mate the DC power cord to the red and black power lead coming out of the bottom of the
positioner. Wrap the connection with electrical tape.

Step 7 continued
Attach the new coax cable to the antenna coax using two (2) 7/16” open end wrenches, then wrap
the coax connectors with provided coaxseal for weather protection.
The last operation is to install the roof hole cover and fill the hole cavity with sealant. The cover
attaches with the provided 3ea. #8 wood screws.

Make sure you have everything tight, collect all tools and you are finished on the roof.

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Step 8. Connecting Power & System Test

The last step is to connect the power and ground wires you have routed through the roof to a DC
power source inside the RV that can produce at least 1 Amp of current. The simplest way to do
this is to connect the leads to an approved DC power supply which changes 110AC to 12V DC.
This 3 amp power supply may be purchased commercially from several sources.
Double check that you have all the connections properly done. You should consult the operators
instructions for your satellite receiver for proper connections to your TV and audio system.

To test the system, take out the Operation Instructions for the Explorer and push the view/stow
switch to “view”. Verfify that your Explorer is performing as planned.