Satellite Installation Tools & Equipment
This section is taken from Ground Control's online course - Apply to become a certified VSAT dish installer

Having the Proper Tools & Supplies for a VSAT Satellite Dish Installation

Having ALL of the right tools and supplies at the installation will keep you from turning a 1-day install into a 3 day install. Please pay close attention to the tools you will want to have on site as an installer. At the bottom of this page is a checklist that you may download, print, and use prior to any installation.


Many of these tools - especially the specialized tools - can be purchased from Ground Control with our customized Installers Toolbag. We highly recommend this purchase with training, because tracking down the right tools for the job can sometimes be a challenge.

$1,599 USD - Toolbag for Fixed Dish Installation (1.2 meter to 1.8 meter) with Super Buddy. - Content list

Tools - Dish Assembly
	A Socket Wrench set		Di-Electric grease to coat O-rings (in case you run out). Commonly found at Auto Parts stores.
	A set of open end wrenches (7/16" and 1/2")		Concrete bricks to hold down the non-pen mount. Be sure to bring more than you think you'll need - better to have too much weight than too little.
	Assorted screwdrivers, both flathead and phillips.		A set of Hex wrenches used for Allen bolts on the radio assembly.
Tools - Coaxial Cable Connections & Waterproofing
	A bag of Snap-On F-Connectors for coax cables.		A coax wire stripper
	Rubber weather-sealing tape.		Wire cutters
	Electrical tape		Crimping tool for Snap-On connectors
	Wall-Plates for where the coax cables enter the server room.
Tools - Cable Runs
	A power screwdriver or drill.		Twine or narrow string to help pull cables along ceilings.
	A Hole-Saw bit to drill holes for the cable run.		A Long Drill Bit (10 inches or longer) is used to create a pilot hole through a wall for the Hole-Saw. The whole saw should be used on both side of the wall for a clean looking wall penetration.
	A Masonry Drill Bit will be needed to drill through brick or a solid wall. This bit needs to be long and wide enough to penetrate the wall for all three cables.		SpringSteel (sometimes called "Fish Tape") is used to pull cables through walls or conduit.
	Silicone Caulking is used to reseal exterior holes after cable runs are finished. Be sure to seal every hole you make into the exterior of a building!		Plastic tie-straps (ZipTies) are used to keep cable-bundles neat and orderly. Use plenty! Use Black Tie Straps match keep the cable run low profile.
Tools - Grounding Equipment
	Grounding wire - Medium gauge. Ground Everything!		Grounding Wire - Water pipe clamp. Water pipes are excellent grounds, because they go into the earth's surface.
	You will need wire connectors and assorted bolts and nuts. You may even need to drill your own holes.		Coax grounding block, used for grounding the coax just inside the point of entry into the building.
Tools - Aiming & Cross Polling the Dish
	GPS handheld unit to find latitude and longitude of the installation location. Make sure that it has fresh batteries or is fully charged.		10' length of coax cable used to connect the Super Buddy or Birdog to the satellite receiver - the LNB.
	Super Buddy - used to confirm and fine-tune the satellite dish. Make sure this is fully charged before you go.		Cell phone for calling Ground Control support, or for making the required call to the NOC for the Cross-Pol. Make sure it's charged!
	Inclinometer - used to determine angles, such as the skew angle of the radio, or the elevation of the satellite dish.
Tools - Making Ethernet Cables
	A clearly-marked cross-over cable, used to connect your laptop to the Gateway IDU for both Galileo and iDirect systems.		Bulk ethernet cable - you will need to make the cable to connect the gateway IDU to either the customers computer or router once on site.
	Loose RJ-45 connectors		Ethernet Cable crimper - most models will work for both RJ-45 (ethernet) and RJ-11 (telephone).
	Scissors - Used to cut off the ends of the coax wires
Other Helpful Tools
	Rope - often used to lift a satellite reflector to the roof.		Extension ladder, used to reach the roof if no external access is available.
	Extension cord for running your equipment.		Pocket Knife - always useful.
	Power strip, because one outlet is never enough.		Flashlight.
	Sunscreen		Windex and paper towels for cleaning up the installation.
	Extra batteries for all of your battery powered devices.		Packing tape in case you need to ship something back to Ground Control.
	Camera for taking pictures of installation work. Helpful to GC support for troubleshooting problems, or for installation sign-offs.
Download a check off-list of all the tools mentioned here.