If you have an RV or a boat, you’re going to be proud of it. You’re going to want to keep it looking good at all times. This isn’t just a matter of vanity, though. Keeping the outside of your boat or RV clean can also be a matter of safety. Spending time cleaning means you’re also taking the time to look at seals and connections that wouldn’t otherwise get attention. You’re likely to find safety problems faster, and get them fixed before you’re stranded.
For a lot of people satellite TV and internet is a great addition to the whole experience. Although we’re starting to see some new options for satellite internet, most satellite internet is still done using traditional antennas that look like mobile/marine satellite domes. In fact some users of newer internet services are putting their antennas into “dummy domes” to preserve their appearance.
Of course, eventually these dome antennas will get dirty. They’re going to get dirt, bugs, and what have you on them. So is it safe to clean them?
General care of a satellite dome antenna
Like home-based satellite systems, the general rule with dome antennas is not to touch them unless you need to. Dome antennas are going to be more forgiving of being bumped or jostled because they are designed to auto-aim. That doesn’t mean you should make a habit of thumping them just for fun, of course.
Cleaning a satellite dome isn’t typically necessary for them to work right. While it’s possible to get something on the dome that could block satellite signals, it would have to be something pretty big. Let’s say for example you managed to hit a bird that was big enough to make a mess on the dome, but not so big as to break it. That might be something where cleaning was needed. But for average road tar, dirt, et cetera it’s less of an issue. It would take a lot of that stuff to really significantly block signals.
If you decide to clean…
You may just decide it’s time to clean your dome antenna because it’s becoming unsightly. That’s perfectly fine. The real question of this article is, of course, how to do it.
DON’T: disassemble the dome just to clean it
The inside of an antenna dome has a lot of very sensitive electronics in it. Opening it up to the elements isn’t a good idea if you don’t have to. It may seem like a good idea to take the plastic dome off so you could give it a good hosing off, but that’s not a smart idea.
DO: use mild detergent and low-pressure water
You can use mild dish detergent to clean the outside of the dish, and rinse it off with water from a hose at low pressure. While these domes are designed to stay weather-tight at speeds up to 70 or 80 miles per hour, there’s no need for you to tempt fate by blasting them with high-pressure water.
DON’T: Scrub unless you have to
If you are dealing with serious stains, oil, or bug debris (ewwwww) you might be tempted to really go to town with a scrub brush. In general this probably won’t hurt the dome but it’s not a smart idea unless you really have to do it. You run the risk of dislodging something.
DO: Allow time to do its work
You can allow a thin coating of detergent or something like Simple Green to sit on the dome for a little while to dissolve anything that’s stuck on the dome. Just don’t use so much of it that you risk it getting inside the dome.
With a little time and patience, you’ll get that antenna dome looking great!
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