How to keep ANTS out of my satellite dishes

HoppertheKangaroo18

SatelliteGuys Pro
Mar 19, 2025
182
230
North Carolina
I have 2 dishes with the ant problem. 1 on a pole in the ground and another one on a telephone pole. Do you have any suggestions? The ants are literally climbing up the lnb arm tube and laying eggs/ nesting in it and a couple bit me today while checking out the nest
 

Bobby

Publican
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
Sep 7, 2003
73,145
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Rohnert Park, CA
I have 2 dishes with the ant problem. 1 on a pole in the ground and another one on a telephone pole. Do you have any suggestions? The ants are literally climbing up the lnb arm tube and laying eggs/ nesting in it and a couple bit me today while checking out the nest
This stuff works. Spray it and poof they are gone. Don't wipe it off and they won't come back.

 

HoppertheKangaroo18

SatelliteGuys Pro
Mar 19, 2025
182
230
North Carolina
This stuff works. Spray it and poof they are gone. Don't wipe it off and they won't come back.

Thanks for the info! My grandparents have some at their garage I should be able to get some
 
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FTA4PA

Satellite Guys Family
Lifetime Supporter
Nov 13, 2013
8,675
7,551
Central Pennsylvania
I have 2 dishes with the ant problem. 1 on a pole in the ground and another one on a telephone pole. Do you have any suggestions? The ants are literally climbing up the lnb arm tube and laying eggs/ nesting in it and a couple bit me today while checking out the nest

If you want something that is NOT TOXIC - since you will likely be working on your dishes again at some point - you can use this. All natural, safe around children, pets - and you. ;)

 
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telstar_1

SatelliteGuys Master
Pub Member / Supporter
Jul 14, 2020
24,553
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What kind of ants would crawl up posts to get into a sat dish? The only kinds I see around here are strictly ground-dwellers, nesting either in anthills or rotting wood.
 
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primestar31

SatelliteGuys Master
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Mar 15, 2005
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17,928
Beta Omicron Delta III
My sat dish was on a pole in the back yard. I used to pour gasoline on the nest and they are gone just like that. Want to be mean light them on fire too. :biggrin
I save that for ground hornets. You can BET I use the "light them on fire" part of it also, with prejudice!
 

arlo

SatelliteGuys Pro
Dec 4, 2016
1,439
980
North Eastern
From living in Florida. Where ants love anything electrical. They get into outdoor ac disconnects and the electrical enclosures.
Same thing with outdoor pump electrics. Getting between contactor points, pressure switch contacts. And....*zap*.
Lizards turning into nasty, stinking "Old Sparky" victims.
Anyways. Axle grease gob all the way around poles. Maybe a Gorilla tape 'umbrella' above it. Ants won't cross it.
Mix some time release granular insecticide in with it and it buys you some time.
Dig a narrow trench around poles and ac condenser pads. Mix in a good batch of granular killer in the fill dirt and slap it back in.
Ants dig deep. So don't skimp on depth. Rain will wash it in deeper. More time bought.
Borax powder works. Spice it up to make a nice coctail.
 
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ewindowman

SatelliteGuys Pro
Lifetime Supporter
Dec 19, 2006
2,270
2,188
Opened up my passenger side door yesterday and it was filled with thousands of ants in between the gaskets and door frames. I figured I would be nice and let them pick up their eggs and split . They seemed to have left after I left the door open. Today they decided to come back so no more mister nice guy. Raid did them in. You have to watch out for bees and wasps making nests in the arm of the dish . Way worse than ants.
 

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