- The One-Glance Exam Snapshot
- Which CSI This Sheet Covers
- Fees, Delivery, and Test-Day Rules
- Eligibility, Journeyman, and Endorsements
- The 11 Competency Headings at a Glance
- Theory, Reflectors, Cabling, Amplifiers, and Feeds
- Site Surveys, Receivers, Interfacing, and Internet
- Troubleshooting, Sun Outage, and Safety
- Reading a 2013 Outline in 2026
- A Domain-Ordered Review Schedule
- Keeping the Credential Active
- Frequently Asked Questions
- ETA International's base CSI exam is 50 questions, two hours, with a 75% passing score and no hands-on portion.
- The base exam lists at $80; endorsement exams are separate $65 tests, not extra base domains.
- The official outline has 11 unweighted competency headings, published in a 2013 document, so legacy products appear alongside current gear.
- One free retake is available within one year; remote proctoring through ExamRoom.AI adds $16.
The One-Glance Exam Snapshot
This page condenses the facts a Certified Satellite Installer candidate needs into a single review pass. Use it as a final-week refresher, not as a replacement for working through the competency headings themselves. For a deeper, step-by-step plan, pair it with the CSI Study Guide, and when you want to test recall under realistic conditions, run a set on the CSI practice test site.
| Item | What to Remember |
|---|---|
| Administrator | ETA International (ETA) |
| Base exam length | 50 questions |
| Time limit | Two hours |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Hands-on assessment | None for the base exam |
| Base exam fee | $80 (current ETA listing) |
| Retake | One free retake within one year; proctoring charges stay separate |
| Certification term | Four years, maintenance required |
| Outline structure | 11 unweighted competency headings (Section A, Basic, Small Dish Capabilities) |
Two cautions before you memorize anything. First, a 75% passing threshold is a cut score, not a pass rate; the CSI pass rate discussion explains why you should not treat one as the other. Second, delivery mode (online or paper) does not tell you the question format or grant any open-book entitlement, so do not assume either.
Which CSI This Sheet Covers
"CSI" is shared by several unrelated credentials. This sheet covers only the Certified Satellite Installer examination from ETA International, base level. It does not cover the optional endorsement exams (Antenna, C/Ku, Commercial, SMATV) or any other certification that happens to use the same three letters. If you are still confirming the basics, the articles What Is CSI Certification? and What Does CSI Stand For? clarify the naming.
Fees, Delivery, and Test-Day Rules
Money Facts
- Base exam: $80 on ETA's current listing.
- Endorsements: each is a separate $65 exam.
- Same-session discount: ETA's current listing halves the base exam fee when it is taken with an endorsement in the same session.
- Remote proctoring: ExamRoom.AI proctoring requires registration through ETA and adds $16 for a two-hour exam, including an otherwise free eligible retake.
- Legacy prices: older ETA Press figures ($75 core, $60 endorsements) were reported but could not be re-verified. Do not budget from them; use the current ETA listings.
For a full breakdown of what a typical candidate pays end to end, see the CSI certification cost guide.
How the Exam Is Delivered
Testing is proctored through an ETA Certification Administrator. Options include online delivery using Trapeza, paper-and-pencil administration (processed by ETA), or remote proctoring through ExamRoom.AI. Verify current remote technical requirements when you schedule, since those can change independently of the exam content. Scheduling windows and deadlines are covered in the CSI exam dates guide.
Test-Day Rules
- Bring valid photo identification.
- Scratch paper and nonprogrammable or scientific calculators are allowed, subject to the stated rules.
- Phones are excluded.
- Used scratch paper must be returned to the proctor.
Eligibility, Journeyman, and Endorsements
Sources do not all say the same thing about prerequisites, so attribute carefully. ETA's issuer-managed Certified Satellite Installer badge specifies at least six months working in the profession, passing the exam, and compliance with the ETA Code of Conduct. The main exam listing omits that experience threshold. Standalone CSI does not require a prior CETa certification. The full discussion lives in the CSI requirements guide.
| Path | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Standalone CSI | Base exam only; no prior CETa required |
| Journeyman pathway | CSI combined with CETa or GCT1, plus two years of training/experience |
| Endorsements | Antenna, C/Ku, Commercial, SMATV; each a separate $65 exam |
Journeyman is a separate status built on top of CSI, and endorsements are add-ons rather than additional base domains. Keep the three straight and you avoid the most common confusion on this credential.
The 11 Competency Headings at a Glance
ETA publishes these headings as objectives 1.0 through 11.0. They are unweighted: no percentage blueprint was verified, so you cannot rank them by exam share. Study them evenly, then shift time toward your weak spots. The complete guide to all 11 CSI content areas expands each one.
- Satellite Communications History and Theory
- Satellite Dish Reflectors
- Cabling
- Amplifiers
- Satellite Dish Feed-horns, LNBs and LNBFs
- Satellite System Installation - Site Surveys
- Satellite Receivers - Digital Technology
- Interfacing With Other Consumer Electronics Equipment
- Transmission - Internet Systems
- Troubleshooting, Repairs, Sun Outage
- Safety
Theory, Reflectors, Cabling, Amplifiers, and Feeds
Domains 1-2: History/Theory and Reflectors
Expect foundational concepts about how satellite signals travel and how dish shape concentrates them.
- Know why geostationary satellites appear fixed in the sky and what that means for dish pointing.
- Understand how reflector size and shape relate to gain and beamwidth.
- Be able to explain why prime-focus and offset reflectors are mounted and aimed differently.
Domain 3: Cabling
Cable questions reward practical field judgment as much as definitions.
- Coaxial cable types, connectors, and why signal loss rises with length and frequency.
- Proper connector installation and weatherproofing at outdoor connections.
- Grounding and bonding of the cable run as it enters a structure.
Domains 4-5: Amplifiers and Feed-horns/LNBs/LNBFs
These two headings cover the signal path closest to the dish.
- The job of an amplifier: restoring level lost in long runs, and the risk of overdriving a stage.
- The LNB's role in amplifying a weak signal and converting it to a lower frequency that travels on coax.
- How an LNBF combines the feed-horn and LNB, and why polarization alignment matters.
Keep your decibel math sharp across this block. Gain, loss, and level questions often reduce to adding and subtracting dB values, which is exactly where a permitted scientific calculator helps.
Site Surveys, Receivers, Interfacing, and Internet
Domain 6: Site Surveys
A survey decides whether an installation will work before any hole is drilled.
- Verifying a clear line of sight to the satellite arc, including seasonal tree growth.
- Choosing a mounting location that is stable, safe, and practical for cable routing.
- Recognizing obstructions and when a different location is the only fix.
Domain 7: Receivers and Digital Technology
Know how a receiver turns a downconverted signal into usable content.
- The basics of digital video transmission and why digital signals fail abruptly rather than degrade gradually.
- Receiver setup concepts: signal meters, satellite selection, and channel acquisition.
- The difference between signal strength and signal quality when reading a meter.
Domains 8-9: Interfacing and Internet Systems
These headings connect the satellite system to the rest of the customer's equipment and to data services.
- Connecting receivers to televisions and other consumer electronics through the appropriate outputs.
- Basic concepts of satellite-delivered internet transmission and how it differs from video reception.
- Recognizing that the outline reflects its 2013 era, so treat product specifics with the caveat in the legacy section below.
Troubleshooting, Sun Outage, and Safety
Domain 10: Troubleshooting, Repairs, Sun Outage
This heading tests structured diagnosis, not guessing.
- Isolate by position: dish and LNB, cable and connectors, then receiver and television.
- Recognize symptoms of misalignment, water-damaged connectors, and failed components.
- Understand sun outage as a predictable, temporary interruption when the sun lines up behind the satellite from the dish's viewpoint. It is not a fault to repair.
Domain 11: Safety
Safety is a full heading of its own, so treat it as scoreable material, not common sense.
- Ladder and roof safety, and working near power lines.
- Electrical hazards, grounding, and bonding practices.
- Wind loading and secure mounting so a dish does not become a hazard.
Reading a 2013 Outline in 2026
The official competency document carries a 2013 copyright. A 2026 article date does not mean the outline was revised in 2026, and no exhaustive current coverage beyond the published competencies was verified. In practice, that means two things for you.
- Learn the underlying principles (signal path, gain and loss, alignment, grounding) because those do not age.
- Treat specific legacy products and standards named in older materials as context, and distinguish them from the equipment you actually install today.
If you are unsure how much of this will feel dated, the CSI difficulty guide discusses where candidates tend to struggle.
A Domain-Ordered Review Schedule
Because the headings are unweighted, order your review by dependency: theory first, then the signal path from dish to receiver, then field practice and safety last so they are fresh. This is the only generic-planning section in the sheet, and it is tied to the actual headings.
Foundations
- Domain 1 (history and theory) and Domain 2 (reflectors).
- Build the mental model of a signal leaving the satellite and reaching the dish.
The Signal Path
- Domains 3, 4, and 5: cabling, amplifiers, feed-horns, and LNBs/LNBFs.
- Practice decibel gain and loss problems with your exam calculator.
System and Customer Side
- Domains 6, 7, 8, and 9: surveys, receivers, interfacing, and internet transmission.
Diagnosis and Safety
- Domains 10 and 11, then a full timed practice run on the CSI practice tests.
- Revisit any heading where you missed questions.
Keeping the Credential Active
Certification runs four years, and maintenance is required. For this non-hands-on credential, the published route requires a maintenance form and $25 per year ($100 per four-year cycle), along with either 10 continuing-education hours annually (40 over four years) or qualifying employer verification. Do not apply the separate rules that govern hands-on credentials. For the career side of the decision, see whether CSI is worth it and the CSI salary guide, which separates occupational earnings from any unproven certification premium.
Key Takeaway
Memorize the logistics once (50 questions, two hours, 75%, $80, four-year term), then spend your remaining time on the 11 competency headings. Logistics never change your score; the headings do.
Frequently Asked Questions
ETA lists the base Certified Satellite Installer exam at 50 questions with a two-hour limit. There is no hands-on assessment, and the passing score is 75%.
No weighted blueprint was verified. The 11 headings come from ETA's competency requirements and are unweighted, so plan to cover all of them rather than favoring a presumed high-value area.
No. Standalone CSI does not require prior CETa certification. The Journeyman pathway is separate and combines CSI with CETa or GCT1 plus two years of training or experience.
ETA offers one free retake within one year. Proctoring charges remain separate, and remote proctoring through ExamRoom.AI adds $16 for a two-hour exam, including an otherwise free eligible retake.
No. 75% is the score you must reach to pass. It says nothing about the share of candidates who succeed, and no verified population pass rate is available. See the CSI passing score guide for more detail.