Satellite TV dish pointing calculator for people in Alaska

Choose your wanted satellite orbit longitude and satellite name in the box here

Instructions for dish pointing in Alaska

Select your wanted satellite in the box at the lower left. DirectTV Dish Network is just an example.

Put your mouse cursor at your location and double click or just drag the map. The map display will move so that the selected point is in the centre. The latitude and longitude of the centre of the map is then shown below the map, together with your satellite dish pointing azimuth, elevation and skew angles.

Alternatively type your postal ZIP code or town name into the box below. 99501 is just an example. Type your ZIP code or city like houston.

To refine the accuracy, click on the plus sign in the navigation boxes at the upper left side of the map. The scale will magnify so that you can home in accurately on your location. Repeat. Choose the Satellite or Hybrid map version to see the satellite photo image of the ground or even your house !

Dish pointing (Azimuth and elevation mount):
Set the dish elevation angle first. This is the up/down angle. Use the elevation scale on the back of the dish. Set the polarization or skew angle also. This involves either rotating the LNB or the entire dish assembly. There may be a polarization rotation scale on the feed throat or behind the dish. Face the satellite, clockwise is positive. Polarisation must be set to 1 deg accuracy for transmit dishes and this normally involves talking to the VSAT hub. For the azimuth bearing use a compass or just think where the sun is and the time of day and boldly swing the dish sideways. You should find the satellite on the first swing, then spend half an hour peaking up. If further north than 60 deg latitude the output azimuth bearing is shown in deg true (not magnetic). Use the pole star or the sun to get an idea of the direction. You may wlak with a hand held GPS in a straight line for 50 yards and also get a true bearing reference.

Peaking up is really important for long term service quality and minimum outage time during rain fades.

Dish pointing (Polar mount):
Only your latitude matters. Set the main motor axis angle and the small downward tilt of the dish and with the motor central align the dish towards the due south satellite. Motor rotation angles to the east are positive, to the west negative.

Navigation: Satellite dish pointing angles Set up for multi-LNB dishes Satellite broadband services in USA Satellite maps

Disclaimer and Safety Warning:

The results of this page may be in error, The latitude and longitude are not intended for the blind navigation of aircraft, ship or other vehicle purposes. Dish pointing angles may be wrong. Magnetic azimuth bearings are approximate or may not be available, particularly towards the polar regions. Use is entirely at your own risk. Apply common sense and don't believe every number that comes out of a computer system. Take care with satellite dish pointing to not injure others by dropping tools or hurting yourself by falling down. Latitude and longitude may not be accurate. Use GPS as an alternative.

This page is on the satsig.net web site and is strictly Copyright Satellite Signals Limited (c) 2006 All rights reserved.
Please report any copyright infringements to eric@satsig.net , also feedback on technical errors or problems with this page. If you notice that any of the satellites listed in the pull down menu list are in the wrong place, with wrong name etc or you want additions or deletions please say. Thanks.

Page started 24 April 2011