Satellite dish pointing angle calculator for Australia and New Zealand

Choose your desired orbit longitude and satellite in the box below

  Must click on the map after selecting the satellite

 Instructions for people in Australia and New Zealand

Select your wanted satellite in the box at the lower left.  Optus 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 (feed or LNB rotation or polarisation) angles.
To refine the accuracy, click on the plus sign + in the navigation boxes at the upper left side of the map.  The scale will change 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 - sideways and up/down movement mount):
Set the dish elevation angle first.   This is the up/down angle and there may be a scale on the back.  An inclinometer may be of use.    Set the feed polarisation angle also. This involves rotating the LNB.  There may be polarisation rotation scale on the feed throat.   Facing the satellite, a clockwise polarisation angle is positive.  

For the sideways 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.  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 north satellite.   Motor rotation angles to the east are positive, to the west negative.

Navigation: Satellite TV dish aiming angles  Make an Inclinometer

The abbreviations on the map refer to: NT Northern Territories, WA Western Australia, SA South Australia, QLD Queensland, NSW New South Wales and TAS Tasmania.

The icon shows the location of Dawsville, Western Australia at -32.6334 latitude south and +115.6277 longitude east.

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 and are not available in the 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 updates to satellite names and orbit location with this page.  Many thanks to those who have contributed.

Page started 1 June 2006, amended 1 Feb 2008.