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Finding satellite dish offset angle.

Definition:  When the front face of the dish is vertical, the beam elevation angle up towards the satellite is the offset angle.

1. Calculating the offset angle of an offset-feed parabolic dish using two measurements.

11 May 2021: This method has been put forward by Russ G4SAQ, based on a source in an on-line book by Paul Wade, W1GHZ.  It is a simple method for calculating the offset angle of an offset-fed parabolic dish using just two measurements, up/down and across.

Offset antenna reflector

This method applies to offset-fed dishes that are slightly taller than they are wide. This applies to some satellite TV receive-only dishes and also to many transmit/receive VSAT dishes.  This is so that, when they are aligned to a satellite, the satellite will "see" the dish as a perfect circle. Imagine holding an elliptical mirror in front of you. Now tilt the elliptical mirror away from you. Keep going and at some point it will look like a circle.

Measure the larger up-down diameter (A) and smaller side to side (B) diameters of your reflector.

The formula is Cos(Offset angle) = B / A

Typically, on a calculator,  first do B divided by A, equals, then press INV cos.

Equation for angle
Using the two reflector diameters in the equation

Typical figures to test on your calculator:
Measured: A=1.3m B=1.2M
Divide: B/A= 0.923
Then do INV cos of 0.923 = 22.6 degrees.
Note INV cos may also be shown as cos-1

Credit for above method: W1GHZ and G4SAQ.


2.  Assuming you know the position of the LNB

The advice given below is fine if you already have the LNB correctly positioned relative to the dish.  If you don't know the position of the LNB go to the alternative approach in section 1 above or section 3 below.

Diagram showing optical reflection from offset dish

The advice given below is fine if you already have the LNB correctly positioned relative to the dish.  If you don't know the position of the LNB go to the alternative approach in section 2 below.

For beam elevation angles lower then the offset angle the front face of the dish needs to be tilted forwards.  For beam elevation angles higher then the offset angle the front face of the dish needs to be tilted backwards. 

Contributed by a visitor to this web site...

Thanks for a most useful site.

I just installed my first dish, for Astra 28.2E at home, and found your calculator was just what I needed.

My satellite receiver kit was supplied with 58cm offset elliptical dish which had a very poor angle indicator on the elevation mount, and I was unable to find any signal at all! The offset angle of the dish was not marked on it or given in the instructions.

I decided to measure the offset angle with light.

With the dish on its back, I placed a chromed dog tag ( a small vanity mirror would do) in the middle of the dish. I removed the LNB and held a laser pointer in the center of the clamp, pointing at the tag. I then used the line of the reflected beam to mark a piece of card which I had fixed to the dish with masking tape.

Using the required elevation figure from your calculator and a protractor, I marked what would be a vertical line on the card, and used the dog tag and some cotton thread to make a plumb-line against the vertical line on the card.

Back up the ladder, it was easy to set the elevation and I found a signal immediately. The elevation was spot-on.

Without a laser pointer, you could find a sight line by looking at the reflection of the LNB in the mirror.

I have made a sketch of the dish, and you could add it to your site for the benefit of anyone else with a similar problem.

Or do you know an easier method?

Wishing a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you.


3. Alternative method using calculations, when you don't know the position of the LNB (added April 2014).

It is assumed here that the front rim of the dish is flat (check with crossed strings test) measure the diameter of the dish sideways and vertically.  Use tight fishing lines up and down and across the front of the dish (which must just touch where they cross) and measure the maximum depth of the dish as accurately as possible. The maximum depth will be below the vertical centre-line but will not be under the point where the strings cross.

Enter the vertical and sideways diameter and the maximum depth measurements below. Measure to an accuracy of 1mm or better.  Ignore rounded edges or rim features and concentrate on the edges of the parabolic curved surface.  Once you get the idea, try deliberately inputting measurement values that are 1mm in error so that you see the implications of measurement accuracy on your results. Small measurement errors have a significant effect on the results, so be careful. Use a steel straight edge and a depth micrometer if available.

The table works for mm, centimetres or inches also. Just use the same units throughout.

Vertical diameter of dish Sideways diameter of dish Maximum depth of dish

Focal length Distance from top of dish to feed phase centre or focal point Distance from lower edge of dish to feed phase centre or focal point
 
Elev. offset angle

F/D ratio
 

When the front flat rim of the dish is vertical the beam elevation angle, up from the horizon, is the elevation offset angle.

Antennas may be used upside down for very low angle elevation operation, e.g. terrestrial applications.

Antennas may be rotated to any orientation provided the beam remains pointed at the satellite. Such rotation is normal for polar mount dishes and to enable linear polarisation angle adjustment by rotating the entire dish using a large scale behind the boss or to avoid rain accumulating in the dish, for example.

The position of the phase centre of a feed relative to the middle of its aperture varies with the design, and possibly with frequency.  Scalar feeds, with rings, and long conical feeds with a narrow taper angle tend to have a phase centre close to the centre of the circular waveguide opening or aperture window.  Wide flare angle conical horns tend to have their phase centre further back inside.

You may use inches instead of mm, if desired. Enter measurements with decimal point, e.g 28.45 inches.

29 Sept 2023: I have altered the names of the variables in the calculation formulas to make them easier to understand.  All the formulas are in this html web page (do View Source).  I would be interested if anyone can verify that the results match measurements made. Feedback please to me eric@satsig.net

Distances ABCD as normally used for VSAT dishes refer to:

A is distance from lower edge of dish to lower edge of feed horn.
B is distance from lower edge of dish to top edge of feed horn.
C is distance from top edge of dish to lower edge of feed horn.
D is distance from top edge of dish to top edge of feed horn.

Remember that the focal point is half way between A and B and half way between C and D, plus the distance between the feed aperture and the phase centre, which may be quite a way back inside the feed horn.


► Page created 29 Dec 2009, amended 2 Mar 2022.

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