Dish pointing calculators and number and cost of map views

Many of you will have used the satellite dish pointing calculator pages like https://www.satsig.net/maps/satellite-dish-pointing-india.htm

These pages make use of Google Maps API which means that when you load the page the images shown come from Google Map tile servers. The javascript calculations and blue pointing direction line come from the page itself.

Since mid 2018, Google have started charging me for use of their Maps API, for the Geocoding facility (where you type in the name of your location) and for the Street View (little orange/yellow stick man icon).  Google allows a limited number of free uses per month and also gave me a free transition allowance.  Having taken off the free allowances it has cost me £325 for the last 3 months.  To minimise future costs I have removed Geocoding and Street View and have put daily quota limits on the Maps useage. The quota system resets to zero at 8am GMT daily and if the daily quota is used up after say 20 hours, during the last four hours prior to 8am GMT the page is liable to not work. This tends to affect people between from India, Africa to UK.

I have made a new page using Mapbox (instead of Google API) which also has a free monthly allowance, but the map images may be limited in some remote places. The new alternative page, for testing purposes, is at https://www.satsig.net/pointing/test-working-with-key-18dec2018.htm Feedback as to whether or not this page works for you on your device, would be appreciated.  eric@satsig.net

Best regards, Eric