www.satsig.net

Maps index

Satellite Canada

Pointing Alaska

Pointing USA

SES Solutions

Satellite antenna aiming and dish pointing calculator for Canada

Choose longitude:

Instructions pointing for dish sites in Canada



Select your wanted satellite orbit position and name in the box above. The database satellite names may not be up to date, but the orbit positions will work fine. I made the most recent update of the list of satellites on 26 April 2020.

Quick reference:

For Bell satellite dish pointing select -91 West  (or -82 West) orbit positions.  TV channel listings:  Channels: 91W  Channels: 82 W

Put your mouse arrow at your site 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.  To refine the accuracy, click on the plus + sign at the 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 !

Register and post your message in my Satellite Forum for more help and information.

This page used to use Google maps but they started charging 16 July 2018. The costs to me were high and to keep costs down I removed the option to centre the map by typing in your place name (called geocoding). Also removed was the street view option (which involved orange peg-man icon).  The page now includes advertisements. I tried, at certain times of day when my Google daily use limit ran out to switch to maps from Mapbox / Open Street Map. This worked but was complex to maintain. Mapbox are now upgrading their system to Mapbox GL JS on 1st June 2020. I have decided to change the whole page to Mapbox, which is what you see now.

Dish pointing (Azimuth and elevation 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 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.   Facing the satellite, clockwise is positive.   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.  Peaking up the aiming is really important for long term service quality and minimum outage time during rain fades.

In northern Canada the use of magnetic compass bearing is unreliable and a true bearing will be shown. This occurs north of the 60 deg latitude line. To determine a true bearing reference find north with the pole star or use a hand held GPS.  Walk in a straight line holding the GPS and it will tell you the true bearing of that direction of walking.

Register and post your message in my Satellite Forum for more help and information.

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 in northern Canada.  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.

This page is on the satsig.net web site and is strictly Copyright Satellite Signals Limited (c) 2006 All rights reserved. Please tell me  eric@satsig.net, about any technical errors or problems with this page. Thank you.

Page started 1 June 2006, amended for mobile screens,  page general amendments 25 Jan 2020. Updated list of satellites 26 April 2020 and earth's magnetic field 8 April  2018. Updated to Mapbox GL JS 26 April 2020. Updated 10 May 2021. Updated 28 July 2023 to Mapbox version 2.5.1 for IOS15. Amended 1 Sept 2023. compatibility.