Quote:
Originally Posted by brianz
...I just ordered a signal meter, inclinometer and a little bit better compass...
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Since you will have these tools available, you can also learn to use an accurate dish pointing calculator which also figures in your site elevation above sea level. (I figure every little bit of additional accuracy helps with dish pointing.)
The pointing calculator below allows you to enter your latitude and longitude to the exact decimal place like 42.40049084178432. It looks like you can only enter 5 digits (like 42.400), but you can enter all the decimal places for latitude and longitude. You can also enter your elevation above sea level. Note this in in meters, not feet.
The first link below (earthtools) will give you your exact latitude and longitude for your location. Keep double clicking on map until you get to your exact location. As you get closer to your location, you may need to double click on the map and use the zoom in adjustment. Or may need to wait for the map to update. Anyway get the + right on where your house is located. Then on the left side, click on "Find Elevation/Height Above Sea Level" and it will give you your elevation above sea level in meters and feet. Copy the meters figure. Then click on "Location" and it will give you your exact latitude and longitude.
Then go to the dish pointing calculator below and enter your latitude, longitude, and elevation. Then click on your south pointing satellite. Then the calculator will give you Satellite Elevation. This is how high in the sky that satellite is from your location.
Then again you need to subtract your dish offset from this amount to get what the dish itself needs to be using the inclinometer. So if it says the satellite is 40 degrees high, subtract 24.62 from that amount and you get 15.38 degrees. This would be the angle the DISH itself should be. (Not the positioner, the DISH.)
You can hold the inclinometer the wrong way and get the wrong numbers. Straight up and down should be 0 degrees. And with the dish pointing straight up looking like a bird bath, it would be 90 degrees.
Then attach coax signal meter. You need to have your receiver powered on to give power to the signal meter. Adjust it for very sensitive.
Then move dish back and forth. As it finds satellites as you are moving it back and forth, it will beep and the needle will go up and down as it passes each satellite. If it is constantly beeping and the needle is pegged, it it set to too sensitive. Although it is possible you may have the dish pointed at a satellite right off the bat and it would be indicating this.
More likely you will need to adjust the dish a little higher (like 1 milimeter), then try back and forth again. Then higher and higher or lower and lower until you find the satellites. Should be pretty close though.
Note when first
aiming a dish, I like to take my receiver and a small TV outside to my dish. Then I can use the remote to move the dish back and forth. And I can also see the receiver signal meter (Not much on this until I find the specific satellite it is set to.)
Exact latitude, longitude, and elevation above sea level....
http://www.earthtools.org
Accurate dish pointing calculator...
(Click on X to remove "Programmed by" screen.)
http://www.satellite-calculations.co...lookangles.htm