Understanding true South

[resq911]

So am I correct then, my true south is about 165 degrees if my lat is 34.21 and long. 118.61. Gio of 180 - about 15 degrees.

[dtsexpert]

Your true south sat is the satellite located at 118W, which is your Lat. The azimuth for finding the true south sat is 180 +/- magnetiv deviation.
Michael

So am I correct then, my true south is about 165 degrees if my lat is 34.21 and long. 118.61. Gio of 180 - about 15 degrees.

[resq911]

So when I line up my Dish, HH motor and LNFB, I should align the 3 at 180, 165 118 or 103? Sorry Im very confused.

[DruzeTito]

first point it to your true south... it doesnt have to be a sat. Then from there use your receiver's disecq 1.3 and enter you lat long, then select your nearest satellite to your true south along with a good transponder. Then adjust from the there.

[flybird74]

your true south is 118W, here are my experiences, hope it helps

1: it is difficult to locate true south. The trick is that you simply assume
you know where your true south is

2: find out evlevation of your true south, you can use sadoun's calculator.
rotate you dish to ref, and set the true south elevation.

3: determine a satellite that is close to your true south, SatMex 5 at 116W
should be good

4: since SateMex5 is 2 degree east of your true south, you need to
compensate first. Now first, rotate your dish to ref or zero degree, then
use your remote control to rotate your dish 2 degrees to east

5: assuming you already mounted your dish and motor, rotate the whole
unit until you find Satemex5. ( Do not use your disecq motor to rotate
the dish, I mean you physically move left or right the whole unit to
locate SateMex5)

6: OK, since you have found SatMex 5, if you rotate your dish to ref now,
it should point to true south

Note: you may also use other satellite as your reference, you just need to
replace two degree with what ever the difference is between you true south and satellite position.

[resq911]

Next

[resq911]

:idea: Thanks I will figure it out. My Direct tv 3 LNB dish did not seem this complexed.

Am I worring to much about it... 8)

[BrianC]

Finding true south took me a while too but you'll find it.
What I did was I took a thin piece of white tape and placed it dead center on the top bracket where the dish mounts to the pole.
Then, I used the compass (away from any metal or your body) and found South, added my +13 for NJ as per the table at this site. I came up with 193 degrees being true south.
So, it's 180 + or - YOUR magnetic deviation (don't use 193). Once you have that number put your dish in that general direction. Dont use the motor to do it, turn the whole dish assembly to face it.
Now, with the compass see what straight ahead is in degrees. In other words, my dish faces a fence. My straight ahead facing the fence that it is looking over is 200 degrees. Now, once you know this, you dont need to balance the compass anymore. Simply take the compass under your white tape line and place it in your straight ahead degree mark. Ignore the dish position, just place it straight ahead. Now, looking at the markings on the compass, gently turn the dish unit, bracket and all, to your true south using the markings on the compass as a guide.
I would say if done correctly you should be dead on or within 1degrees +/1. Now, tighten up your bolts. You now find the nearest satellite to your south and get a level and lock on it. Make very small adjustments left or right to peak the signal then re-tighten all your bolts and try using the motor for the other sats.

I'll try and make some guide on this because I found it is really helpful.

Let me know. I hope it didn't confuse you.

-Brian

[manaman]

Can some one please help me find true south if my Longitude is 74.0 deg W and my Latitude is 410.5 N? Thanks

[wejones]

Can some one please help me find true south if my Longitude is 74.0 deg W and my Latitude is 410.5 N? Thanks

True south is always 180 deg "true" . If you are using a compass, then you must add your magnetic deviation (declination), which you can compute at NOAA's Geophysical Data Center - Geomagnetic Data
So it will be around a 193 or 194 compass heading for you (I can't tell what you meant to say for latitude... obviously not 410 )
Using a compass isn't very accurate. You can also use the sun. You can go to Sun or Moon Altitude/Azimuth Table and find out what time of day the sun has an azimuth of 180 deg (be sure to correct for daylight time). Then go outside at that time and use shadows to tell what direction south is.

Your true south satellite will be the satellite closest to your longitude, ie SBS6 is at 74 deg.