Dish positioning...

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

In trying for a less-bulky dish mount, I made one of PVC water pipe as from this website,: sat
As you can see the dish is mounted 'up-side down'.

My question is, what is the "line-of-site" of the dish? (as in, where's the spot on the dish that lines up with the LNB and the satellite?)

When I used a tripod to mount the dish I pointed it 'approximately' using the angles and dangles as in the dish pointing guide,... then used the signal strength meter on the TV to 'fine'tune' the whole deal.

Turning the dish like it is using the PVC mount, I can't get my head wrapped around which way it's pointing.
Any one know the 'line of site'?
michigancamper

[Bill Adams]

You just substract 90 from the projected elevation number and you get the correct number to use.

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Bill, thanks again, (you helped me before) but not quite what I'm looking for. I know how to get the correct 'angles'. It's 'how to know' where the dish is physically pointing.

To put it another way,... you COULD shoot a rifle at a target using coordinates, (just pretend your gun was computer controlled) OR you could use the 'gun sights'.

I'm trying to find the 'gun sights' of a dish.

I'm thinking of using (don't have it yet) a phone app that 'shows' you the satellite positions by holding your phone toward the sky. Using this you can see the trees that might be in the way.
michigancamper

[movin-on]

See if this site helps....www.dishpointer.com

Type in your location...Then from the dropdown box pick the satellite you are looking for...Then check the line of site box....

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by movin-on See if this site helps....www.dishpointer.com Type in your location...Then from the dropdown box pick the satellite you are looking for...Then check the line of site box....

movin-on, see post #3.
Not looking for the numbers...
Sorry to be so confusing. I can't think how else to 'esplain it, Lucy!
michigancamper

[Bill Adams]

Right side up it's pretty hard to understand that where the dish is pointed is not where the satellite is located. There is a 24 degree off-set between where the face of the antenna is set to where the satellite is located. Let's say the antenna was at a perfect 90 degree angle (straight up and down). If that were the case, the satellite would actually be 24 degrees above the horizon. When you set a normal antenna to 48 degrees on the printed scale, the dish is actually only tilted 24 degrees from vertical. When you turn thinks upside down the 24 degree rule remains in place but now the satellite is 24 degrees lower than the face of the dish is pointed.

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams Right side up it's pretty hard to understand that where the dish is pointed is not where the satellite is located. There is a 24 degree off-set between where the face of the antenna is set to where the satellite is located. Let's say the antenna was at a perfect 90 degree angle (straight up and down). If that were the case, the satellite would actually be 24 degrees above the horizon. When you set a normal antenna to 48 degrees on the printed scale, the dish is actually only tilted 24 degrees from vertical. When you turn thinks upside down the 24 degree rule remains in place but now the satellite is 24 degrees lower than the face of the dish is pointed.

Aaaw MAN!

I KNEW i shouldn't have gotten outta bed this morning...

I'll have to read this in the morning AFTER I had a FULL pot of coffee in me.

(thanks Bill)
michigancamper

(it might help if I could stand on my head)

[Tallyrver]

I was staying at Pine Mt. resort , I could not get a signal using the inline signal meter. I was under a lot of trees trying to stay cool. And was about to give up and crank up the antenna.

I saw the dish pointer app for the Android phone ,i got it from the app store at Verizon for I think about $15.00 . This thing is amazing ,Just point it in the general area of the satellites and you can see where to set up the portable dish.

Wayne

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallyrver I was staying at Pine Mt. resort , I could not get a signal using the inline signal meter. I was under a lot of trees trying to stay cool. And was about to give up and crank up the antenna. I saw the dish pointer app for the Android phone ,i got it from the app store at Verizon for I think about $15.00 . This thing is amazing ,Just point it in the general area of the satellites and you can see where to set up the portable dish. Wayne

Wayne,
That's exactly what I have in mind. Also why I wanted to know the 'line of sight' of a satellite dish.
It's kinda obvious when say,... looking at a rifle, to KNOW which way it's pointing. With a dish, NOT so obvious.

I think the answer I'm looking for is in the answer Bill Adams gave me. I just need some time when my mind is a little clearer. Right now I'm trying to go 40 different ways getting things done before our next scheduled trip. Re-roofing a house and building a 'carport' type structure for our 5th wheel among them.

So, thanks for those of you that have tried to help. I'm thinking though that I'll need some 'hands on' treatment or maybe a picture depicting how the signal is bounced off the dish toward the LNB.

My goal is to maybe use that phone app to FIND that satellite in the sky and POINT the dish toward it. Being able to do that entales "knowing where the dish is pointing'.

I understand there are dishes that will hook onto a satellite 'automatically' but I can't afford one of those.

Thanks again, everyone.
Any more comments are welcomed. And if you know how to 'pictorially' indicate the direction, I'd love to hear from you.

michigancamper

[Route 66]

Is this what you're asking about?


© Mark Nemeth

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 Is this what you're asking about? Attachment 12141 © Mark Nemeth

Yes Mark, I think that's it, I think.
The 24 degrees that Bill was talking about, is that the angle the signal takes ' at the dish'?
michigancamper

[Dadeaux]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICHIGAN CAMPER In trying for a less-bulky dish mount, I made one of PVC water pipe as from this website,: sat As you can see the dish is mounted 'up-side down'. My question is, what is the "line-of-site" of the dish? (as in, where's the spot on the dish that lines up with the LNB and the satellite?) When I used a tripod to mount the dish I pointed it 'approximately' using the angles and dangles as in the dish pointing guide,... then used the signal strength meter on the TV to 'fine'tune' the whole deal. Turning the dish like it is using the PVC mount, I can't get my head wrapped around which way it's pointing. Any one know the 'line of site'? michigancamper

You could place a carpenter's square across the face of your dish and use the 90 degree angle of the square as a "gun sight". Ignore the LNB mount for it plays no part in the aiming.

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadeaux You could place a carpenter's square across the face of your dish and use the 90 degree angle of the square as a "gun sight". Ignore the LNB mount for it plays no part in the aiming.

Del,
A great idea. "Mechanically', that makes sense.
I assume that would work on the horizontal axises only.
On the vertical, I'd need to incorporate Bills 24 degree angle?
Would you agree?
michigancamper

[Tallyrver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 Is this what you're asking about? Attachment 12141 © Mark Nemeth

The first time i used the dish pointing app,I nealed down behind the dish and pointed at the sky to see the satellites ,took about a min to find an opening in the trees and get a clear line of sight. Went inside and the DW was already watching tv with no adjustments needed .

I tried one of the upside dish mounts made out of pvc ,didn't like it . I built one out of 1 3/4 galv. pipe . it unscrews and folds up . and is heavy enough to not blow around.http://

http://
Wayne