The Antenna Pointing Guide determines
the required azimuth and elevation angles
to point an antenna at a geostationary
satellite. It applies to uplink DCP antennas
and receive site (DRGS) parabolic antennas.
The following are needed:
1. Subtract the site
longitude from the satellite longitude
to determine the relative ground longitude.
If the result is negative, the site is
West of the satellite. Remember this for
step 3.
Example: The satellite is positioned
at 135 deg. longitude, and a site is located
at 77 deg. longitude, 39 deg. latitude,
then 135 - 77 = 58 degrees relative longitude.
2. Look at the nomogram
and find the position that corresponds
to the relative longitude and the site
latitude. From this intersection, read
the “A” curves for azimuth
and read the “e” curves for
elevation.
Example: Find the point
on the nomogram that corresponds to 58
degrees relative longitude (computed in
step 1) and 39 degrees latitude. The values
for the elevation and azimuth are:
e = 16 deg
A = 68 deg
3. Identify what quadrant
the site is located in relative to the
satellite and use the chart to adjust
the Azimuth
Earth
Quadrant
relative to Satellite |
True
Azimuth
Az |
NW |
180 - A |
NE |
180 + A
|
SW
|
A |
SE
|
360 - A
|
The site is in the NE
of the satellite because the latitude
is North and the site is East of the satellite.
Therefore, add 180 degrees to the “A”
number to obtain the final azimuth from
true North.
The final values are: e = 16 deg
Az = 248 deg
If you use a compass for pointing the
antenna, take into account the local site
magnetic variation from true north. This
value will vary by location of the site.
Be careful when using a compass near metal
structures or objects as the readings
may be inaccurate causing poor antenna
pointing.

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