Avoiding trees etc using a satellite dish

[samleeds]

Does anyone know where to park a motorhome to avoid trees when using a satellite system. Is the astra satellite to the east as Im led to believe so i avoid high trees from my van to the direct east. Plus what angle from van to satellite is the degree of elevation. I know 28 degrees is the tilt but the lnb arm picks up the signal from high up and collects it when bounced off the dish. I guess my question is if my van is on the ground, what angle in the sky is the satellite and from which direction so i can avoid trees and high buildings.

 

[Jeff G]

Its actually south east not due east.As far as the LNB arm goes,the further north you go,the lower the arm sits and vise versa going south.In the far north of Scotland the arm is almost pointing down.

Satellite dish pointing and aiming calculator for UK, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England

 

[colinm]

As a very rough guide its 30deg east of south and 30deg up. It of cause varies depending on where you are, but that gives you a starter for parking.

 

[witzend]

The tilt angle is possibly different on different dish's as ours in Cornwall works at 17 but is around 35 in Portugal it's a maxview manual. I don't know what sort of sat box your using but some are slow to respond to a signal so if your moving the dish to fast your passing the signal before it registers. First few times its frustrating but gets easier some sky box's are very slow.
Start with dish looking south then if your standing behind it move it left 28 degs.

 

[samleeds]

The tilt angle is possibly different on different dish's as ours in Cornwall works at 17 but is around 35 in Portugal it's a maxview manual. I don't know what sort of sat box your using but some are slow to respond to a signal so if your moving the dish to fast your passing the signal before it registers. First few times its frustrating but gets easier some sky box's are very slow.
Start with dish looking south then if your standing behind it move it left 28 degs.

Our dishes at an angle of 28 degrees is one thing, but if the dish was pointing at the satellite we would be skimming the trees and houses as 28 degrees is nothing. The fact is that the satellite is high in the sky and when t-its signal hits the dish, its bounced off into the lnb and into the box so the angle of the satellite is what i want so as to avoid high trees. What I want to now is what angle the actual satellite is in the air and from my van which compass reading is it.

I just want to park, look and see it=f there are any trees in the way on the satellite bearing and if there is a tree or building in front of me on the easterly bearing, is the tree or building lower than the angle of the satellite.

 

[rugbyreddragon]

Just make sure you have clear line of sight at 118 degrees from north. The tilt angle will depend on how far north you are with a steeper angle the further south you are.

 

[harrow]

The actual signal comes down at roughly 45 degrees.



so from that you can judge how far away from the trees you need to be when looking south.

 

[samleeds]

The actual signal comes down at roughly 45 degrees.

View attachment 65101

so from that you can judge how far away from the trees you need to be when looking south.

BRILLIANT thats exactly what I need, now all I need is the compass reading from yorkshire. Im confused with east south east by 30 degrees. east to south is 90 to 180 so is it 145 or 157 etc

 

[samleeds]

Just make sure you have clear line of sight at 118 degrees from north. The tilt angle will depend on how far north you are with a steeper angle the further south you are.

BRILLIANT, thats it, thanks

 

[vindiboy]

In France recently on an Aire that was once a campsite, Moulins, it was quite comical watching the vans constantly moving pitches trying to get a satellite signal, there were lots of trees everywhere and even with clear sight to the sky folks were having problems it seemed, it was a great site on the river with a bar and Red Squirrels running around , that it seemed a shame that folks were more interested in TV than their environment, each to their own of course.

 

[harrow]

The actual signal comes down at roughly 45 degrees.

View attachment 65101

so from that you can judge how far away from the trees you need to be when looking south.

Astra 2E/2F/2G at 28.2°East of true south. not magnetic south.

 

[colinm]

I will repeat my post above with a minor amendment to satisfy you.
Astra 2 is roughly 30deg east of south or as you have asked 150deg, the elevation in UK is roughly 30deg i.e. significantly lower than 45deg.

 

[harrow]

I will repeat my post above with a minor amendment to satisfy you.
Astra 2 is roughly 30deg east of south or as you have asked 150deg, the elevation in UK is roughly 30deg i.e. significantly lower than 45deg.

When using an offset dish. The signal comes down at roughly 45 degrees.

 

[witzend]

In France recently on an Aire that was once a campsite, Moulins,

Nice aire just reading some reviews and one by a french man made me laugh he doesn't like the Fot/Bleu because the fresh water is to close to the toilet empty point most I've seen are happy to put their cassette up over the fresh water tap

 

[WildThingsKev]

The 2E/2F satellites are at an "altitude" of 25/26 degrees along the south coast and 20 degrees in Glasgow. As a guide, if you spread the fingers of your hand on an outstretched arm that will subtend an angle of 15 degrees at your eye so if you hold your hand vertically you can quickly estimate whether reception will be a non starter.

The satellites lie on the meridian 28.2E of the Greenwich (Prime) Meridian. (I'm not a geek! - I used to be a navigating officer). So, if you were in Istanbul (for instance, because it is 28 east of Greenwich) the satellites would be due south, not that you could receive anything there.

In other words, the "azimuth" (bearing) of the satellites depend on the location of the "observer" (you). Within the UK the azimuth will vary between about 142 in the west and 150 in the east (see: if you keep going east the azimuth will keep increasing towards 180 degrees as you approach Istanbul).

If you are still with me you could download the file below which I produced for keeners like me with a freestanding dish in need of a bit of a challenge!

(Smug) Kev

 

[colinm]

When using an offset dish. The signal comes down at roughly 45 degrees.

The OP is about avoiding trees (and from that any other obstacle such as buildings), to get a signal you need line of sight of satellite with nothing in the way, whilst different types of dishes might appear to be 'looking' at a different angle they all need a clear sight of roughly 30deg above horizontal whilst in UK.

BTW I have over the years collected 8 dishes of 3 different types, 6 offset, 1 flat panel and 1 Cassegrain.