Satellite TV new Zealand

Instructions for people in Australia and New Zealand

Select your wanted satellite in the box above. Optus at 160 east longitude is just an example.

Put your cursor at your location and drag the map.
The map display will move so that the selected point is in the centre. The latitude and longitude of the centre of the map is then shown below the map, together with your satellite dish pointing azimuth, elevation and skew (feed or LNB rotation or polarisation) angles.

To refine the accuracy, click on the plus sign in the map scale changing device at the upper left side of the map. The scale will change so that you can home in accurately on your location. Repeat. Choose the Map or Satellite view. Under Map there is a Terrain option. Under Satellite there is a Labels option for town and place names. The satellite photo image of the ground may enable you to see your house !

Dish pointing (Azimuth and elevation - sideways and up/down movement)

Set the dish elevation angle first. This is the up/down angle and there may be a scale on the back. An inclinometer may be of use. Set the feed polarisation angle also. This involves rotating the LNB. There may be polarisation rotation scale on the feed throat. Facing the satellite, a clockwise polarisation angle is positive.

For the sideways azimuth bearing note the blue line, use a compass or just think where the sun is and the time of day and boldly swing the dish sideways. You should find the satellite on the first swing, then spend half an hour peaking up. Peaking up is really important for long term service quality and minimum outage time during rain fades.

Dish pointing (Polar mount)

Only your latitude matters. Set the main motor axis angle and the small downward tilt of the dish and with the motor central align the dish towards the due north satellite. Motor rotation angles to the east are positive, to the west negative.

If a little Orange man appears in the top left corner this means that Google cameras have driven along roads marked in blue. Try it. Use the pale X in the top right corner to return to normal map view.

The abbreviations on the map refer to: NT Northern Territory, WA Western Australia, SA South Australia, QLD Queensland, NSW New South Wales, TAS Tasmania and VIC Victoria.