look angle

[the mack]

I know this is kind of a lame question and I know with the offset dishes used for dbs systems the lnb arm does not reflect the actual angle of the the satellite signal.
my question is....is the elevation angle we set on the dish the actual angle from the satellite?

 

[Mr Tony]

no
The angle on the dish takes into account the 22-25 degree offset. I tried once to get a low elevation and the arm of the dish was way below what would be "0" if placed on a flat surface

Primes Focus dishes are "true"

 

[the mack]

is it higher or lower then what is set?
edit
reason I ask is because at my cottage install with huge LOS issues I have a single dish pointed at 129 and the current elevation is 26 degrees. I am wondering if the angle to the sat is higher or lower the the 26 degree setting?

 

[Mr Tony]

The signal comes in higher on the dish......the way I've checked if I have LOS issues is take the elevation that you want and add 22 to it and set the dish to that then look up the arm of the dish

The dish manufacturers take into the offset when making the elevation markings on the side

 

[the mack]

thankx bro......

 

[tkrandall]

Dishpointer.com will tell you the true elevation angle to the satellite.

 

[Jim5506]

My estimation of the satellite location is to look from the bottom of the dish through the top of the LNB, and that even might be a little low.

If your sight from the bottom of the dish to the top of the lnb is clear, you are LOS.

 

[radtech]

reason I ask is because at my cottage install with huge LOS issues I have a single dish pointed at 129 and the current elevation is 26 degrees. I am wondering if the angle to the sat is higher or lower the the 26 degree setting?]

I have LOS issues here too. At my location, the 129 is very low, I think 22.7 deg IIRC. Anyway, I purchased an angle finder from Harbor Freight for $4.99. Attach it to a yard stick or other flat stick and sight up the stick in the direction of the satellite. It helps to have an assistant with you who will read off the elevation angles as you raise the stick . It is a very inexpensive way to determine your LOS and works very well. I hope this helps.

Ed