possible to connect to below horizon satellite?

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JustDooIt

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Aug 25, 2015
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United states, cali
Living in California USA, trying to connect to 52.5E Yahsat 1a. I saw that this is below the horizon from where i live, does this mean i cannot connect to it?
 
Welcome to SatelliteGuys JustDooIt !!
That is correct. You must have a direct LOS(Line of Sight) to the satellite.
If you can't see it with your dish you cannot receive it.
52.5E is for sure way out of LOS for Cali.
 
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might be a stupid question, could you detect an under-the-horizon satellite using a temperature inversion/troposheric ducting?
 
Think you'd have to be very very lucky for it to happen. There was another thread a while back where some calculated the height you'd have to mount your dish to see a satellite 2 degrees below your horizon. (IIRR almost low earth orbit range)
 
In theory you can pull a signal from below the horizon as the gravity of the earth will bend the signal slightly. But the negative to that is you are trying to get that signal through a lot more atmosphere and all its interference. Satellite signals are not good at terrestrial trips.
 
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More likely to refract a C-band frequency than a KU band. Back in the analog days I remember talking with installers in Alaska that would pull in satellites calculated to be 4-5+ degrees below the horizon. The skew would be wacky and they would need to adjust frequently to track track the polarity shift in the refraction.

mikekohl has a lot of satellite experience in the Great White North. Maybe he will weigh in and tell us his installs!
 
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