Satellite Orbits?

[WillyV]

Can someone out there please describe "conceptually" how both FTA as well as DISH and Direct satellites are positioned in the sky? I had thought that all these birds were in a geosynchonis orbit around the equator but recently, a DISH installer indicated that there were many other non-equatorial orbits. I'd appreciate any comments.

 

[KE4EST]

Weelll there are satellites that are in non-equatorial orbits, BUT not for anything that relates to FTA or DISH and Directv.

 

[navychop]

Spy sats tend to be in polar orbits as are some weather sats.

That would be SOME motorized dish to track a non-geo sat.

 

[FaT Air]

Orbits [wikipedia]
Molniya orbit used, in the past, by Russia
Tundra orbit used by Sirius http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=26390
Geostationary is the majority use for sat. based Audio/visual and data to stationary ground based receivers. D1sh/D1reckt/FTA

 

[navychop]

Orbits [wikipedia]
Molniya orbit used, in the past, by Russia
Tundra orbit used by Sirius http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=26390
Geostationary is the majority use for sat. based Audio/visual and data to stationary ground based receivers. D1sh/D1reckt/FTA

Will this be on the test?

 

[olliec420]

Sat phones birds and some data birds are in LEOs (low earth orbiting satellites) they move around.

 

[danristheman]

GPS don't forget about that and satellite radio.

Dan Rose

 

[WillyV]

Yea, during my conversation with the "DISH man," he mentioned that folks in Alaska aimed their dishes straight up which sort of confused me. I though that if most birds were in equatorial orbits, folks in Alaska would kinda sorta need to aim their dishes relatively low. Anyway, that was what perked my interest.

 

[Corrado]

I have noticed that all the dishes on several Alaska themed TV programs seem to be pointed very low which makes sense thinking about where the equator is.

Most of the ku band dishes look to be at least 1.2m in size and it appears nearly every house has one.

 

[FaT Air]

Think that guy is like many 'dish' installers around here. Weekend warriors that actually know little.(but think they 'got it all') There's no "TV" satellites 'straight up' from Alaska. They are aimed close to the horizon.
Maximum 'height' of the arc in Nome, AK is around 17 degrees. An offset dish looks to be 'aimed' at the ground. Those satellites 'straight up' fly by at something like 17,000Mph. Sorry, honey, I couldn't swing the dish fast enough to get all of your program.

 

[cyberham]

Yea, during my conversation with the "DISH man," he mentioned that folks in Alaska aimed their dishes straight up...

He's probably confusing Alaska with Indonesia.

Dish in Indonesia:

 

[Elchucko]

Alaskan Sat Dishes

Here's a picture of two functioning satellite dishes at Eileson AFB near Fairbanks. I took this picture in July 2006. It is a good representation of how dishes must be point that far north.

 

[TNGTony]

http://science.nasa.gov/iSat/?group=geo

 

[Cham]

Think of the ISS being non-geosynchronous, you can watch it fly by at 18000mi/hr as it passes over 250 or so miles above the earth. The Clarke belt, where the satellites we deal with on this forum live, runs parallel with the equator and is about 20,000mi above the earth so they need to move the same speed as the earth rotates at that distance so they don't come crashing down or get flung off into outer space. The actual orbital velocity doesn't change much, but the closer an object is (like the ISS) the faster it appears to move... At least that is what I have learned so far...
Now back to watching the NASA channel!
-C.

 

[WillyV]

Yea, Alaska with Indonesia, ooh that's hillarious! LOL! But you just might be right!

 

[WillyV]

Oh, I like that last line about not being able to swing the dish fast enough! LOL! Maybe aiming straight up is for the "mother ship." LOL! Thanks.

 

[WillyV]

Interesting stuff Cham.... What is ISS?

 

[WillyV]

Interesting photo Elchucko. Kinda sort of how I thought it might look. Thanks

 

[navychop]

He's probably confusing Alaska with Indonesia. Dish in Indonesia: <img src="http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=95216"/>

Love the pic. Looks like a good bird poop collector.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[Cham]

Interesting stuff Cham.... What is ISS?

International Space Station. A very large satellite quite visible at certain times of the evening/early morning. Google "visible ISS passes", there should be a web page to list best viewing times for your location.