Satellite Dish Pointing Calculator
Enter your location and the orbital position of a geostationary satellite to get the compass azimuth, elevation angle and LNB skew for aiming your dish. Add your magnetic declination for a compass bearing, and see the whole visible satellite arc from where you are.
Last updated:
the longitude in its name, e.g. 97°W or 19.2°E
for a compass bearing; leave 0 for true north
offset dishes are often 17–26°; 0 for prime-focus dishes
How to use the Satellite Dish Pointing Calculator
- Enter your latitude and longitude in decimal degrees and pick N/S and E/W (your phone's map app shows them).
- Enter the satellite's orbital position, the longitude in its name, such as 97°W or 28.2°E.
- Optionally add magnetic declination for a compass reading and your dish offset angle.
- Press Calculate to get azimuth, elevation and LNB skew.
- Aim the dish: face the azimuth, tilt to the elevation, rotate the LNB by the skew, then fine-tune with a signal meter.
How dish pointing works
Geostationary satellites orbit about 35,786 km above the equator and stay fixed over one longitude. From anywhere on Earth they form an arc across the southern sky (or the northern sky in the Southern Hemisphere), highest due south or north and dropping toward the east and west horizons. To aim a dish you need three angles:
- Azimuth: the compass direction, measured clockwise from true north.
- Elevation: how far above the horizon to tilt the beam.
- Skew: how much to rotate the LNB so it lines up with the satellite's polarization, which follows the slope of the arc.
Example look angles to 97°W
| City | Azimuth (true) | Elevation | Skew |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (40.7°N, 74.0°W) | 213.1° | 37.3° | 24.4° clockwise from behind |
| Chicago (41.9°N, 87.6°W) | 193.9° | 40.7° | 10.3° clockwise from behind |
| Denver (39.7°N, 105.0°W) | 167.6° | 43.3° | 9.5° counter-clockwise from behind |
| Los Angeles (34.1°N, 118.2°W) | 145.3° | 44.3° | 28.1° counter-clockwise from behind |
| Miami (25.8°N, 80.2°W) | 214.7° | 54.5° | 30.9° clockwise from behind |
Aiming tips
- Mount the pole perfectly vertical first; a leaning mast throws off every other angle.
- Stand away from metal railings and cars when reading a compass, and apply your local magnetic declination.
- Check the line of sight along the azimuth at the elevation angle: trees in leaf often block low satellites in summer.
- Set elevation and skew, sweep slowly left and right around the azimuth, then fine-tune elevation and skew for peak signal quality.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate satellite dish azimuth and elevation?
With ΔL = satellite longitude − your longitude and φ your latitude: azimuth = atan2(sin ΔL, −sin φ · cos ΔL), and elevation = atan((cos ΔL · cos φ − 0.1513) ÷ √(1 − cos²ΔL · cos²φ)). The constant 0.1513 is Earth's radius divided by the geostationary orbit radius.
What is LNB skew and which way do I turn it?
Skew is the rotation of the LNB needed to match the satellite's linear polarization, because the satellite is not directly south (or north) of you. Skew = atan(sin ΔL ÷ tan φ). In the Northern Hemisphere, for a satellite east of you rotate the LNB counter-clockwise as seen from behind the dish; for a satellite west of you, rotate it clockwise. The directions reverse in the Southern Hemisphere.
Is the azimuth true north or magnetic north?
The calculated azimuth is relative to true (geographic) north. A magnetic compass points to magnetic north, so subtract an east declination or add a west declination. For example, with 13° W declination, a true azimuth of 220° reads 233° on a compass.
Why does my offset dish look like it points at the ground?
Offset dishes have the LNB below the reflector, so the beam leaves at an angle (often 17–26°) above where the dish face points. The face is therefore tilted less than the elevation angle. Enter the offset angle to get the tilt to set on the dish's elevation scale.
Which satellites can I see from my location?
Geostationary satellites sit above the equator in an arc. You can see positions within roughly 70–80° of your longitude, depending on latitude, but anything under about 10° elevation is easily blocked. The table under the results lists azimuth, elevation and skew along your visible arc.
How accurate are these pointing angles?
They assume a spherical Earth and a perfectly geostationary satellite, which is accurate to within a few tenths of a degree. That is close enough to find the satellite; then peak the signal by making tiny adjustments with a satellite meter or the receiver's signal display.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.