Pointing The Antenna - Inmarsat EXPLORER 500 User Manual

Pointing the antenna

The importance of pointing
In order to obtain the best possible signal at the lowest
possible cost, it is important that the EXPLORER 500
antenna is pointed correctly towards the satellite.
The antenna must have a clear line of sight to the
satellite without any obstacles blocking the signal, and
the pointing direction of the antenna should be as
accurate as possible.
Important
The next sections describe how to point the antenna for the best possible signal.
Pointing data
If the position of the satellite in relation to the EXPLORER 500 is known, you can use the compass
to roughly point the antenna in the right direction. If you know the Azimuth and the Elevation, you
can use this data to adjust the antenna.
• The Azimuth is the horizontal rotation angle relative to
North (moving clockwise).
• The Elevation is the vertical rotation angle relative to
horizontal. This means that an Elevation of 0°
corresponds to the EXPLORER 500 being in an upright
position, pointing towards the horizon.
The compass has 7 lines dividing the Elevation scale into 6
spaces. The space between two lines corresponds to 15°.
The Elevation is measured where the lines meet. This compass
shows an Elevation of
an Azimuth of 270° (antenna pointing towards West).
Note
The above explanation assumes that the compass shows the exact orientation. Please
take into consideration the possible deviation and variation that can occur, e.g. because
of the geographical location or the presence of magnetic objects.
TT 98-122274-O
Incorrect pointing may result in poor quality of the signal, and in some cases
retransmission may be necessary. This could mean you will be paying more than
necessary for your transmission.
30° (2 spaces up from the first line) and
Chapter 2: Getting started
N = 0°
W = 270°
S = 180°
Front of antenna
E = 90°
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