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Satellite dish alignment calculator (Australia)

Enter your postcode or use your device's location to get the compass bearing, elevation and LNB skew for Foxtel or VAST on Optus at 156°E, or any other satellite, with a check that nothing blocks the view.

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From your device
To check trees or buildings
Azimuth––
Compass bearing––
Elevation––
LNB skew––
Clearance––
Distance––

Where to look

The centre is straight up and the edge the horizon. The dashed arc is the belt of geostationary satellites as seen from your location.

Other satellites from here

SatelliteAzimuthElevationSkew

Dish calculators: UK and Europe · USA · Australia

UK postcodes are looked up with postcodes.io, and US ZIP codes and Australian postcodes with Zippopotam.us. They aren't stored. Results are for a standard offset or prime-focus dish, pointed at the satellite's position.

Aiming at Optus 156°E

Foxtel satellite and the free VAST service (Viewer Access Satellite Television), which serves areas without good terrestrial TV, both come from the Optus satellites at 156°E. From the southern hemisphere, geostationary satellites are in the northern sky, so most Australian dishes point roughly north. From Sydney, 156°E is almost due north at about 50° elevation; from Perth it's north-east and lower, at about 33°. Set the elevation with the scale on the dish's mount, point along the compass bearing, then sweep slowly while watching the signal quality on your receiver.

Compass bearing and declination

Azimuth is measured from true north, but a compass points to magnetic north. Across Australia the difference ranges from near zero around Perth and about 2° in Darwin to 11° or 12° east in Brisbane and Melbourne and about 15° in Tasmania. Use the compass bearing shown, which corrects for your location with the World Magnetic Model.

LNB skew

LNB skew is how far to rotate the LNB in its holder so its polarisation lines up with the satellite. In the southern hemisphere the direction to turn is the opposite of the northern hemisphere, and the calculator shows which way. Fine-tune by rotating a few degrees either way for the best signal quality reading.

Clear line of sight

Ku-band satellite signals are blocked by trees and buildings. The clearance figure shows how much taller than the dish an obstacle can be at the distance you enter, in the direction the dish points.

Questions

Which way should a Foxtel or VAST dish point?

Roughly north. From Sydney, Optus 156°E is at about 8° true and 50° elevation. From Perth it's about 58° true and 33° elevation. Enter your postcode for exact figures.

What satellite is VAST on?

Optus at 156°E, the same position as Foxtel.

Why does the dish point north in Australia?

Geostationary satellites orbit above the equator, which is to the north of Australia.

Can I receive New Zealand satellite TV in Australia?

Optus 160°E carries Sky NZ and Freeview NZ, but its beam is aimed at New Zealand, so reception in Australia generally needs a large dish, especially in the west.