Satellite Locator

Last updated: 20 May 2018, Back

Finding a TV satellite, in azimuth, can be pretty difficult. Before you can find it with a compass you have to do some calculations using GPS location, magnetic variation, compass azimuth and satellite azimuth.
Satellite Locator replaces all of that and you do NOT need a compass.
Just enable the GPS in your phone or enter your GPS location using Google Maps/Earth, select the desired TV satellite and point your phone to the sky to target (find) the TV satellite.

What do you do ?

Your location is free of wet trees, high plants, high buildings, or anything that can disturb the receiption of GPS signals.
Start the app
Select the desired satellite on screen "1 Satellite"
Determine your GPS location (Dish) on screen "2 Location". If possible verify the GPS location in Google Earth.
Set the dish elevation to the value displayed on screen "3 Locator"
The satellite pole should be perpendicular to the earth
Select a "target" and determine the GPS locaction of the "target" on "2 Location"
"2 Location": When the "Target location" latitude and longitude fields turn green, and the distance and accuracy field turn green select checkbox "Edit or Lock target". Yoy may ignore the green color and continue with a yellow or red background colors but that may result in a false GPS location. If possible verify the GPS location in Google Earth.
Go to the satellite dish and wait until the Dish latitude and longitude fields turn green, then select screen "3 Locator"
Aim the center arrow marked "Target" to the Target and then...
Keep the phone aimed at the target while you bring it to the horizontal plane and above the dish
Turn the satellite arm to the arrow named "Dish"
The Dish is now more or less aimed at the satellite. It may need some correction for which you could use the signal strength page of your satellite receiver.

Download current version: SatelliteLocator.apk
How to install Android apps from sources other than Google Play

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_dish : What is a satellite dish ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director : What is a Director ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_freedom : What is roll, pitch, yaw ?
http://www.zekitez.com/wf/dish_maps.html , to get the latitude/longitude of the dish location
http://earth.google.com , to get the latitude/longitude of the dish location

Privacy Policy

This privacy policy is subject to change without notice.
Zekitez reserves the right to make changes to this privacy policy at any time.
This privacy policy was updated on 2017-February-07.

Google requires Zekitez to disclose that Satellite Locator will record camera and read sensor data, which is used for the purpose of taking photos and calculating your position with respect to a satellite position.
Camera access is needed to take photos.
Location access is needed to calculate the direction of the satellite.
Storage access is needed to store photos or read and write settings.
Satellite Locator and this page do not collect any personal or non-personal data.
However this page uses Google Translator and thus refers to Google's Privacy Policies at http://www.google.nl/intl/en/policies/privacy/
Satellite Locator does not use advertising.

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