Azimuth (East-West Adjustment): The First and Most Critical Step in Satellite Dish Setup

When setting up a satellite dish, one of the first and most important steps for receiving a strong signal is the Azimuth adjustment. Azimuth refers to the horizontal angle that determines which direction your satellite dish will face.
In simple terms, it’s the east-west positioning of the dish. If this adjustment is incorrect, you could spend hours trying to lock onto the wrong satellite. That’s why getting it right at the very beginning is crucial.

1. What is Azimuth?

Azimuth is the horizontal direction of the satellite dish relative to the Earth’s surface, measured in degrees. It’s determined using a compass or a digital measuring tool.

  • 0° points to North
  • 90° points to East
  • 180° points to South
  • 270° points to West

In most satellite installations, the target satellite is located towards the south, but the exact azimuth angle depends on your location and the satellite you are aiming for.

2. Why is Azimuth Adjustment Important?

  • It’s the first step to finding the correct satellite.
  • A wrong setting means you could lock onto the wrong satellite or get no signal at all.
  • A correct adjustment maximizes signal strength.
  • It significantly reduces installation time.

3. How to Calculate the Azimuth Angle

The Azimuth angle is calculated using your location coordinates and the target satellite’s position. Here’s how:

  1. Choose Your Target Satellite
    Examples: Hotbird (13°E), Astra 1 (19.2°E), Türksat (42°E).
  2. Find Your Location
    Use Google Maps or a GPS device to get your latitude and longitude.
  3. Use Azimuth Calculation Tools
    Online “Satellite Finder” tools allow you to input your location and target satellite, giving you the exact Azimuth angle in degrees.
  4. Align with a Compass or Digital Meter
    Set your dish’s horizontal direction according to the calculated angle.

4. Key Points to Remember

  • Magnetic Declination: Check your area’s magnetic deviation when using a compass.
  • Avoid Obstacles: There should be no trees, buildings, or walls between your dish and the satellite.
  • Fine-Tuning: Slowly adjust the dish to maximize the signal strength.
  • Use a digital signal meter for more accuracy.

5. Step-by-Step Azimuth Adjustment

  1. Select your target satellite.
  2. Determine your location (latitude/longitude).
  3. Calculate the Azimuth angle.
  4. Use a compass to find the correct direction.
  5. Align the dish horizontally to that angle.
  6. Check the signal and make small adjustments.

6. Common Mistakes

  • Choosing the wrong satellite.
  • Using a compass near metal objects (causing interference).
  • Ignoring elevation (vertical) adjustment.
  • Overlooking obstacles in the signal path.

The Azimuth adjustment is the foundation of satellite dish installation. Done correctly, it saves both time and frustration. Always remember — the first and most critical step in finding your signal is getting the horizontal direction right.


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