How to Read the Elevation Scale on a Dish 500

Dish satellites are at 110 degrees and 119 degrees west longitude.

Dish 500 satellite receiving dishes are designed to pick up satellite broadcast signals from Dish's satellites at 110 degrees and 119 degrees west longitude. Although the satellites are geo-stationary -- they move at the same speed as the earth revolves -- the receiving dish must be positioned at different angles everywhere, because of the earth's curvature. Elevation (angle up) and other angles, like azimuth (direction,) can be set with markings on the dish antenna hardware.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench

Instructions

1. Find the elevation that the dish needs to use from the Dish website (see Resources). Look for the ZIP Code range that includes your ZIP Code and read off the elevation in the column marked "EV." For example, if your ZIP Code is 90210, look at the range from 90200 to 90399 and read an elevation of 50 degrees.

2. Look at the dish receiving antenna and identify the Elevation (EL) marks. The scale will be embossed in the metal hardware. Read the 50 degree mark.

3. Set the angle up to 50 degrees by loosening the bolts and lining up the embossed line with the elevation scale at the 50 degree mark. Tighten the bolts after you've set the elevation.

Tips & Warnings

• Repeat the process for the azimuth, and skew. For example, in the range from 90200 to 90399, you'll see the azimuth (AZ) is 159 and the skew (SK) is 84. Adjust the hardware so that the scale on the dish matches these figures.

Resources

• Dish: Dish 500 & Dish 300 Pointing Angles for 119 W & 110 W (PDF)