RICARDO'S C/Ku GEO-ORBIT SATELLITE QUICK-LOOK
FOOTPRINTS BY DISH SIZE
int'l regional footprints ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ the size dish they recommend

Western Hemisphere/Eastern Hemisphere/Interesting Links

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SITE SEARCH ENGINE: This is a large site - with over 170 web pages, 500 images and 2000 source and cross reference links - it has much good info buried deep within. Enter into search engine satellite keywords or words of your satellite interest and it will display a page of hyperlink results for content of this site. We hope it assists to save time while browsing. HINT: Look thru intro paragraph below for general idea of site content, then enter satellite keywords into search engine. UPDATED (our e-mail) (guestbook for comments)

Enter Satellite Keywords           Match ANY Match ALL

Yes, we know dish size can be calculated using formulae with G/T, C/N, EIRP, noise figures, equipment gain, rain fade factors, slant path values, etc., but let's use comparative analysis to see what size satellite antenna you need because it is fast and visual. However, if you want a link budget equation, go below, you will like it. (page notes)

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Choose your footprint region of interest and peruse the links; they are arranged per geographic area, not per satellite, to provide an overview of what size dish is best for satellite beams into your region. Go to relative dish size charts to see eirp vs. antenna diameter charts (very good, very useful). Go to site calculation for links to global azimuth/elevation, latitude/longitude, magnetic deviation calculation tables and charts and polar mount dish adjustment guidelines including general overview of prime focus systems/choosing a dish, and discussion on dish formulae, LNB/feedhorn types, f/d and scalar settings, cabling/connectors/actuator/servo wiring, ground mount/pad mount installation, ground rod/surge protection, waterproofing, wind loading, rain fade/free space loss, earth thermal noise, terrestrial interference and solar outage. Don't forget the obstacle page for tips on choosing the right location for your system. Check out the case history example using the link budget equation. For detailed EIRP footprints to input into link budgets go to Western Hemisphere or Eastern Hemisphere. To check the location of your country of interest in respect to neighboring countries go to these geo-political maps: Africa, Asia/Australia, (Middle East, Mediterranean, Asian Russia), Europe/Russia, North/South/Central America and go to worldwide TV standards to see the specific NTSC, PAL and Secam layout per country, their voltage requirement and TV frequency/channel assignments. And for a good general discussion of orbit types check out these links: geostationary, low earth orbit, medium earth orbit, highly elliptical orbit, polar orbit and sun synchronous orbit with example applications for each one and a brief satellite history. (page notes)

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Satellite Dish Size Per Global Region: Only dish sizes by footprints and charts here, for inclusive detail per satellite go to Western Hemisphere/Eastern Hemisphere. Footprints are detailed and may not load as quickly as you would like. Thanks for your understanding.

Africa (see also W.Europe maps): Intelsat 707A, Thaicom 3, Thaicom 3, Panamsat 4 (go to bt'm of page) America, Central (incl. Caribbean): Intelsat K, GE-1, GE-3, Galaxy 5, Telstar 6, Telstar 5, Telstar 4, Solidaridad 1/2, Hispasat America, North (incl. Canada): Intelsat K, Intelsat 805, GE-1, GE-3, Galaxy 5, Telstar 5, Telstar 5, Telstar 5, Telstar 4, Telstar 7, Solidaridad 1/2, Hispasat, Nimiq America, South (see also C.America): Intelsat K, Nahuel 1, Hispasat, Intelsat 805 Asia, Central: Asiasat 2, Thaicom 3, Thaicom 2, Thaicom 3, Hotbirds, ST-1, Turksat 1 Series Mabuhay (Agila 2) Asia-Orient (Far Eastern): Asiasat 2, ST-1 Asia-Sino Asiasat 2, ST-1, Chinastar Europe, East (incl. EurAsia): Asiasat 2, Hotbirds, Astra System, Telecom 2 Series, Thor Series Eutelsat 2F1/2F3, Hispasat, Sirius, Turksat 1 Series GALS 1/2, Bonum 1 (Most 1) Europe, West (incl. Scandinavia, Spain/Portugal, N.Africa): Intelsat 707A, Intelsat 707A (africa), Intelsat 805, Astra System Hotbirds, Hotbird 4, Eutelsat 2F1/2F3, Hispasat, Sirius, Telecom 2 Series Thor Series, GALS 1/2, Bonum 1 (Most 1), Turksat 1 Series, Detailed for Greece Middle East (incl. Mediterranean) (see also W.Europe maps): Nilesat 101, Arabsat 2A/B, Intelsat 707A, Asiasat 2, Hotbirds Thaicom 3, Telecom 2 Series Oceania (incl. Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand): Panamsat 2, Intelsat 702, Thaicom 3, Intelsat 702, Thaicom 3, Optus B3 Asiasat 2, Cakrawarta (Indo Star) Global: Panamsat General Statement (for their dth capability)

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Relative Dish Size Chart Antenna Diameter vs. EIRP eirp vs. size graphs for c and ku, comprehensive and descriptive; includes notes for PAL/SECAM/NTSC/MAC systems, usa/euro dss systems, and analog/digital transponder useage; graphs show minimum size for home/cable/headend/rebroadcast reception. use this chart if the satellite owner does not offer a chart and for advanced reception applications beyond TVRO homeowner useage and to check installer recommendations.

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Automatic Site Calculations Azimuth/Elevation for Your Location: (plus additional good information)

asiasat az/el brazilsat az/el program download. thaicom az/el chart of main cities in their footprints. sinosat ST-1 az/el chart of main cities in their footprints. chinastar az/el chart of main cities in their footprints. hispasat az/el (for europe and spain) and americas. dbs (for USA) az/el echostar 4 to pas 5; nice chart of reference cities and instant calculations; includes usa, canada, carribean, bermuda, columbia, antilles, mexico. take 'tech support' then 'need help installing . . . '. not very specific but sufficiently general - for instance for me, in saltillo, the closest reference city is 80km (monterrery). direct tv az/el (hughes sats). telstar az/el each sat has chart of main cities in its footprint. panamsat az/el for all pas/galaxy/sbs satellites worldwide; also has lat/long values for many major world cities. tom hyatt's az/el an quick on-line global calc program, uses zip code for usa & lat/long values for rest of world; NOTE: enter negative values if satellite is east, if latitude is south or if longitude is east (his configuration is backward from normal convention); the only site that makes the obvious note about applying magnetic deviation values to results. eric johnston's az/el go to main page for notes. eric johnston's az el experimental program adjusted to magnetic north. az/el on-line interactive in french swedish microwave link budget excellent downloadable software-a must if you plan to do more than one az/el calculation; has database for their products & Euro satellites, otherwise begin with their antenna alignment page, see my sample 'antenna alignment screen', then input results into link budget, see my sample 'link budget screen' (it presents a real nice color TV screen to show you the quality tv you will get from the dish size, lnb value and eirp for your location all of which you input into link budget (sample screen with sparkles to show effect of undersized dish)). this program allows you to simulate the sparkles per your system configuration and also accounts for rain effects. a real nice program; use it before you buy your equipment to assure you can see the satellites you really want and use this program after you tune your dish to see if the sparkles you have are the sparkles you should get. go here to get antenna noise temperature value for input to program. this is a case history i made using this program. global lat/long search engine input your city, this site has it.

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Additional Good Information: magnetic deviation maps global and for north america, south america, europe, middle east, orient/new guinea, australia/new zealand (loads slowly but has the info). BE SURE to apply these values to any az/el results from any programs used on this page. adjusting a polar mount includes diagrams for setting elevation, declination angles, azimuth/elevation and magnetic deviation; diagrams of feedhorn/LNB assembly and actuator attachment/wiring; discussions/photos on feedhorn types, scalar f/d settings, cabling/connector assembly, receiver wiring, ground rod/surge protection, weatherproofing, and, of course, step by step details to tuning/tracking to the satellite arc with links to companion pages for ground pole/pad mount installation and windloading, rain fade/free space loss, earth thermal noise charts and a good discussion on terrestrial interference and solar outage. metodo para el ajuste de monturas polares en antenas parabolicas motorizadas en español con muchas detalles y imagenes, muy buena pagina. declination/declination offset/elevation angle chart need latitude to use this chart. clearance height or angle to an object use this interactive calculation table to see if the position chosen for your satellite dish will have reception interference from signal blockage by nearby objects (must use ms explorer for this site) or go to this quick diagram for real easy math. global video standard map and per country table listing pal, secam, ntsc distribution with sample frequency layouts of major standards including voltage power standards. north american/international TV frequencies (MHz) and channel assignments. spectrum chart, 9KHz to 300GHz. calculating mag deviation with map and compass. latitude/longitude convention and degrees to decimal conversion check here if you are unsure about which direction is positive and which is negative and to convert degrees to decimal values. uplink/downlink frequencies of all global satellites use this to be sure your LNB covers the correct frequencies. definition of geostationary, LEO, MEO, HEO, polar, sun-synchronous orbits just a quick review of each orbit type with many images and detailed description of an application or two for each orbit type, good overview! decibel discussion brief description of what a decibel is. solar outage (sun transit) discussion of what it is, and here are links to sites with outage info: Panamsat - includes all PAS, Galaxy and SBS satellites; Intelsat and non Intelsat under Intelsat management; New Skies; GE Americom - a program to be downloaded or on-line (must complete registration form first); Asiasat; JCSat; North America Satellites Only - all time zones and by latitude, Echostar 3 to Echostar 4; North America Satellites Only - SBS 6 to Satcom C1; Brazilsat - B series; Mexican sats; Telesat - for Canadian sats; Measat - online submission form; Thaicom - for Thaicom 1/2/3, Measat 1, PAS 2/4, Intelsat 702/804. NOTE: Astra, Loral, Eutelsat do not have sun outage pages listed at their web sites. Latitude/longitude for USA cities. GMT Conversion Chart HINT: You can also use PAS site to obtain lat/long values to input to the program of another satellite. (return to top of page)

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Page Notes: Two important things to remember:(1)Satellites seen at a particular location are not necessarily all satellites in orbit above that location--side by side satellites, in orbit, often as not have their beams directed to different global regions; and (2)within a satellite, the beams of its transponders may be directed to different global regions so that programming seen in one country from that satellite is different than programming seen in another country from the same satellite. For these reasons, use the Western Hemisphere/Eastern Hemisphere charts for complete geosynchronous satellite details (orbit position, inclination, specs, footprints, coverage, transponder programming); these regional footprint size charts, on this page, only show the portion of the geo-orbit that can be seen from a particular location. (return to satellite regional size heading)

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Your comments, contributions, and suggestions for related interesting links are all appreciated. The reason we authored this site is to offer as much easy-to-access data as possible, in this subject matter, to the public domain and we hope it will be useful to you. All orbits, sat names, inclinations are as current as my source documents allow. UPDATED: Links to footprints, specs, programming are checked; orbit positions and inclination are as current as our sources allow; a very few links to press references are still in limbo. Mar-29-01

We will always be working on this page as we add to it whenever we can. So don't forget to visit again.

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