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- info@remtechdestvinstallers.co.za
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The short answer
For a satellite at 36° east, our calculations put the true elevation in Gauteng at about 58° and the true azimuth at about 18° (roughly 35° on a magnetic compass), with a skew near 16°. Offset dishes show a lower elevation on the bracket scale, often about 34 to 36°, which is one reason websites disagree. Use these as a starting point only. A signal meter confirms a good alignment.
| Reason | Effect |
|---|---|
| Offset dish scale versus true elevation | A bracket scale reads lower than the true elevation by the dish’s built-in offset, often around 22 to 25° |
| True north versus magnetic north | A compass reads about 16 to 18° higher than the true bearing in Gauteng |
| Different satellites | Some pages quote a different satellite position. DStv’s main service in South Africa points at 36° east |
| Skew conventions | The sign and scale differ between LNB brackets |
| Copied or generic pages | Many pages repeat numbers without showing where they came from |
We found published pages quoting azimuths of 45°, 53° and 62° for the same area, and elevations from 35° to 47°. They can’t all describe the same thing.
We calculated these for a geostationary satellite at 36.0° east, using each town’s coordinates.
| Town | True elevation | True azimuth | Approx. compass bearing* | Skew (size) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg and Sandton | 58° | 18° | about 35° | about 16° |
| Pretoria and Centurion | 58° to 59° | 17° | about 35° | about 16° |
| Midrand | 58° | 17° | about 35° | about 16° |
| Benoni | 58° | 17° | about 34° | about 15° |
| Krugersdorp | 58° | 18° | about 36° | about 16° |
| Vereeniging | 58° | 17° | about 35° | about 16° |
| Rustenburg | 58° | 20° | about 37° | about 18° |
| Klerksdorp | 57° | 20° | about 37° | about 18° |
| Mahikeng | 58° | 23° | about 40° | about 20° |
*A magnetic compass reads higher than the true bearing because magnetic north lies west of true north in Gauteng. The exact declination changes slowly over time, so treat this column as approximate.
Most home DStv dishes are offset dishes, built so the dish faces more upright than the direction it is actually pointing. The elevation scale on the bracket is marked for that. If the true elevation is about 58° and the dish’s offset is about 22 to 25°, the bracket scale reads roughly 33 to 36°. That matches the “36°” installers often quote for Gauteng, and it is also why Cape Town shows a lower number.
A phone compass reads magnetic north unless the app is set to true north. Metal roofs, steel brackets and nearby cables disturb it. Use it to find the rough direction of north-north-east, then let the meter do the rest.
Skew rotates the LNB so it lines up with the satellite’s signal polarisation. Our calculation gives a magnitude near 16° for Johannesburg. Which direction to rotate depends on the bracket, so installers tune skew while watching the meter.
We used standard geostationary look-angle geometry for a satellite at 36.0° east, with a spherical Earth and each town’s centre coordinates. Real roofs differ by a few kilometres, so expect small variations. These numbers are our own calculation, not a DStv specification. Confirm the satellite and your dish type with your installer.
The angles only get you close. The final adjustment is made in fractions of a degree with a meter, and a dish a degree or two out can lose signal in rain. Read our signal strength and quality guide. Working on a roof is also dangerous, so see can I install a dish myself?
At about 58° up, towards the north-north-east, the dish needs a clear view of the sky in that direction. Parapets, upper floors and trees on that side can block it. See our pre-wiring guide.
The true elevation is about 58° and the true azimuth about 18°. On an offset dish’s bracket the elevation often reads about 34 to 36°.
The bracket scale is offset. The true elevation includes the dish’s built-in tilt.
DStv’s main service in South Africa points at 36° east. Check with your installer.
An app helps you find the rough direction. It can’t replace a signal meter.
Only slightly. The numbers in the table barely move across Gauteng.
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