Re: [amsat-bb] Now HERE is a stupid question...

[Stephan Greene <sgreene@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 26 Dec 1999, Timothy S. Zibrat wrote:

 > When I align my antennas, do I use magnetic north or true north?  If the
 > answer is true north, how do I find my "offset value" to add or subtract
 > from magnetic north?  Is there any offset for elevation?

Use true north.

local libraries (and maybe some on-line site) will have USGS topographic
maps with the data.

Or use any tracking program and the az/el for the sun or moon as a target

Or (what I do) on a clear night, sight in on Polaris.


Note that the 3dB (half-power) beamwidth of moderate size yagis is large
enough that precise alignment isn't vital

73 

Steve

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Stephan A. Greene                            sgreene@valinux.com
Senior Systems Specialist, VA Linux Systems  1-888-LINUX-4U x5774
Mid-Atlantic Region                          1-703-980-3475
Amateur  KA1LM@amsat.org  Grid FM18hx        38 59'83.33"N 77 23'6.15"W
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