DishPointer.com is a satellite pointing website that assists people in aligning their satellite dish to receive satellite tv programming. DishPointer.com can be defined as a Satellite Dish alignment setup calculator tool. It assists people in aligning satellite dish by finding out the required information from latitude and longitude of a location to names of available satellites in the location and also important Dish setup data like Elevation angle, Azimuth angle, LNB Skew and many more. This satellite pointing website uses a mash up of Google maps to locate places from around the globe. It has been used in UK by more than 40,000 people and currently it has expanded to cover more people around the globe.
History:
DishPointer.com is a brainchild of a person named Alan SH. The process of launching DishPointer.com started with his UKSatellitehelp blog where he was writing about Satellite TV in UK explaining about how to install a satellite dish, set up a receiver with the help of a satellite alignment calculator. Alan went on with his idea of using Google Maps that not only has maps for almost every corner on this planet but also satellite images with expansive details. He had converted the normal alignment calculator into a Google Mashup and tested the accuracy of the tool on his own dish and the result was amazing. He first posted this tool on his UK blog (UKSatellitehelp.co.uk) and in later time he had put this Satellite Dish alignment setup calculator tool in a separate domain called DishPointer.com.
Features of DishPointer.com:
When people log on to DishPointer.com for aligning satellite dish then they get a page in which they can get the required information like Satellite’s names, Elevation angle, Azimuth angle etc from this website. The different features are explained below.
Your Location:
When users log on to this website for aligning satellite dish, they will first need to enter their location(like Street name and City name) in “Your Location”(the space allotted for it). Once users enter their locations, DishPointer.com will search for the locations.
Popular Satellites:
Once users enter their location, DishPointer.com will locate the exact place and will present a list of “Popular Satellites” available in that particular area. Users can select from the list, the satellite name they require. DishPointer.com does not produce a huge list of satellites but only the popular satellites in order to ease users’ selection of satellites. But the list of popular satellites solely depends on the address that users put in.
Multi-LNB Dish Setups:
With DishPointer.com users can also find a list of multi-LNB dishes’ direction. Alan has added pointing direction for multi-LNB dishes starting with the popular US satellites namely Dish Network and DirecTV. This includes DirecTV 5-LNB dish AU9, 3 LNB dish as well as the Dish Network 500, 1000(1000 plus), Superdish 105 and many more. The Multi-LNB setups are given in a dropdown box. Users of DishPointer.com can scroll all the way to the bottom of the box and select the one that they need. Apart from Multi-LNB setups, Motorised Systems setups and all Satellites Setups also available in the dropdown box.
Motorised Systems Setups:
In the dropdown box Alan (the creator of DishPointer.com) has added setups for Motorised Dishes. In this section users will find at the bottom an item called True South/True North and then various makes of satellite motors like Moteck Stab HH90 and many more. Users will need to select the True South(if they live North of the equator) and True North (if they live South of the equator).When users choose the satellite motors, they will get the declination angle and also the Dish elevation angle.
All Satellites Setups:
In the dropdown box Alan has given a list of almost all Satellites. When users select any satellite name from the list of satellites then they will get the elevation angle, azimuth angle as well as LNB skew. Users will also find an image showing a diagram of the elevation, azimuth and LNB skew. With help of these findings users can align their satellite Dish.
Satellites, Channels, Footprints and Dish Sizes:
When users enter their location in DishPointer.com then they not only get the names of satellites available (that is the ones above the horizon) but they also get the required dish size. In addition to this, all channels for a given satellite are displayed together with the footprints.
Other useful sections of DishPointer.com:
When subscribers log on to DishPointer.com then they will get a number of other sections in the main page apart from the satellite pointing feature sections(explained above). The other sections are explained below.
Widget:
Users can easily integrate DishPointer into their website(if they have) by getting DishPointer Lite Widget software tool. For this they need to click on the section named “Widget”(displayed in the main page of the website) and follow the steps instructed there in to customise for seamless integration of DishPointer.com. As a last step users must copy and paste a code (given in the Widget Page) into HTML of their websites.
Help/FAQ:
“Help/FAQ” section is added for technical satellite help and general usage of the DishPointer site. In this section Alan helps users in fixing satellite problems or satellite reception issues. Alan has plans for more expansion of this section in times to come.
Business Solutions:
By clicking into this section, users get information as to how DishPointer.com is useful for business purposes. DishPointer.com has provided DishPointer software tool that can be used by commercial companies as a customized solution, programmed to fit individual needs. Different business companies can use this software for numerous purposes. For instance, TV stations and broadcasters can instruct their subscribers how to receive their channels, while online shops can provide additional support to their customers.
Using this software tool Satellite operators can show their target geographical areas. With this tool, the satellite operators can also show which of their satellites can be received. Receiver manufacturer can upload the latest satellite settings into their receivers using this tool. Some of the remarkable business companies that have installed this software tool are SES American( Satellite Operator), Canal Digital(TV Broadcaster), Sadoun (Online Shop) and many more.
Forum:
By clicking into the “Forum” section, users can get a number of information regarding DishPointer.com. The Forums of this website are hosted by SatelliteGuys.US.
Blog:
In the “Blog” section, Alan posts a detailed explanation of the latest inclusions and improvements of DishPointer.com. In this block Alan also posts about his latest creations like he posted about his latest DishPointer smartphone applications including the amazing iPhone Applications(namely DishPointer Line of Sight, DishPointer Compass and legacy DishPointer Maps application).
Press:
By clicking into this section users can get all the press coverage of DishPointer.com. This website has received great press coverage till date.
DishPointer iPhone Applications:
Apart from the above features of DishPointer, Alan has also created a number of amazing DishPointer iphone applications like DishPointer Line of Sight, DishPointer Compass and DishPointer Maps application. Alan has also launched the revolutionary DishPointer Augmented Reality that will let users use their iPhone 3 GS to see whether they have a proper view of the satellites. The iphone applications of Alan are explained below.
Augmented Reality Satellite Finder:
This iPhone Application is regarded as the next generation satellite finder. With this application users can find out the position of a satellite and also check whether a tree or buildings are blocking the line of sight. With this iPhone application users can easily set up Satellite dish after doing a site survey. The application uses the GPS, accelerometer, and the compass of iPhone 3GS. Users just need to move the phone up and down and the satellite arc will follow the live video on the display.
DishPointer Maps:
DishPointer Maps iPhone application is a better and more convenient option than opening DishPointer.com in the iPhone browser. The main features included in this application are explained below.
- Automatic Location Update: This Application uses the location information of the user and opens the map right at that point. The user can toggle this automatic location update using the locator button present in the bottom left of iPhone.
- Location Search: With this iPhone application, users can manually search for any location. To do this they must click the address button located at the bottom of iPhone and thereafter users need to enter their address or zip code or post code and so on. After this the map automatically zooms the location and draws the lines.
- Works with any satellite: This application works with any satellite. Users need to just enter the satellite position and select whether it is east or west and press the Done button located at the top right of the iPhone. The new alignment line gets drawn automatically.
- Map Types: With DishPointer Map application users can switch between different map types( standard, satellite, hybrid) by pressing info button at the bottom right.
- Alignment info: By tapping the marker, users will get alignment information such as true azimuth, magnetic azimuth (when using a compass) elevation, and skew angle of either the LNB or the dish.
- Gestures enabled: With this iPhone application users can tap and drag the marker to any location on the map.
DishPointer Line of Sight:
Users can check out any line of sight issues with this DishPointer Line of Sight iPhone Application. They just need to point their iPhone at the sky, tilt it until they get the right angle and switch on the camera preview.
DishPointer Compass:
The new iPhone 3GS has an inbuilt magnetometer, i.e. a compass. With the DishPointer Compass application users can find out in their iPhone’s the satellite position by using the compass bearings and location information.
Some Other uses of DishPointer.com:
PocketPC PDA/Handheld:
Apart from iPhones, users can browse DishPointer.com on PocketPC PDA/Handheld. But first they need to download Opera Mobile 9.5 Beta browsers (which supports Javascript and Ajax that is required to browse DishPointer.com) on their PocketPC PDA/Handheld.
Digital Satellite Meter:
DishPointer can be used with MaxPeak Satellite Meter for installation of satellite dish. MaxPeak Satellite Meter is a digital satellite meter that helps to find out the position of satellites. After looking the location on DishPointer and noting down the elevation, skew and a visual clue on the alignment line, users need to set the elevation and the skew of the dish, and then point the dish straight at the landmark. The meter immediately locks on to the satellite (the speed at which the MaxPeak meter finds the satellite is amazing) and gives the signal strength, signal quality and signal error.
Google Earth 3D Satellite DishPointer:
DishPointer with Google Maps combined together to enable users to have visual clues of a place or satellite position. For this users need to install “Google Earth” on their systems. Users need to switch on the “Terrain and 3D Building layers” to see in 3D how the signal comes down all the way from satellite to house of users. Once users enter their location on DishPointer a map of their locations will be displayed. Underneath the map, users need to click on the Google Earth Icon once they have positioned the marker and selected the right satellite. The DishPointer line(a red line) will open up in Google Earth. The red line shows the satellite signal.
With Google Earth 3D satellite DishPointer users can also load as many satellites as they like and see whether the satellite Dishes are aligned properly towards the correct satellite (users selected one).
DishPointer.com is bundled with enormous features that help users to align their satellite dish by finding out the proper satellites and tracking the satellite signals accurately. With DishPointer.com and other applications of DishPointer (iPhone applications, MaxPeak Satellite Meter applications etc.) users can themselves install their satellite dish at much lesser expense.
It is noteworthy to mention that DishPointer has succeeded to win two satellite awards, namely the Tele-Satellite Innovation Award and the Dr Dish Tested & Recommended Award. Tele Satellites is the worlds largest satellite magazine, printed in 16 languages and distributed in well over 40 countries.