Curious about the number for each satellite?

[huertaaj]

I'm curious as to where the number for each satellite comes from, for example 129 degrees W for Galaxy 27. I understand that from my house, to point a BUD at Galaxy 27, the azimuth is 236.9 using true north and for magnetic north the azimuth is 242.2 degrees. For Galaxy 27, starting at 0 degrees (north) and going clockwise, you point at the azimuth stated above (southwest quadrant for Galaxy 27) and you end up pointing at the satellite. If I continue clockwise from Galaxy 27 to 360 degrees (north again), the complement is 123.1 using true north and 117.8 using magnetic north. So, my question is...where does the 129 W come from? The same question goes for ALL satellites. Is there a default place on earth from which those numbers (129 W) are calculated.

huertaaj

 

[Lak7]

It is the Longitude, like on a map, not a compass.

 

[Pepper]

The satellite is positioned at a point ~22300 miles directly above the equator at that longitude, as designated by degrees west (or east) of Greenwich, London, UK.

 

[huertaaj]

I get it

Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! OK, I get it. That makes sense

 

[huertaaj]

OK, so how would I find out which satellites I should be able to receive a decent signal from given my location and assuming no obstrucitons.

 

[brentb636]

I'd say 45 degrees either way from your longitude ( more if you have an extremely clear line of sight). I'm about the same longitude you are, and I have no trouble hitting 43W when the leaves are off the trees. People in Chicago can hit 30W, Hispasat , if they have a real clear shot.
Lyngsat tracker can give you a visual representation, if you like. Click on a satellite and then click on the US map at Oxford , Ohio, and you'll tell whether or not you are over the horizon, and give you your azimuth and dish elevation setting, if you can hit it.
Atlantic Ocean - LyngSat SatTracker .

 

[Anole]

Any application which gives you aiming table for all satellites, would work.
You just confine your interest to satellites with an elevation of 20° or more.
With work, you may get birds down in the 10° range , but that's getting tricky.

Also, if you are using Lyngsat, which has South American satellites, you should consult the beam pattern to see if where you are gets signal from a particular satellite.
The GeoSatFinder is geared for Canada/USA/Mexico.