How do I read compass?

[GNICETRY]

OK, I was never in the boy scouts I need to find the direction 240*. I have a compass with the numbers on it along with the NSEW. To find the correct 240* I need to have the needle (magnetic north) pointed at the number 0 right?

 

[Little6pack]

OK, I was never in the boy scouts I need to find the direction 240*. I have a compass with the numbers on it along with the NSEW. To find the correct 240* I need to have the needle (magnetic north) pointed at the number 0 right?

http://www.fengshuitips.co.uk/how_to_take_a_compass_reading.htm

 

[Jbenn911]

yep! 240 degrees is a west south west direction..Setting up a satellite dish ?? make sure you are away from metal unless your compass is shielded

 

[GNICETRY]

Yes, it is for a satellite dish. What I am doing is holding the compass about 2 feet above the dish, setting N at 0 and lining up the LNB (center of dish) with the azimuth that I need. Is 2 feet far away enough?

 

[ChrisCairns]

Harkening back to when I set up one of those 10' dishes, it seems to me I had to use true north, not magnetic north. I found out somehow the difference between magnetic north and true north for our area and either subtracted it or added it. And the amount differs across the country.

IF in fact I'm remembering correctly you'll have to ask someone for the difference in your area.

 

[Jbenn911]

When I did my old DirecPC dish, I had to use magnetic north...2 feet was plenty for my setup and DirecPC had a much smaller signal size than the TV signal.. Setting the AOE is pretty easy too, specially if you have one of the dishes with the LED's when you get a signal..37 degrees or thereabouts ??

 

[GNICETRY]

Yes I was told that I need to use true north NOT magnetic north. Am I right to put N at 0 and find my azimuth?????? The I would need to subtract for the magnetic deviation.

 

[benoitthegr8]

What you need to do is get on either Topousa, or terraserver.com and find out the GMA (Grid Magnetic Angle) for the your area (probebly +/- 6-10 degrees) add or subtract that from your compass reading and you have a true magnetic reading. If you need more info email me....

 

[GNICETRY]

Thank You all. Yes the deviation (from true North to magnetic North) is 11 in my neck of the woods.