[Antennas] Finding True North (simplest method)

Fri, 22 Feb 2002 12:42:45 -0000

According to the latest Army maps I have here, and I have dozens......
the Declination Diagram for El Paso shows 11.5 deg grid-to-magnetic,
and 0.51 deg grid-to-true (North Star).  This will be less as you move
East, and more as you move West..... and Less as you move South,
and more as you move North.  However, the 0.51 grid-to-true will
change very little anywhere, because the distance from you to the
North Star is so great.  The distance to the magnetic North Pole,
which is in N-E Canada, is not nearly so far.

IMHO... 0.51 deg isn't enough to worry about... but 11.5 deg IS
something to worry about if you are aligning a satellite array.

Mike.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Art Clemons
> Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 11:53 AM
> To: [email protected]; [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Antennas] Finding True North (simplest method)
> 
> 
> > Why not just set a compass for magnetic North.
> > Then sight in on the North star.
> > While sighting on it turn the compass dial to zero.
> > I use the Military type compass.
> > The flat Silva type are OK but they are difficult to aim with.
> 
> 
> There is an error (try looking up the term declination for an 
> explanation and how to correct) over most of the world using just 
> a compass.  Not only that, but in some places, it would be enough 
> to cause an antenna with good front to side lobe ratios to not hear 
> or be heard when supposedly properly aimed.