PointingCalcMukee

PointingCalcMukee is an Android application designed to assist engineers and satellite enthusiasts in calculating satellite antenna pointing parameters for geostationary satellites. It integrates geolocation, trigonometric modeling, and antenna physics to provide accurate azimuth, elevation, inclinometer readings, and obstacle clearance distances. This tool is particularly useful for ** VSAT, and satellite link alignment** in the field.

---

📑 Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Features
3. Methodology
4. Installation
5. Permissions
6. Usage
7. Technical Architecture
8. Future Enhancements
9. License
10. Author

---

Overview

Aligning a satellite antenna requires precise calculation of azimuth (horizontal angle), elevation (vertical angle), and consideration of dish offsets and obstacles along the line of sight. PointingCalcMukee automates this process by:

• Fetching the user’s current geographic coordinates using GPS
• Calculating pointing parameters based on site coordinates and satellite position
• Accounting for antenna offset angles and inclinometer readings
• Estimating obstacle clearance distances to ensure safe alignment

---

Features

Satellite Pointing Calculation

• Azimuth – Computes the horizontal angle of the antenna relative to true north
• Elevation – Computes the vertical angle above the horizon
• Inclinometer readings – Tilt angles for different dish configurations:
  • Center feed
  • Normal dish
  • Inverted dish
• Obstacle clearance – Provides distances for 0°, 5°, and 10° safety margins

GPS Integration

• Fetches longitude/latitude via device GPS
• Supports manual input if GPS is unavailable
• Uses FusedLocationProviderClient for high accuracy

User Interface

• Satellite dropdown with predefined geostationary satellites
• Floating action buttons for calculate, clear, and GPS fetch
• Real-time results displayed via TextViews

---

Methodology

PointingCalcMukee uses geometric and trigonometric principles:

1. Azimuth Calculation – Based on site longitude/latitude and satellite longitude
2. Elevation Calculation – Considers site coordinates, Earth curvature, and dish offset
3. Inclinometer Adjustments – For center feed, normal, and inverted dish setups
4. Obstacle Clearance – Estimates safe distances for different elevation margins

---

Installation

Option 1: Install APK

1. Download the APK from here.
2. Open the APK file on your Android device to install the app.

Option 2: Build from Source

1. Clone the repository :

   • git clone https://github.com/Mubarekethio/satellite-pointing-Angle-Calculator.git

2. Open the project in Android Studio.
3. Build and run the app on a physical device or emulator (API level 21+ recommended).

Permissions

• ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION – Precise GPS coordinates
• ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION – Approximate GPS
• INTERNET – Optional for future enhancements

Background location is not required, only fetched on demand

Usage

1. Open the app
2. Enter site longitude/latitude or auto-fill with GPS
3. Select a satellite from the dropdown (Optional)
4. Enter offset angle (default: 22.3°) and obstacle height (default: 0 m)
5. Tap Calculate to see:
   • Azimuth & Elevation
   • Inclinometer readings
   • Obstacle clearance distances
6. Tap Clear to reset inputs

---

Technical Architecture

• PointingClass.kt – Core calculation logic
• MainActivity.kt – UI, GPS integration, validation, calculations
• activity_main.xml – Input fields, dropdowns, buttons, and results layout
• AndroidManifest.xml – Permissions and app declaration

---

Future Enhancements

• Real-time satellite ephemeris integration
• Support for non-geostationary satellites
• Graphical visualization of azimuth/elevation
• Cloud syncing for multiple site installations

---

License

Licensed under the MIT License – see LICENSE

---

Author

👤 Mu Kee – GitHub Profile