Paksat 1R Dish Alignment 2026: Azimuth, Elevation & Skew

Updated: November 5, 2026 (8:00 PM PKT) — 1BissKey's practical evergreen guide to aiming your satellite dish at Paksat 1R (38°E) from Pakistan: the azimuth, elevation and LNB skew for major cities, plus a step-by-step peaking method that works with any receiver.

Paksat 1R sits at 38° East in geostationary orbit, and it is the satellite most Pakistani homes point at first. It carries Pakistani channels on both C-band and Ku-band, and from anywhere in Pakistan it hangs in the south-western sky — roughly 230° around the compass and 36° to 47° above the horizon, depending on your city. That sounds precise, and it is: a dish that is a few degrees out will find nothing at all, while a dish aimed within half a degree will lock a strong signal.

The good news is that alignment is a method, not a talent. Set the elevation from the table, swing slowly through the azimuth, peak on signal quality (never strength alone), then fine-tune the LNB skew. This guide gives you the starting angles for seven Pakistani cities and the exact order to work in — so you can align a new dish from scratch or recover one that wind or a careless bump has moved.

⚡ Quick answer: Point south-west: azimuth about 228–235°, elevation about 36–47°, LNB skew about 39–46°. Set the elevation on the mount scale first, then swing the dish slowly through the azimuth while a helper watches the receiver's signal-quality meter on a known Paksat 1R transponder. When quality peaks, tighten the bolts, rotate the LNB in small steps to peak quality on both polarities, then rescan. Work only in calm, dry weather, and never on a roof during lightning, high wind, or on a wet or fragile roof.

Contents

• Paksat 1R at a glance
• The three aiming angles, explained
• Aiming table for Pakistani cities
• Tools and safety checklist
• Step-by-step: align your dish for Paksat 1R
• Troubleshooting: when the signal will not lock
• A note on Paksat MM1 (38.2°E)
• Frequently asked questions

Paksat 1R at a Glance

Paksat 1R is Pakistan's national communications satellite, launched in August 2011 and parked at 38° East over the equator. It carries 18 Ku-band and 12 C-band transponders, covering Pakistan, South Asia, Central Asia and parts of the Middle East and East Africa. For home viewers, the practical facts are these:

• Position: 38°E, geostationary — it stays fixed in the sky, so once your dish is aligned it needs no tracking.
• Direction from Pakistan: south-west, because the satellite sits well to the west of Pakistan's longitude. From Lahore it is about 235° (true); from Quetta about 228°.
• Ku-band vs C-band: most home installs in Pakistan use a Ku-band LNB on a 2–4 ft dish. C-band needs a larger dish (typically 6 ft or more) and a C-band LNB with a feedhorn — the two are not interchangeable.
• Frequencies change: transponders move and channels change. Before aligning, pick a known strong, currently active Paksat 1R transponder from LyngSat or KingOfSat, or from our own Paksat-1R channel list, and enter it in your receiver first — aligning on a dead transponder is the classic wasted afternoon.

The Three Aiming Angles, Explained

A dish has only three adjustments. Understand them once and every alignment after this one is the same job.

Azimuth — the sideways swing (about 228–235°)

Azimuth is the compass direction the dish faces, measured clockwise from true north. For Paksat 1R from Pakistan that is south-west, roughly 228° to 235° depending on your city. Two traps: a magnetic compass reads magnetic north, which in Pakistan sits about 1–2° away from true north, so a magnetic reading will be roughly 1–2° lower than the table below — or set your phone compass app to true north and use the table as printed. And metal roofs, steel poles and nearby electronics can pull a compass off by several degrees, so stand a step back from the dish when you take the reading.

Elevation — the up-down tilt (about 36–47°)

Elevation is how high above the horizon the dish looks. Southern cities see the satellite higher: Karachi is around 47°, Lahore and Islamabad around 36°. Set this on the scale on the back of the mount before you start swinging — it is the one angle you can set accurately without a signal. One warning: most home dishes are offset dishes, so the dish face itself looks 20° or so lower than the true elevation. Do not judge the angle by eye from the dish face; trust the mount scale, then confirm with a phone inclinometer on the mount bracket if you have one.

Skew — the LNB rotation (about 39–46°)

Skew (polarization tilt) is the rotation of the LNB in its holder. Because Paksat 1R sits to the west of Pakistan, the satellite's horizontal and vertical signals arrive tilted, and the LNB must be rotated to match — roughly 39° to 46° depending on the city. The table gives the magnitude; the direction and the exact peak are found by rotating the LNB in small steps while watching signal quality on both a horizontal and a vertical channel. Peak skew is where both polarities are strong, not just one.

Aiming Table for Pakistani Cities

Starting angles for Paksat 1R (38°E), computed from standard geostationary geometry for each city. They are approximate starting points — good to within about a degree — not a substitute for peaking on your receiver's meter. For towns not listed, use a dish-pointing calculator (DishPointer or the satsig.net Pakistan calculator) with your exact location, and always finish by peaking on signal quality.

City	Azimuth (true)	Elevation	LNB skew
Lahore	~235°	~36°	~44°
Karachi	~233°	~47°	~46°
Islamabad	~232°	~36°	~41°
Rawalpindi	~232°	~36°	~41°
Multan	~233°	~39°	~44°
Peshawar	~230°	~37°	~39°
Quetta	~228°	~43°	~40°
Faisalabad	~233°	~37°	~43°

Notice how close the cities are: across Pakistan the azimuth only moves about 7°. That is why a dish aimed for Lahore will often show something in Islamabad — and why "close enough" still leaves you with weak, rain-sensitive quality. The last degree is where the signal lives.

Tools and Safety Checklist

• Spanners or an adjustable wrench for the mount and elevation bolts
• A phone compass (set to true north) and a phone inclinometer, or a small satellite finder meter
• A second person at the receiver — or a long cable and the receiver's on-screen signal meter visible from the dish
• A marker pen to mark the mount position once you find the peak
• Stable ladder, non-slip shoes, gloves — and a firm rule: no roof work in rain, lightning, high wind, or on a wet or fragile roof

Before you start, check the line of sight: from the dish position, the south-western sky must be clear of buildings and trees up to well above the elevation angle. A dish cannot see through a wall, and a branch that only blocks the signal when it sways will drive you mad. If the view is blocked, move the dish — no amount of fine-tuning fixes a blocked line of sight.

Step-by-Step: Align Your Dish for Paksat 1R

Step 1 — Set the elevation first

Loosen the elevation bolts just enough to move the dish, set the mount scale to your city's elevation from the table, and snug the bolts so the dish holds its tilt but can still be swung sideways. Setting elevation first removes one variable from the hunt: now you are only searching left and right.

Step 2 — Swing slowly through the azimuth

With the receiver tuned to your chosen Paksat 1R transponder and the signal-quality meter on screen, swing the dish slowly through the azimuth around the table value — a few degrees either side, pausing a second or two at each step so the receiver can lock. Move in small steps: the satellite is a narrow target and a fast swing will pass straight through the signal without the meter ever showing it. When quality appears, stop.

Step 3 — Peak on quality, then tighten

Nudge the dish a fraction of a degree left and right, and up and down, until signal quality is at its highest, then tighten the azimuth and elevation bolts — and check the meter again, because tightening can shift the dish. Peak on quality, not strength: strength can look healthy while quality is zero if you are aimed at the wrong satellite or a neighbour's beam.

Step 4 — Fine-tune the skew, then rescan

Rotate the LNB in small steps, pausing after each, and watch quality on both a horizontal and a vertical channel. Lock the LNB where both polarities are strong. Only now run a channel scan — scanning before peaking bakes weak, half-found channels into your list. Finally, mark the mount and LNB positions with the marker pen so the next storm or bump is a five-minute recovery, not a fresh hunt.

Troubleshooting: When the Signal Will Not Lock

• Quality stays at zero everywhere: check the transponder is currently active, the LNB power is on in receiver settings, and the cable and F-connectors are sound. A dead transponder or a broken cable looks exactly like a misaligned dish.
• Quality appears, then vanishes: you may be sweeping past a neighbouring satellite. Note the azimuth where it peaked, check which channels scanned in, and compare with the Paksat 1R channel list — the wrong satellite gives you the wrong channels.
• Only one polarity works: suspect the LNB skew or a faulty LNB. Re-peak the skew; if one polarity stays dead, test with a spare LNB before buying a replacement.
• Quality is good in clear weather, gone in light rain: the dish is close but not peaked, or the dish is too small for your location. Re-peak carefully on quality — a properly peaked dish holds through much heavier rain than a roughly aimed one.
• Signal was fine, then stopped after wind: check the mount bolts and the pole itself. A pole that is not perfectly vertical makes every angle wrong at once; re-plumb the pole before re-aiming.

A Note on Paksat MM1 (38.2°E)

Pakistan's newer satellite, Paksat MM1, sits at 38.2°E — just 0.2° from Paksat 1R. In practice that means a dish aimed and peaked for Paksat 1R is already aimed at MM1, and vice versa; the difference is far smaller than the width of the signal peak. Some newer channels, including recent PTV Sports HD coverage, are carried on MM1, so after aligning, scan both satellites' current transponder lists on LyngSat or KingOfSat. If a channel you expect is missing, check which of the two satellites carries it before you touch the dish — the dish is almost certainly fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which direction do I point the dish for Paksat 1R in Pakistan?

South-west: a true azimuth of about 228° to 235°, depending on your city (Lahore ~235°, Karachi ~233°, Quetta ~228°). If you use a magnetic compass, the reading will be about 1–2° lower — or set your phone compass to true north and use the table values as printed.

What dish size do I need for Paksat 1R?

For Ku-band, a 2–4 ft dish is typical for home reception in Pakistan, with larger dishes giving more rain margin. C-band reception needs a much larger dish, typically 6 ft or more, plus a C-band LNB — check which band your target channels use before buying.

Why does my dish find a signal but no Paksat channels?

You are probably locked onto a neighbouring satellite. Satellites sit only a few degrees apart along the arc, so a strong signal with the wrong channels means the azimuth is a few degrees off. Re-check the table value, swing slowly, and verify the scanned channels against the Paksat 1R channel list.

Do I need a satellite finder meter?

No — the receiver's own on-screen quality meter works fine, especially with a helper watching it while you move the dish. A finder meter (or a phone compass and inclinometer) just makes the job faster, and is worth it if you align dishes often.

Can I align the dish in bad weather?

Do not try. Rain weakens the signal and makes peaking unreliable, wind moves the dish while you measure, and working on a wet roof is dangerous. Wait for a calm, dry day — the satellite is not going anywhere.

📚 Related Posts

• Replace a Faulty LNB 2026: Diagnose, Swap & Realign Guide
• Dish Site Survey Guide 2026: Pick the Perfect Spot First
• Phone Dish Alignment 2026: Compass & Inclinometer Guide
• Signal Quality vs Strength Guide 2026: Read Your Meter
• Satellite Finder Guide 2026: Aim Your Dish Like a Pro
• LNB Skew Guide 2026: Polarization & Signal Peaking
• 1BissKey New Look + October 2026 Receiver Software Update Guide
• Paksat-1R complete Channel list with Frequency

Sources

• LyngSat — satellite and transponder listings; check the current Paksat 1R list before aligning so you aim on an active transponder.
• KingOfSat — satellite channel and frequency reference (Flysat closed in mid-2026; KingOfSat and LyngSat are the blog's standing replacements).
• Wikipedia — Paksat-1R — satellite position (38°E), launch (August 2011), and transponder count (18 Ku-band, 12 C-band).
• satsig.net — Pakistan dish pointing calculator — azimuth, elevation and polarization calculator for any Pakistani location.
• City aiming angles in the table were computed from standard geostationary geometry for Paksat 1R at 38°E and are labelled approximate — always finish by peaking on your receiver's signal-quality meter.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information. Satellite installation involves working at height and near mains-powered equipment. If you are unsure, or your dish is high, steep or near power lines, hire a qualified installer.