"Phil Rushton" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:afcd96c2736549cab05961f1b5080...@philip... > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Allan Jones" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 6:45 PM > Subject: [canals-list] The satellite sundial - Mk 2 > > >> When a year ago I devised the Satellite Sundial as an easy way to find >> the >> Sky TV satellite, I knew that it was just an approximation which was >> relatively inaccurate. Since then several people have asked me when a >> more >> accurate version would be available. Well, at long last HERE IT IS. >> >> http://www.keeping-up.co.uk/Sundial/sunhome.htm > > That is all fascinating stuff Allan, but wouldn't it be easier to use a > compass? - > especially at night. > Phil > > > ------------------------------------ > I found it difficult to use a compass accurately because 20 tons of steel makes the needle go all over the place. If there's a line of moored boats you just can't get far enough away from the metalwork to get the right direction.
I admit it's not much use at night; it would be a fascinating project to devise a way of using the moon instead. But if you finish your day's cruising before sunset, you can note the direction even if you don't put the dish up until later. Note that even if you have a fully-automatic motorised system, the sundial is useful for finding a suitable gap in the hedge. Last summer we did just that one evening; I'm not sure which was more entertaining, watching the TV programs or watching the motorised dish on the roof of the boat next to us spinning round and round because a big tree cut off all his signal! Allan
