# Aligning the Tempest Accurately

**URL:** https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316
**Category:** Feature Requests
**Tags:** tempest
**Created:** [January 15, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316 "2022-01-15T16:21:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![user361](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c67d28/32.png) [@user361](https://community.tempest.earth/u/user361)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/1 "2022-01-15T16:21:19Z")

</div>

Is there any way a simple North-South sighting line could be etched on the top of the Tempest unit so it could be properly sighted? I used a screw driver, sitting it on top of the unit and aligning it with the indicator arrow on the side of the unit. I then sighted down the shaft of the screw driver to get a somewhat accurate fix. As a rated Navigator in the USAF, degrees matter.

Thanks in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sunny](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/sunny/32/16368_2.png) [@sunny](https://community.tempest.earth/u/sunny)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/2 "2022-01-15T16:23:30Z")

</div>

if you can rotate the pole the unit is mounted on, I would mark the pole itself

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![gizmoev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/gizmoev/32/941_2.png) [@gizmoev](https://community.tempest.earth/u/gizmoev)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/3 "2022-01-15T22:24:16Z")

</div>

Use the center bar between the solar panels or the mark on the opposite side. You can also site along the flat sides of the base.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![storm\_tracker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/storm_tracker/32/5771_2.png) [@storm\_tracker](https://community.tempest.earth/u/storm_tracker)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/4 "2022-01-16T05:17:34Z")

</div>

Here’s another helpful tip. Tempest already has the “North Marker” (Blue arrow). What I did was to label “S” on the opposite side of the marker. Also labeled “S” on the pole mount. “S” faces South and the blue marker on the opposite side faces True North. (There will be a Sonic Transducer for each of the four directions: N E S W)

 ![ST-2827 with Bird Deterrent spikes](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/8/8bd2fbc79e0a6e11513e2d684cdf65bbd4427a19.jpeg)

I made this request back in June of 2020.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/2X/5/518ef1b3cf9cf5c179bb19808ce807b6ee0111a1.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ding.b](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/ding.b/32/13501_2.png) [@ding.b](https://community.tempest.earth/u/ding.b)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:34am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/5 "2022-01-16T07:34:44Z")

</div>

Would be helpful if it had a gyroscopic module built into the device that was available upon app install (request!)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![gizmoev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/gizmoev/32/941_2.png) [@gizmoev](https://community.tempest.earth/u/gizmoev)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:49am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/6 "2022-01-16T07:49:51Z")

</div>

Since an app on a mobile device is needed to setup the Tempest, that device most likely has access to the internet, too. Just open the map app, make sure it is displaying the satellite view with true North ser at the top, slide the map until the Tempest mounting point is on one edge or the other of the screen and then look for a land mark to use to aim the Tempest. It takes less than 30 seconds to do this and once it is set, you won’t need to mess with it. I’ve used this on multiple occasions when I go camping and take my mobile station with me. It is fast, accurate, and simple and does not require anything added to the Tempest system.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![sunny](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/sunny/32/16368_2.png) [@sunny](https://community.tempest.earth/u/sunny)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 9:23am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/7 "2022-01-16T09:23:59Z")

</div>

a gyroscoop measures relative rotation, not absolute orientation. An electronic compass might work, but it is pure overkill for an easy, one time setup (and it would only work in combination with a gps (inside tempest or using the one on your phone)  
Many phone do have a compass app showing true north and magnetic north. You would need the true north.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ding.b](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/ding.b/32/13501_2.png) [@ding.b](https://community.tempest.earth/u/ding.b)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/8 "2022-01-16T16:59:18Z")

</div>

Standing on a metal ladder and above other metal objects can be bothersome…I had to revert to making sure with my drone. A royal PITA

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![gizmoev](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/gizmoev/32/941_2.png) [@gizmoev](https://community.tempest.earth/u/gizmoev)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/9 "2022-01-16T19:15:25Z")

</div>

You mean you didn’t site a landmark before mounting it? Of course that would be a pain.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ding.b](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/ding.b/32/13501_2.png) [@ding.b](https://community.tempest.earth/u/ding.b)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/10 "2022-01-17T06:25:14Z")

</div>

Yes I did but it was the other side of the property only viewable either from a drone or tiptoeing on a ladder

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![WFstaff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/wfstaff/32/6006_2.png) [@WFstaff](https://community.tempest.earth/u/WFstaff)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/11 "2022-04-29T21:46:52Z")

</div>



---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![WFstaff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/wfstaff/32/6006_2.png) [@WFstaff](https://community.tempest.earth/u/WFstaff)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/aligning-the-tempest-accurately/16316/12 "2022-04-29T21:46:57Z")

</div>


