is possible to track a satellite dish?

[rogerdv]

A friend asked me to research such thing. Is it possible to find the location of a parabolic antenna accessing to internet by satellite by detecting its emission?

 

[PsiStar]

Every antenna has multiple side lobes. Although much less power is present than the main lobe of course. Pages more could be written, but the short answer via ATOT, "yes".

 

[sm625]

Trying to track the location of a satellite dish is like trying to see someone's face from a satellite image. It is a highly focused transmission, its either detected or its not. I dont see how you'd triangulate a dish....

 

[Batmeat]

The short answer is yes.
Why does your friend want to know? This would costs thousands in equipment to do it and be accurate.

 

[rogerdv]

Well, my friend lives in a place where such service is illegal.

 

[PsiStar]

A spectrum analyzer with a directional antenna of almost any kind is enough to "detect" the signal. Done it.

I would think it very easy to find a clandestine transmitter even if it was turned off for long periods, because when accessing the net it would definitely be "on" for long enough periods especially in areas where such signals are rare.

 

[Modelworks]

If your friend is trying to get internet access through a service like wildblue outside of the approved locations then it is likely he will not get any signal at all. The satellites used for internet are designed to cover very specific areas and when outside that area there is simply no signal to use for communication.

For example widlblue1 transponder 15 cannot be used from my location no matter what equipment I use.
http://www.satbeams.com/footprints?beam=7065

If we are talking about a foreign nation that prohibits internet then yes it can be detected and it likely wouldn't be from the ground. Several aircraft systems in use have the ability to detect any ground transmissions no matter the source and at any frequency.