# Calculating (compass point) direction from latitude/longitude **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 14, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195 "2007-09-14T16:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195/1 "2007-09-14T16:59:04Z")
Inspired by the “calculating distance from lat/long” thread. When the weather cools down a bit, I’ll be going up into my attic to put up an antenna to help with FM radio reception. The kind of antenna I’ll be using needs to be oriented a certain way in relation to the transmitter, so I’m wondering if anyone has found a site that will let me put in two sets of coordinates and will give me a N/NNE/NE/… etc. direction that I can use simply with my compass while I’m hunched over in the attic. Yes, I know I could do this with a good map and a certain amount of orienteering skill, but let’s say for the sake of argument that I have neither of those handy. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195/2 "2007-09-14T18:35:14Z")
[Here you go.](http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/latlong.html) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195/3 "2007-09-14T18:37:18Z")
You rock, **MrSquishy**! ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195/4 "2007-09-14T19:51:02Z")
Unless you’re really a long way from the transmitter and/or have a really high gain antenna (very long boom and lots of elements), this is a case of pretty close is really good enough. If you’re within 20 degrees you’ll likely not notice any difference. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195/5 "2007-09-14T19:54:19Z")
[QUOTE=GaryM] Unless you’re really a long way from the transmitter and/or have a really high gain antenna (very long boom and lots of elements), this is a case of pretty close is really good enough. If you’re within 20 degrees you’ll likely not notice any difference. [/QUOTE] I suspected as much, but it’s been a long time since I had a good **GQ** question to ask. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-compass-point-direction-from-latitude-longitude/419195/6 "2007-09-14T23:48:35Z")
One of my grandfathers was a big ham operator, and talked with folks around the world. He had a globe which he had re-mounted with the axis through Cleveland (where he lived), to solve this same problem.