Thread: Cheapest sat Id meter?

I'm looking for a sat meter that will tell me what satellite I'm on. I am also looking for the cheapest one.

Thanks.

Well -- the List or Lyngsat along with your receiver may be the only answer to that question. Most of the satelllites we can see do not transmit the proper or full ID so you get to guess. IE. there are NONE.

Try using Lyngsat, compas and your dish & motor scales instead to figure out, what sat broadcasts channels you're scanning in if any.

A Super Buddy will ID the satellite - but not cheap!
Bob

I never owned one, but from what I understand from reading about the Super Buddy, it is designed primarily for the DBS markets. DBS birds identify themselves. But you can customize the sat map in the device for your area and tell the device how to identify FTA birds you run across.

I can tell you how I found the satellites I wanted.

Set up your dish and find a signal, any signal. Blind scan that satellite and determine what bird you are on. Use LyngSat as your guide to see where you are and what you are receiveing.

THEN, while on a channel on that sat, move your dish with the motor either East or West, makes no difference, until you lose the signal you are watching. Look on LingSat to see what sat you should be getting in the direction you moved the dish. Since most of the satellites are close enough together once you lose one sat you are on or very close to the next sat. Do a blind scan using the next satellite's name, and see what you get.

Look at the signal strength of what you are receiving, try to improve that by moving the dish a little more in the direction you are looking, and do a re-scan.

Save each sat as you find them.

Keep doing this until you are happy with what you are receiving. A heck of a lot cheaper than ANY meter out there, and you have pride in knowing that you did it yourself.

Photto

Originally Posted by Phottoman

I can tell you how I found the satellites I wanted.

Set up your dish and find a signal, any signal. Blind scan that satellite and determine what bird you are on. Use LyngSat as your guide to see where you are and what you are receiveing.

THEN, while on a channel on that sat, move your dish with the motor either East or West, makes no difference, until you lose the signal you are watching. Look on LingSat to see what sat you should be getting in the direction you moved the dish. Since most of the satellites are close enough together once you lose one sat you are on or very close to the next sat. Do a blind scan using the next satellite's name, and see what you get.

Look at the signal strength of what you are receiving, try to improve that by moving the dish a little more in the direction you are looking, and do a re-scan.

Save each sat as you find them.

Keep doing this until you are happy with what you are receiving. A heck of a lot cheaper than ANY meter out there, and you have pride in knowing that you did it yourself.

Photto

Amen! I keep reading about these meters that ID sats, a friend of mine has one (Birdog I think) and I can tell you, we always go back to the good ol' way!

I personally use a beeper to help me know when I'm on a sat and how high the signal is, the rest is all done with the receiver and The List/Lyngsat

I created a custom list with the channel editor for my Pansat 2700A with TPs for all the satellites I'm interested in and I can zero in pretty quickly. I like taking the 2700 for a tool and small TV outside with me. Maybe a bit bulky but it works for me.

well put Phottoman!

I've used the meter on the receiver for 8 years now...blind scan is a wonderful thing