I always heard von weise was the best so I checked there site and that's the only one they show having. Is all there actuators the potentiometer or just that model? What's the differents with a maxi-ball and acme screw style or how do I tell the difference in case I find a used one.
Von Weise was considered a very good brand back in the day. I
don't know if that's still true or not. Most devices are all commodities now anyway, and at a certain price range are usually about the same quality across the board. I would expect they also have reed switch types available.
That being said, I have a Venture Maxi-Ball actuator that's about 25 years old,
quiet as a mouse, (you can stand next to it, and almost can't hear it as the dish moves) and can still move a dish with no issues at all. Maxi-Ball is much stronger than an Acme-screw, but is more overkill
unless you have a heavy fiberglass dish, OR very high prevailing winds. You pay for that though in a higher cost. They are heavier and built a bit stronger than an Acme-screw type. If you had them side by side you can observe that and tell. IF you find a Venture actuator "in the wild" it's
far more likely to be an Acme-screw type than a Maxi-Ball.