Looking for an affordable S2 Meter

[TRG]

As the title says I'm looking for an affordable S2 Meter for FTA dish alignments. I no longer have a small TV to take outside with me. I was using a Birdog USB but it wont lock on to S2 signals. My PBS dish on 125W needs some attention after we had some strong winds come through. To the best of my knowledge all the transponders on that bird are DVB-S2. Thoughts, ideas? My budget is around $300 to $400.

BTW - I'm considering a small / cheap LCD TV as well. I'd like to keep this thread focused on meters though.

 

[KE4EST]

Here go have it all in one!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SatHero-SH-...5154?pt=US_Signal_Finders&hash=item53f2dbee02

 

[TRG]

Hmmm... Looks interesting, if it works as advertised.

 

[TRG]

Looks like the SH-200 would get the job done too, for less money.

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[updatelee]

Anyone here actually use one of these devices? They appear to be cheap chinese crap. They have a million and one amazing features for a price that is way to good to be true.

Id like to believe they are good little units, but at the price range its hard to treat it seriously.

UDL

 

[wallyhts]

If it was my money I would buy the sh200.

 

[TRG]

Do either of the sathero meters measure Carrier to Noise Ratio (C/N)? I like using that mode on the birdog after establishing a lock. C/N peaking seems to be the most accurate, for me anyhow.

 

[wallyhts]

Yes I believe so the documents say it does. I don't have a sh200 anymore but ke4est does perhaps he can confirm.

 

[TRG]

Yes I believe so the documents say it does. I don't have a sh200 anymore but ke4est does perhaps he can confirm.

I see that the SH-500G measures C/N but I don't see any reference in the SH-200 information. Unless of course I'm missing something.

I did find out something interesting about the SH-500G. The LCD display is only 480i and doesn't down-sample HD signals. HD channels will just show as a blank screen. This isn't really an issue for me because I wont be using the meter as a TV. But it is worth noting for anyone considering the SH-500G.

 

[gpflepsen]

This is a screenshot of the SH200 showing C/N display.

 

[TRG]

This is a screenshot of the SH200 showing C/N display.

<img src="http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=89602"/>

That's exactly what I wanted to see. Thank you very much.

Sent from my iPad using SatelliteGuys

 

[KE4EST]

Yep it has it, sorry for catching this late. Also I would go with the SH-200 also, I said 500 cause you wanted a TV also..

 

[madmadworld]

on the SH-200 & 500
is it easy to add a tp your looking for ?
thanks

 

[gpflepsen]

on the SH-200 & 500
is it easy to add a tp your looking for ?
thanks

SH200 allows editing on the fly at the dish. You can scan the TP when locked and get a list of channels on the TP. Very useful feature. I don't think the scan feature works on S2 signals, but not sure.

 

[i4tas]

my low cost solution is android phone with me at dish, and then my laptop webcam pointed at TV / FTA receiver signal menu. Then I place a Skype call

 

[TRG]

my low cost solution is android phone with me at dish, and then my laptop webcam pointed at TV / FTA receiver signal menu. Then I place a Skype call

Great idea!

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[cyberham]

For $20 (less if you win an auction), you can use an old slingbox to stream receiver video/audio into house wifi network and receive the signal at the dish on your regular laptop PC. I remotely control from the dish all functions of my satellite receiver by using the PC.

 

[sar2012]

I bought Satlink WS6906 last year (see link below) and use it many times for myself and friends. It's work quite good and reliable. When it locks to your satellite, you can watch the channel you like on it screen like a TV.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=satlink+ws+6906

Somme little problems as it was designed for Europe, thus:
1.- its power connection is European type. You have to use a European to North America adaptor to charge its battery or find a 12 DCVolt/500mA adaptor.
2.- All available satellites in the unit are for Europe. You can delete them all and add your satellites and a good basic transponder for each satellite and do a blind scan when it locks to a satellite.

The unit is easy to use, I played with it for less than a hour to understand it, thus I do not need a good manual for it. The conclusion is I like it very much as I am so confortable when I use it.

You do not need to watch the unit while trying to point the disk to your satellite as this unit will sound a sonore sound to tell you it found the satellite signal. The higher signal level, the frequency between sounds is faster and when you get very high signal the sound become continuous. When the signal level is good enought, the purple light on the unit will light up telling you that it locks to the satellite. You can then scan channels and watch a channel to check the TV quality in addition to the indication of Signal and Quality of the unit to fine tune your disk.

Hope this help.

 

[wallyhts]

I know this model is not affordable. But if you can scarp together the funds buy a AI turbo S2 it will change your hobby forever.