OTA Signal Meter

Kilo_Hotel

New Member
Jan 11, 2020
3
4
DFW
I own an antenna installation company in D/FW. I recently hired a new guy and wanted to order him a signal meter. We have been using the Digiair pro ATSC meters but it appears that those are no longer being made and i can't find one on CL or ebay.

Do we have any OTA installers using a reliable meter? Using a DTA or HDhomerun to check signal is out of the question.

TIA!
 
  • Like
Reactions: spongella

Tvland1

SatelliteGuys Pro
Mar 3, 2009
609
679
ohio
Dish showed off a new meter last spring but I'm not sure what ever happened with it.
DISH SLM 1000 OTA Signal Meter manufacturer is Winegard.You might try getting in touch with them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: spongella

videojanitor

SatelliteGuys Pro
Nov 3, 2008
271
61
I'm late to this thread but thought I would toss out this option: If a laptop is available, there's a nice USB device that will allow for spectrum analysis. It's from Airspy, and sells for about $170. Plug in it via USB and then run the free software available on their site. See attached for a sample image I snapped a few weeks ago -- it gives you an idea of what it looks like when you have two solid stations, along with one that is weak and plagued by multipath. It's a slick and inexpensive solution.

Here's a link for more info on the Airspy device: Airspy R2 - airspy.com

spectrumspy.png
 
Last edited:

spongella

SatelliteGuys Pro
May 12, 2012
1,625
1,236
Central NJ
video that's an excellent idea. To save even more $ you could use a $25 SDR dongle and laptop to evaluate signal strength. You just need to know the frequency of the TV station of interest.

Your spectral display is excellent, you can see the ATSC "spike" and the 6 MHz wide TV signal. The left-most peak is probably a weak TV station. Those SDR's have lots of applications for the hobbyist and can serve as quasi-spectrum analyzers.

Your setup can also be used to watch for OTA TV band openings. If your receiver has a 'peak hold' option that helps. Thanks for the excellent photo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: k.r.

videojanitor

SatelliteGuys Pro
Nov 3, 2008
271
61
Spong, I'm not an expert on the subject but I believe the Airspy device can be categorized as an SDR device -- it just seems to be on the higher-end of things. I tried one of those $25 dongles but wasn't able to observe the OTA TV spectrum. Do you know of one that works? I'd be interested in checking it out.

Some background on my photo: I drove out to a tower that is home to a couple of low-power stations, in order to grab some TSReader data for the RabbitEars site. The two decent signals in the pic are the LP stations. The poor signal is from a full-power station (RF 40) that's 25 miles away and 180-degrees away from the antenna orientation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trip and spongella

spongella

SatelliteGuys Pro
May 12, 2012
1,625
1,236
Central NJ
Video, the SDR dongle can be used for that purpose. However....I can see from your spectral display span that it's at least 60 MHz wide. Most software for dongles will at best give you a span of a few MHz, too narrow to see even one TV station's 6 meg-wide signal. There are some software programs that will extend an dongle's spectral frequency span but that is a moot point since you have a superior system there. You can see an example below using NutsAboutNets TouchstonePro-RF software. I like your scans a lot better though, crisp and clear. Nice work.
 

Attachments

  • WNJS WTSD WNYE.jpg
    WNJS WTSD WNYE.jpg
    131.5 KB · Views: 466
  • Like
Reactions: videojanitor

videojanitor

SatelliteGuys Pro
Nov 3, 2008
271
61
Spong, thanks for the explanation and the pic. That looks like it could definitely be useful.

The ~60 Mhz span in my pic was just a value I selected for the best view of those signals. The Airspy can display a range up to ~1.7 GHz (see below). Not much value in going that wide as near as I can tell, but it's still pretty sweet.

spectrumspy-2020_02_27__16_36_04.png
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: spongella and N5XZS

KE4EST

SatelliteGuys Is My Second Home
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Lifetime Supporter
Aug 9, 2004
27,053
7,369
EM75xb
I have had a tinySA since they came out and love it. I do wish the screen was bigger, but hey for the price...
It is a great unit and the guy keeps up with feedback from the community and has gone through several firmware upgrades to either add features or fix things. I got mine from R&L for $49. Every hobbyist needs one of these.
 

spongella

SatelliteGuys Pro
May 12, 2012
1,625
1,236
Central NJ
The TinySA looks great. USA inventory was pretty much non-existent when I was shopping for one about a month ago. Wonder if that has changed.
 

videobruce

SatelliteGuys Family
Sep 21, 2003
93
13
I''m old school. Best bang for the buck is a Tektronix RFM-151 SLM. Old & heavy, it does have a (somewhat slow scanning) Spectrum Analyzer function also. These can be had for as low as $50 (depending on condition) on ebay.
I have had one and it is my go-to meter for well over 10 (maybe 15) years now. :thumbup

I will add, SA's make lousy SLM's due to that isn't what they were designd for. I have a Siglent SA now and I have never used it to measure signals per say, nor any other SA that I had.

And those micro pocket sized displays look cute, but I question using one as a SLM. And after reading numerous customer reviews over a 'A', I would think twice before going that route. ;)
 
Last edited:

Wescopc

SatelliteGuys Pro
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Sep 11, 2005
1,900
211
Canby, Oregon
Channel Master has a new OTA signal strength meter -
 
  • Like
Reactions: dishdude

videobruce

SatelliteGuys Family
Sep 21, 2003
93
13
It looks like a remote control for a garage door opener. :rolleyes :wtf2


What's with the 800MHz coverage?? Is it testing TV or annoying toy phone frequencies?
It's using the uncommom dBm instead of dBmV which most SLM's historically have used.
(notice the reviews are all 5 star)

And; where is the ATSC 3 capability??


I'll stick to my last post. Tektronix RFM-151 for 1/2 or 1/3 that price (other than it's size & weight being greater).
 

Kilo_Hotel

New Member
Jan 11, 2020
3
4
DFW
Channel Master has a new OTA signal strength meter -
That's a clone of the signal scout, just a different color.
 

Cannot Reach KASA-DT in ABQ NM Area

Rewind TV starts on KOIN 6.3 Portland OR Sept 1st

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 0, Members: 0, Guests: 0)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 3)

Top