Options for Satellite Meter/Tuner

[linuxman]

I want to start this thread to get some ideas from all of you about a satellite meter/tuner since I sold my Satlook on E-Bay this morning.

I guess I was ruined by the way I learned just using a receiver at the dish and my kid's mini-dvd player with video input. I just couldn't get used to the Satlook.

I have thought about a couple of options, maybe you can think of others.

1. Buy a Trimax SM-2200 new and forget about the other options. It comes with a viewable color screen, and can control a diseqc motor or VBox/GBox.
Cost = $450.00 plus shipping approx.

2. Buy a new Pansat 3500, and use the same Pansat that I have used since the beginning for every installation I have done.
In the Pansat's favor, it has built in servo motor control and can control the VBox/GBox.

I can get a new mini-dvd player for just a little over $100.00, and I already have a spare VBox III when it gets back from warranty repair.
Cost = $150.00 plus shipping for the Pansat, $110.00 for the 7" mini-dvd player, and say $70.00 for the VBox if I had to buy it. Total = $350.00 approx.

I could build a carrying case for option 2 above and have everything wired together with doors that open for viewing and sun-shade. Could also be closed if it started raining suddenly.

Or do you guys have another option as far as meters/tuners to use for us hobby guys?

Maybe you have a favorite meter/tuner that works very well for you?

Maybe you already own a Trimax SM-2200 and love it. Please tell me why you like it so much.

Please share your thoughts.

 

[gabshere]

well you stated the main options ... the meters are just basically a receiver and a tv screen ....

but as you look toward the future and sure its probably a few years off. how will the Trimax SM-2200 find a DVB-S2 signal so is the life of this meter limited ? although it might be the best package due to size its the least upgradable of the solutions.

maybe someone will put a bug in the makers of trimax ear and get them to add DVB-S2 option ...

just a thought

 

[linuxman]

Great thoughts and suggestions.

I just fired off an email to Trimax asking about a newer version that also does DVB-S2 and 8Psk.

We'll see what they say.

 

[linuxman]

Just got this back from Trimax.

We have no plans for DVB-S2 at this time.
Watch our website for any updates.

 

[Larry1]

Sometimes I will leave the receiver where it is and use an old piece of coax to run a video cable from the receiver to a small monitor by the dish. Not portable like a meter, but works for my limited use. The only meter I have used is the el cheepo needle meter squaker type meter. The receiver method has worked well for me. I do have a friend that does use a spectrum equalizer/meter for aligning dish's, but he installs both StarChoice and satellite internet systems. I sure would of liked to have bought that Satlook, but it was just too much $$$ for my use. On my friends meter, he has a picture of both the horizontal and vertical spectrums at the same time for he can see what happens to each at the same time. Sure would like his meter, but it was very expensive.

 

[Tron]

The main advantage of a meter such as the Trimax over a receiver/monitor combo is the meter can be operated by battery, saving you from having to run an AC line to the dish. They cost plenty more, though, and I cannot justify the expense over that of a receiver/monitor combo.

 

[Lak7]

I am reaching here, but couldn't you use a Portable DVD Player with a Terk "LeapFrog" style wireless video / remote sender, Battery and a small DC / AC Inverter.

 

[linuxman]

Thanks Larry1, Tron, and Lak7 for your helpful responses.

I like your idea Lak7 about the wireless video/remote, but don't know whether it would work on my roof. I have used the UHF remotes on my analog receivers to move the dishes etc., but sometime they won't even work on the roof. This roof has structural steel joists, covered by a 1/4" corrugated steel followed by a lite concrete slab 2" thick with asphalt roof coating on top of that. The walls are a full 12" thick brick/block with 4" insulation plus drywall interiors.

I would love to just go ahead and buy the Trimax too, but can't seem to justify the cost since at least half of my dishes require a separate positioner such as a GBox, or VBox.

Unless I were to get a UPS to run the positioner from battery, I would still need an extension cord. Plus the fact that all my BUDS require servo motor control which none of the meters do.

I had thought I had found a battery operated mover that would control a servo, but it turned out that the other control was for potentiometer dish moving instead of servo control. If that option had worked, it would simplify a lot of things. The owner says he might be able to modify it to control a servo, so that option may still be available.

Other than that, I am really stuck with the receiver-servo/dvd/positoner model perhaps using tie wraps to hold them together in a box that can be opened and everything wired together with hook-ups running through the back for the dish, controls, and power, with a possible UPS if I can get one that lasts a while without it weighing a ton.

 

[linuxman]

I have decided to go the dedicated Receiver-servo/VBox-GBox/Mini-DVD player route.

I found a 10.3 lb UPS at BB for less than $100.00, picked up a used receiver for $100.00, can get a Polaroid 7" Mini-DVD player with video/sound inputs for $100.00 (has it's own battery), and can put it all together in it's own box with carrying handle/strap.

Will weigh about 25 lbs or less total. Will operate for over an hour without extension cord, and do all of what I need for about $300.00 using my existing VBox III when it returns.

If I had to buy a VBox to go with it you could add another $70.00.

It will be heavier than a Trimax SM-2200, but will do everything the Trimax will do plus have servo control, big dish motor movement and blind scan.

Plus, I won't have to fight the kids for their Mini-DVD any more.

I will either build the box myself, or if I can find something that can be modified cheap, I will do that, but I plan to have some kind of sun screen to keep glare off the screen.

 

[Lak7]

Forget the DVD Player, check this out.......
Myvu Shades 301

 

[linuxman]

Forget the DVD Player, check this out.......
Myvu Shades 301

Nice!!!

But too expensive for this project.

 

[Tron]

Forget the DVD Player, check this out.......
Myvu Shades 301

It would be hilarious to see the reaction on the neighbor's faces when they see me up on the roof, at night during a full moon, wearing these "sunglasses" which are wired up to a box (my receiver). LOL

 

[jsattv]

Linuxman, if its not too late, here are my comments. I have a Trimax 2200 meter I got it in January and I love it. I would have been lost without it on the cold days this winter - especially setting up for G25 / 97.0W. It can be modified to upgrade the software for Tp's, and you can add your own custom list of Tp's re IceBergs List. The most convenient thing about the Trimax is not having to drag out and power the Satellite Meter and small TV set, you can simply slip it in the strap around your neck in the plastic pouch and use it, and then use your hands to do adjustments on your eqpt.

Check ot the Keyboard on the Trimax 2200:
One other thing I should mention is the first Trimax 2200 I had, had some keystroke issues, in that when you pressed the rubber keys, it didn't seem to respond well, got it replaced with a second unit, which is okay, so if you get one - check out the Keyboard first. Hope this helps.

 

[linuxman]

Linuxman, if its not too late, here are my comments. I have a Trimax 2200 meter I got it in January and I love it. I would have been lost without it on the cold days this winter - especially setting up for G25 / 97.0W. It can be modified to upgrade the software for Tp's, and you can add your own custom list of Tp's re IceBergs List. The most convenient thing about the Trimax is not having to drag out and power the Satellite Meter and small TV set, you can simply slip it in the strap around your neck in the plastic pouch and use it, and then use your hands to do adjustments on your eqpt.

Check ot the Keyboard on the Trimax 2200:
One other thing I should mention is the first Trimax 2200 I had, had some keystroke issues, in that when you pressed the rubber keys, it didn't seem to respond well, got it replaced with a second unit, which is okay, so if you get one - check out the Keyboard first. Hope this helps.

Thanks Guy!

I am going to pursue the option that I said above and for the reasons I gave.

I just have too much equipment that requires things the Trimax doesn't have. If not for that, I would re-consider.

 

[Lak7]

It would be hilarious to see the reaction on the neighbor's faces when they see me up on the roof, at night during a full moon, wearing these "sunglasses" which are wired up to a box (my receiver). LOL

"Honey, I think he's crazy, should I call 9-1-1?" she said.
He says "No, not yet, lets see what he's up to."
Then you slip, THUD!!! "Honey, should I call 9-1-1 NOW?"
(no harm intended)

 

[rv1pop]

Just one thought on the UPS... They are heary and have way more than what you need on the roof. I bought a 400 watt inverter at a truck stop ~ $30. and a gel cell (power sonic 12v, 7.5A) battery at an alarm suppply store for under $25 and used a 2 amp wall wart to charge them. Weighs a whole lot less, and was cheaper.

 

[ACRadio]

I previously had an SF3000 Pro...and I really liked it. It was picky with frequency and symbol rate...it wanted you to be dead on. The downside to it was it would only control a 22khz switch...it wouldn't control DiSEqC. But it would somewhat act like a Birdog in that if it had a unique frequency programmed for a satellite it would semi-identify it. When the new series of Tri-Max meters was about to be released I sold the SF3000 with the intention of getting a Tri-Max. The release kept being put off later and later, and in that time I gave long and hard consideration to the question of do I really need that much meter. They're super nice and I would love to have one. I don't worry about the fact that it don't and may never do S2 because this is an alignment tool and there will be DVB-S carriers on satellites for many years to come. It will be quite a while before we see affordable meters with S2 tuners...heck we don't have but a handful of receivers to choose from that does S2. But as others have said in this thread I just can't justify the cost for an occasional use product. So I picked up a 5.5 inch external XBox display for about 35 bucks and am using an old BEC DBS2000 receiver that has a good responsive meter. A receiver that has a meter that pegs with a decent signal is worthless for a tuning meter. The meter in the Traxis is absolutely wonderful for tuning but I don't want to tear it out every time I need to align a dish. I installed a new breaker in the breaker box and ran some 10-2 about 275 ft to the top of the hill so I'm fortunate to have power at the dish site. Maybe when I win the lottery I'll get a TriMax or one of those $1500 meters you sometimes see advertised on Lyngsat that will do S2 and DCII and 8psk Trellis and every modulation and error correcting type in existence.

 

[linuxman]

So I picked up a 5.5 inch external XBox display for about 35 bucks

Thanks for the info. Where did you pick something like that up?

I guess I am putting myself in a corner here. I don't know anything about XBoxes, and have never allowed my kids to play anything other than games that will play on a computer.

But that seems like something that might be better than the mini I spoke about.

The meter on the Pansat 3500 is a pretty decent meter and pretty solid. It is a pretty sensitive tuner too. Will lock on a low signal where others won't including the Traxis. (I have two of them too) I have always tuned off the lowest signal transponder if possible. If you get that one good, the high ones fall into place.

I bought a 400 watt inverter at a truck stop ~ $30. and a gel cell (power sonic 12v, 7.5A) battery at an alarm suppply store for under $25 and used a 2 amp wall wart to charge them. Weighs a whole lot less, and was cheaper.

I agree on the heavy part.

Where did you find the inverter. I can get a nice battery for $25.00 at Batteries Plus. What's a wall wart?

Is that just a charging transformer that plugs into the wall?

Now we are getting some ideas on how to do this in-expensively.

 

[rv1pop]

I got the inverters at truck stops, one was Flying J and other I think was a Petro or Pilot truck stop. I actually think each were about $25. Check around on the battery. I got them in case lots, PS1275, for less than $10 each, but eaches are more expensive, and so is retail! My last order was for 6.5 amp (PS1265) but tthe 7.5 were same size and in stock, so they shipped those instead for the same price.

 

[linuxman]

I got the inverters at truck stops, one was Flying J and other I think was a Petro or Pilot truck stop. I actually think each were about $25. Check around on the battery. I got them in case lots, PS1275, for less than $10 each, but eaches are more expensive, and so is retail! My last order was for 6.5 amp (PS1265) but tthe 7.5 were same size and in stock, so they shipped those instead for the same price.

Thanks, I'll check everything out.