For years I have never really been happy with my C/KU band setup. Last year I became most happy when I purchased a Arc set from Gourmet Entertainment, this fixed my tracking of the arc, my setup was just off a hair but with the arc set I was solidly on the arc.
But even then when I was tracking correctly I was still not happy as there were still a few S2 format signal that my dish could not lock on. Those being the RTV signals on 87 West...
Last week I got a nice box in the mail from the Haywood family who are the owners of Applied Instruments, in the box was their brand new AT Turbo S2 Meter. For them its an update to their wildy popular SuperBuddy 29 Meter, but for me its an update to my trusty old SuperBuddy Meter. The SuperBuddy 29 added support for powering DIRECTV SWiM LNB's as well as being able to power WildBlue / Telesat / Xplornet TRIAs!
The new AI Turbo S2 meter is the evolution of the SuperBuddy 29 meter and amazingly the folks at Applied Instruments have outdone themselves again by making the best satellite meter sold even better!
The AI Turbo S2 Meter adds the following new features and functions...
* compatibility with DVB-S2 broadcast signals (QPSK & 8PSK) (This is a REAL S2 Tuner, not a S2 Emulator like other meters use!)
* a high capacity lithium-ion battery that’s easily replaceable (One of the biggest requests I have seen from SatelliteGuys members who are SuperBuddy Owners was to have field replaceable batteries... AI has heard you and your wish has been granted!)
* faster signal locking and faster overall operation (Its a LOT faster then my old SuperBuddy... and I thought my old SuperBuddy was fast! This allows you to make more precise adjustments!)
* faster spectrum screen with better resolution (I didn't think the old screen was bad, but the new screen is even easier to read outside)
* constellation screen for DVB-S2 broadcast signals (QPSK & 8PSK)
* faster software downloads and uploads. (And unlike my old Superbuddy which needed a serial port to update, the new Turbo S2 features updating via USB)
* 250-750 MHz frequency range tuning for satellite signals, which is becoming more useful as satellite service providers incorporate new methods of band-stacking outside of the normal L-Band (950-2150 MHz)
* for DIRECTV applications, adds SWiM LNB control and SWiM module control, adds multi-sat display screen for DIRECTV SWiM, adds SWiM channel search feature to test which SWiM channels are in use on the network, adds ability to tune to DIRECTV B-band signals without the use of a B-band converter, adds ability to display an estimated signal quality for the DIRECTV 99 & 103 Ka band satellites
* ability to quickly save spectrum plots for later upload and viewing on a PC
* allows tuning out to 3 decimal places for narrow carrier work (i.e. can tune to 12001.528 MHz instead of to 12002 MHz)
As well as other small refinements!
I don't know how the folks at Applied Instruments do it but they just made the Best Meter BETTER! The construction of the meter is just like all other SuperBuddy meters, tough, rugged and strong. This is a meter that can take the abuse of constant use in the field. I have tested many satellite meters over the years but none has been constructed as well as the Applied Instruments line of meters.
When I first got the meter I went outside and peaked my DISH Network 1000.4 dish it was like using an old friend. If you have used a SuperBuddy meter before you will feel at home with the Turbo S2. I was able to quickly peak the dish and bring up the signal.
After peaking the dish I went inside and charged the meter, when charging the meter you see all kinds of info on the screen about the charge. Now you will never have any concerns about the status of your battery as you will always know how its doing.
After I charged the meter it just sat there waiting for me a few days... I had a bunch of other obligations to attend to, but all week long I wanted to know how we would it perform on S2 signals.. and could I finally aim my C/KU band dish to pick up those S2 signals that have escaped me the past two years. On my drive home from Rhode Island today I couldn't wait to get home and find out.
For those of you who haven't had to fiddle to tune in a S2 satellite signal yet just wait you will soon, as more and more C and KU band transmissions are using the S2 format. Those who do a lot of C and KU band work already know what a headache the S2 signals are to tune.
Once I pulled it I tuned the dish to SES 2 at 87 and tuned the dish inside peaking it on the ME-TV transponder until I had the highest signal possible on my receiver. Then I went outside with the Turbo S2 meter in had as well as a screw driver and ladder. I hooked the meter up to my LNBF and then climbed the ladder. On the meter I used Transponder 2 to peak on first, I moved the LNB twisting it in and out and around until I had the best possible signal on that transponder. I went from a 54 to a 82 after about 45 seconds of playing with it. I locked down the LNB and came down off the ladder. Once I was on the ground I then used the meter to check other transponders... I had a lock on everything.. then I got to the 3800/V frequency which is the elusive RTV S2 frequency and what did I see on the meter??? The screen showed LOCK with a signal quality of 76 on the meter! I could not believe it so I ran inside and did a scan of the 87 satellite on my Manhattan RS-1933 satellite receiver to see what it could get... Within minutes it scanned both the C and KU band side of the satellite and when it was done I was amazed to find that it has scanned it the long elusive RTV S2 that I have wanted for so long!
A lot of people on this very site have told me that in order to tune these S2 signals I would need a 10 foot dish, but by using the Apple Instruments I proved those people wrong. I couldn't believe that by using this meter for less then 2 minutes that I would be getting the signals that I have not been able to pick up for years!
Even if you are not doing any S2 work yet, with all the new bells and whistles and new speed of the unit I find this meter worth upgrading to. It's not a cheap meter by any means but if you have ever used a SuperBuddy you know the money is well spent. If you are trying to decide between a SuoerBuddy 29 or a new AI Turbo S2 I would tell you to get the new Turbo S2... you will thank me later!
I don't know how the folks at Applied Instruments did it but they just made the best meter even better!
But even then when I was tracking correctly I was still not happy as there were still a few S2 format signal that my dish could not lock on. Those being the RTV signals on 87 West...
Last week I got a nice box in the mail from the Haywood family who are the owners of Applied Instruments, in the box was their brand new AT Turbo S2 Meter. For them its an update to their wildy popular SuperBuddy 29 Meter, but for me its an update to my trusty old SuperBuddy Meter. The SuperBuddy 29 added support for powering DIRECTV SWiM LNB's as well as being able to power WildBlue / Telesat / Xplornet TRIAs!
The new AI Turbo S2 meter is the evolution of the SuperBuddy 29 meter and amazingly the folks at Applied Instruments have outdone themselves again by making the best satellite meter sold even better!
The AI Turbo S2 Meter adds the following new features and functions...
* compatibility with DVB-S2 broadcast signals (QPSK & 8PSK) (This is a REAL S2 Tuner, not a S2 Emulator like other meters use!)
* a high capacity lithium-ion battery that’s easily replaceable (One of the biggest requests I have seen from SatelliteGuys members who are SuperBuddy Owners was to have field replaceable batteries... AI has heard you and your wish has been granted!)
* faster signal locking and faster overall operation (Its a LOT faster then my old SuperBuddy... and I thought my old SuperBuddy was fast! This allows you to make more precise adjustments!)
* faster spectrum screen with better resolution (I didn't think the old screen was bad, but the new screen is even easier to read outside)
* constellation screen for DVB-S2 broadcast signals (QPSK & 8PSK)
* faster software downloads and uploads. (And unlike my old Superbuddy which needed a serial port to update, the new Turbo S2 features updating via USB)
* 250-750 MHz frequency range tuning for satellite signals, which is becoming more useful as satellite service providers incorporate new methods of band-stacking outside of the normal L-Band (950-2150 MHz)
* for DIRECTV applications, adds SWiM LNB control and SWiM module control, adds multi-sat display screen for DIRECTV SWiM, adds SWiM channel search feature to test which SWiM channels are in use on the network, adds ability to tune to DIRECTV B-band signals without the use of a B-band converter, adds ability to display an estimated signal quality for the DIRECTV 99 & 103 Ka band satellites
* ability to quickly save spectrum plots for later upload and viewing on a PC
* allows tuning out to 3 decimal places for narrow carrier work (i.e. can tune to 12001.528 MHz instead of to 12002 MHz)
As well as other small refinements!
I don't know how the folks at Applied Instruments do it but they just made the Best Meter BETTER! The construction of the meter is just like all other SuperBuddy meters, tough, rugged and strong. This is a meter that can take the abuse of constant use in the field. I have tested many satellite meters over the years but none has been constructed as well as the Applied Instruments line of meters.
When I first got the meter I went outside and peaked my DISH Network 1000.4 dish it was like using an old friend. If you have used a SuperBuddy meter before you will feel at home with the Turbo S2. I was able to quickly peak the dish and bring up the signal.
After peaking the dish I went inside and charged the meter, when charging the meter you see all kinds of info on the screen about the charge. Now you will never have any concerns about the status of your battery as you will always know how its doing.
After I charged the meter it just sat there waiting for me a few days... I had a bunch of other obligations to attend to, but all week long I wanted to know how we would it perform on S2 signals.. and could I finally aim my C/KU band dish to pick up those S2 signals that have escaped me the past two years. On my drive home from Rhode Island today I couldn't wait to get home and find out.
For those of you who haven't had to fiddle to tune in a S2 satellite signal yet just wait you will soon, as more and more C and KU band transmissions are using the S2 format. Those who do a lot of C and KU band work already know what a headache the S2 signals are to tune.
Once I pulled it I tuned the dish to SES 2 at 87 and tuned the dish inside peaking it on the ME-TV transponder until I had the highest signal possible on my receiver. Then I went outside with the Turbo S2 meter in had as well as a screw driver and ladder. I hooked the meter up to my LNBF and then climbed the ladder. On the meter I used Transponder 2 to peak on first, I moved the LNB twisting it in and out and around until I had the best possible signal on that transponder. I went from a 54 to a 82 after about 45 seconds of playing with it. I locked down the LNB and came down off the ladder. Once I was on the ground I then used the meter to check other transponders... I had a lock on everything.. then I got to the 3800/V frequency which is the elusive RTV S2 frequency and what did I see on the meter??? The screen showed LOCK with a signal quality of 76 on the meter! I could not believe it so I ran inside and did a scan of the 87 satellite on my Manhattan RS-1933 satellite receiver to see what it could get... Within minutes it scanned both the C and KU band side of the satellite and when it was done I was amazed to find that it has scanned it the long elusive RTV S2 that I have wanted for so long!
A lot of people on this very site have told me that in order to tune these S2 signals I would need a 10 foot dish, but by using the Apple Instruments I proved those people wrong. I couldn't believe that by using this meter for less then 2 minutes that I would be getting the signals that I have not been able to pick up for years!
Even if you are not doing any S2 work yet, with all the new bells and whistles and new speed of the unit I find this meter worth upgrading to. It's not a cheap meter by any means but if you have ever used a SuperBuddy you know the money is well spent. If you are trying to decide between a SuoerBuddy 29 or a new AI Turbo S2 I would tell you to get the new Turbo S2... you will thank me later!
I don't know how the folks at Applied Instruments did it but they just made the best meter even better!
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