Satellite Meters

[cyberham]

I have never used a satellite meter. I've always been able to use the wifi capability of my Edision receiver to see at the dish via my smartphone actual received SQ or similar techniques. But I find now I may need a satellite meter in my current environment.

I have access to amazon.co.jp which has a couple of meters that are interesting: GT Media V8 Finder and GT Media V8 Finder Max. Both are available locally for the equivalent of US$53 and US$168 respectively delivered.
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GT Media V8 Finder:

GTMEDIA V8 Finder2 is a handheld satellite meter that supports DVB-S/S2 and MPEG-2/4 H.264 (8-bit). With its compact size, light weight, intuitive user interface, long battery life and rich feature set, this meter provides all the functionality you need to install and verify digital satellite TV services to your home or multi-dwelling unit.
Main Features●3.5 inch high resolution LCD screen.●Fully DVB-S2X/S2/S, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 compliant.Supports H.264 (8-bit) hardware decoding.●Digital measuring device for signal strength and quality. All satellite information can be preset.●Supports loop search●Spectrum analyzer●Supports auto, blind, manual and NIT scanning.●Sound for lock signalAutomatic calculation of AZ, EL angles.●Supports DISEQC 1.0/1.1/1.2, unicable, 0/22kHz tone.● Built-in speaker● Support both AV output and AV.● Support both HDMI output.● Support real-time power display with low power reminder.● Support Youtube for USB wifi 2.4G.● LNB short protection● Support Type-C charging interface. Support multi-protocol fast charging. Up to 18W.● Support Type-C reverse charging.● Software upgrade via USB port.● Easy to carry.

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GT Media V8 Finder Max:

GTMEDIA V8 FinderMax is a DVB-S2X/S2/S and MPEG-2/4 H.264/H.265 (8-bit) compliant handheld combo meter. With its compact size, light weight, intuitive user interface, long battery life and rich feature set, the meter provides all the functionality you need to install and verify digital satellite TV services, antenna signals, cable signal to residential cable signal homes or multiple dwelling units.
Main Features● 4.3 inch high resolution TFT LCD screen.● DVB-S2X/S2/S, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 fully compliant.● Support H.264/H.265(8-bit) hardware decoding.● Digital measuring device for signal strength and quality. Support presets for all satellite information.● Support loop search.● Spectrum analyzer● Supports auto, blind and manual scanning.● Sound to lock on the signal.● Auto calculate AZ, EL angles.● Support DISEQC 1.0/1.1/1.2, unicable, 0/22kHz tone.● Built-in speaker● Support both AV output and AV input.● Support both HDMI output.● Support compass function.● Support real-time power display with low power reminder.● Support Youtube for USB wifi 2.4G.● LNB short protect● Software upgrade via USB port.● Easy to carry.
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I wonder if anybody has comments. I would need both the Asian and the North American satellites.

 

[Pepper]

I bought one of the cheaper ones recently V8 Finder 2.

It's definitely not as functional as one of those ridiculously expensive meters that gives you all the db levels or whatever and it's not smart enough to figure out which satellite you're pointed at. But it does what I need which is keeping me from having to carry a receiver and TV outside with an extension power cord. Just like a normal receiver, create a known transponder on whatever satellite you're looking for, make sure the parameters match your LNB type, and boom. It will make noise and give you nice graphs when you get the thing pointed in the right direction. Then to be sure you can scan for channels and view the program right there on the built in screen.

It apparently does a lot more stuff that I haven't bothered to figure out yet, definitely did what I wanted. 8/10 would recommend.

 

[cyberham]

We think alike. I am not inclined to spend much for a meter since, as a hobbyist, it's hard to justify its occasional use. The V8 Finder 2 seems to do what is necessary.

The other reason I need it is I don't have a TV anymore! My old analog TV blew up a couple of weeks ago. So I'm temporarily without any way to view what I can receive other than on a sat meter.

 

[JFOK]

We think alike. I am not inclined to spend much for a meter since, as a hobbyist, it's hard to justify its occasional use. The V8 Finder 2 seems to do what is necessary.

The other reason I need it is I don't have a TV anymore! My old analog TV blew up a couple of weeks ago. So I'm temporarily without any way to view what I can receive other than on a sat meter.

cyberham,

I’ve had a Sathero 300HD meter for several years now and I’m pleased with its performance. The 300HD has recently been replaced with the 310HD, but you still may be able to find a 300 HD.
I paid around $150 for my 300HD and the newer 310 is around $150-$180 depending where you look. Well worth it.
The satellite maps are also easily updated.

John

 

[ZetaMale]

When I was richer, I spent the money on a XR-3. I don't use all of its functions but it's nice that it'll tell you what satellite you're looking at so that you don't peak up on a different satellite that is using the same freq. That reminds me, there's an update for it. I think they've made a wifi version of the XR-3 but I doubt I'll buy one.

 

[one_db_compression]

I have never used a satellite meter. I've always been able to use the wifi capability of my Edision receiver to see at the dish via my smartphone actual received SQ or similar techniques. But I find now I may need a satellite meter in my current environment.

I have access to amazon.co.jp which has a couple of meters that are interesting: GT Media V8 Finder and GT Media V8 Finder Max. Both are available locally for the equivalent of US$53 and US$168 respectively delivered.
=========
GT Media V8 Finder:

GTMEDIA V8 Finder2 is a handheld satellite meter that supports DVB-S/S2 and MPEG-2/4 H.264 (8-bit). With its compact size, light weight, intuitive user interface, long battery life and rich feature set, this meter provides all the functionality you need to install and verify digital satellite TV services to your home or multi-dwelling unit.
Main Features●3.5 inch high resolution LCD screen.●Fully DVB-S2X/S2/S, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 compliant.Supports H.264 (8-bit) hardware decoding.●Digital measuring device for signal strength and quality. All satellite information can be preset.●Supports loop search●Spectrum analyzer●Supports auto, blind, manual and NIT scanning.●Sound for lock signalAutomatic calculation of AZ, EL angles.●Supports DISEQC 1.0/1.1/1.2, unicable, 0/22kHz tone.● Built-in speaker● Support both AV output and AV.● Support both HDMI output.● Support real-time power display with low power reminder.● Support Youtube for USB wifi 2.4G.● LNB short protection● Support Type-C charging interface. Support multi-protocol fast charging. Up to 18W.● Support Type-C reverse charging.● Software upgrade via USB port.● Easy to carry.

=======

GT Media V8 Finder Max:

GTMEDIA V8 FinderMax is a DVB-S2X/S2/S and MPEG-2/4 H.264/H.265 (8-bit) compliant handheld combo meter. With its compact size, light weight, intuitive user interface, long battery life and rich feature set, the meter provides all the functionality you need to install and verify digital satellite TV services, antenna signals, cable signal to residential cable signal homes or multiple dwelling units.
Main Features● 4.3 inch high resolution TFT LCD screen.● DVB-S2X/S2/S, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 fully compliant.● Support H.264/H.265(8-bit) hardware decoding.● Digital measuring device for signal strength and quality. Support presets for all satellite information.● Support loop search.● Spectrum analyzer● Supports auto, blind and manual scanning.● Sound to lock on the signal.● Auto calculate AZ, EL angles.● Support DISEQC 1.0/1.1/1.2, unicable, 0/22kHz tone.● Built-in speaker● Support both AV output and AV input.● Support both HDMI output.● Support compass function.● Support real-time power display with low power reminder.● Support Youtube for USB wifi 2.4G.● LNB short protect● Software upgrade via USB port.● Easy to carry.
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I wonder if anybody has comments. I would need both the Asian and the North American satellites.

I have the original V8 Finder. It is an ok unit for the price for alignment and peaking.

The rubs - and they are big ones - are many. I have needed to play really intricate games to fix transponder data via a text editor to keep the unit up to date. Blind scans have tended to overwrite my transponder info and I need to re-upload the config file via USB again and again. Additionally, the vendor's Windows config software is old and flaky. If you don't have the DLLs in the correct directory (which isn't necessarily the directory in the zip file), the app won't even start up. It is more consistent to edit the XML file by hand, but you need to know what you're doing. Even if you pick a different model or version, expect there to be a number of goofy software bugs on the unit and that vendor support for updates can stop without notice.

All this being said, if you are of the inclination (that's a satellite pun) and you are willing to work out your own work flow and update methodology, the device works as advertised. You just need to go in with low expectations.

Everyone else's mileage may vary.

 

[oldsmobile]

Let me put in a vote for this reasonably-priced, reasonably-featured meter.
Satlink

I have owned two. The first one I accidentally killed when using a quick F connector and it pulled out. The second works the same as the first. It is easy to use, has a nice loud beep for signal acquisition and fine-tuning, and it's a heck of a lot easier to drag out to your satellite farm than a TV and STB.

 

[FTA4PA]

Let me put in a vote for this reasonably-priced, reasonably-featured meter.
Satlink

I have owned two. The first one I accidentally killed when using a quick F connector and it pulled out. The second works the same as the first. It is easy to use, has a nice loud beep for signal acquisition and fine-tuning, and it's a heck of a lot easier to drag out to your satellite farm than a TV and STB.

I second that. My Satlink WS-6933 has been in use for several years now and has been very reliable. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that high-end meters do, it didn't cost what they do either and gets the job done.