Have a chance re to pick up a Sat Meter this Xmas and was wondering if anyone has compared the Birddog Meter to the newly arrived Trimax SM 2200 Meter. The Birddog was approx $600.00 last time I checked, and Trimax was running about $500.00 up here. Has anyone compared Both these Meters? Any comments would be much appreciated.
Trimax SM 2200 Versus Birddog Meter
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I've had a Birdog 3.0 since September. I paid just under $500 canadian after shipping and taxes. Been using it whenever I adjust my T90. I find it very easy to use, accurate, and I'm happy with it's results.
That said, if I had to do it all over again, I would have spent the little extra money it would have been for a sat buddy or a spectrum analyzer. When the Birdog locks on a particular satellite I don't know what transponder it's looking at to give me a signal strength so I can't peak a low power transponder without doing what most do, which is use their receiver and TV. You also occasionally need to update the list of satellite information on it but that's provided via a download from their web site. For another $150, I think I might have been a bit happier.
THAT said, the Birdog DOES do what I want it to do, which is tell me what sat I'm pointed at (very important to me) and what type of signal quality I'm getting, regardless of what transponder it's using to determine it. The display has a backlight which makes it handy for doing things in the dark. It also allows you to use a log rhythmic scale to give a Q reading which is great on low power (relative to DTH satellites) sats to help with peaking.
That said, if I had to do it all over again, I would have spent the little extra money it would have been for a sat buddy or a spectrum analyzer. When the Birdog locks on a particular satellite I don't know what transponder it's looking at to give me a signal strength so I can't peak a low power transponder without doing what most do, which is use their receiver and TV. You also occasionally need to update the list of satellite information on it but that's provided via a download from their web site. For another $150, I think I might have been a bit happier.
THAT said, the Birdog DOES do what I want it to do, which is tell me what sat I'm pointed at (very important to me) and what type of signal quality I'm getting, regardless of what transponder it's using to determine it. The display has a backlight which makes it handy for doing things in the dark. It also allows you to use a log rhythmic scale to give a Q reading which is great on low power (relative to DTH satellites) sats to help with peaking.
I have a birdog and a satlook, I never use the birdog, it seems every time I want to use it the satellites have changed something and the birdog needs to be updated again. I think the trimax would be nicer for that, but I dont own one so its hard to say.
if you are patient you might be able to get a cheap satlook NIT, I got mine for a little under $350cdn, needed a new batter (less then $30) and some other minor soldering and I was up and running and love it.
if you are patient you might be able to get a cheap satlook NIT, I got mine for a little under $350cdn, needed a new batter (less then $30) and some other minor soldering and I was up and running and love it.
I am very interested in the Trimax Meter myself.
Even though I have the SuperBuddy I still find myself taking the TV and receiver outside, as the receiver signal readings seems to be off from what the SuperBuddy meter reads. (same can be said about the Birddog or other meters I have used)
This allows me to better tweek things, and the Trimax would allow me to do everything on one small unit. (as it has the TV and satellite receiver built in)
I have been waiting for MrTim to email me when they were available.
I may also be able to get a special deal on the meters for SatelliteGuys members.
Even though I have the SuperBuddy I still find myself taking the TV and receiver outside, as the receiver signal readings seems to be off from what the SuperBuddy meter reads. (same can be said about the Birddog or other meters I have used)
This allows me to better tweek things, and the Trimax would allow me to do everything on one small unit. (as it has the TV and satellite receiver built in)
I have been waiting for MrTim to email me when they were available.
I may also be able to get a special deal on the meters for SatelliteGuys members.
I've only updated the Birdog once, last week, and that was only to add in WhiteSprings to my T90 because I didn't have it in my original list. Didn't seem to make my realigning things any better than before updating except for the additional sat. Have I been lucky?
I had to go through with my motor and move to most common satellites and check if V worked or H worked or both, it was rare both worked on the birddog satellite updates. most of the time only one or the other worked.
FYI...
If I can get about 5 people who want a Trimax SM-2200 meter I can offer a very special price of $439 + $12 Shipping and Handling for them. Payment would need to be done by paypal (remember you can pay by credit card using Paypal without actually being a Paypal Member)
The lowest price I have seen these selling for online is $479 plus shipping. So this is a good deal.
If you are interested please PM me.
If I can get about 5 people who want a Trimax SM-2200 meter I can offer a very special price of $439 + $12 Shipping and Handling for them. Payment would need to be done by paypal (remember you can pay by credit card using Paypal without actually being a Paypal Member)
The lowest price I have seen these selling for online is $479 plus shipping. So this is a good deal.
If you are interested please PM me.
Thanks guys, as far as I know the Trimax SM 2200 is the new updated version of the older 1100 Model. So if anyone had the Trimax 1100 model they would be the ones to contact!! And it also has a TV Screen, which the others don't have, but as mentioned my major interest is to find the Satellite and Signal Quality especially given our snow & frigid cold weather right now - which makes it much more difficult to set up a small TV and bring out the Sat Receiver.
Scott that sounds like a great deal since our local price is about $500.00 - is the shipping only to the USA, as I am in Canada?
Scott that sounds like a great deal since our local price is about $500.00 - is the shipping only to the USA, as I am in Canada?
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