falconman
On The Road!!
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Joined: 01/01/2007
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I'm looking for a little advice on which satellite meter would be the best choice for me when aligning my satellite dish. I have Direct TV with a Slimline SL3 with SWM. I am very capable of using the signal meter on the TV which I been doing for the last year or so but I want to be able to align the dish without any assistance, namely the wife. I have done a forum search and some internet surfing and it seems that the Birdog units are the best. I really don't want to spend $5-600 on one of these if there are cheaper alternatives. I know that it will ID the individual satellite but since I have the SL3, I am not sure that alone is worth it. There are several used models available but don't know which model is compatible with the SWM. I think the AIM units and the Direct TV unit fall into this same category. Of interest is the Accutrac III plus. Does anyone have any real world experience with this? I read the manual online and it doesn't seem too comprehensive. I'm not a real tech person so simple is better.
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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Get an align a site set it up ont time and find satellites in nothing flat.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I use a Wingard and it works well, is easy to use and cost about $20.00 Signals with both sight (analog meter) and sound.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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daamac
Texas
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Joined: 05/25/2002
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I use an Acutrac III+ with my non-SWM SL3. Being able to see readings from 99 and 103 make alignment easier.
BUT: the Acutrac III+, although sometimes advertised as SWM compatible,
is not able to give signal strength readings from 99 or 103 (just 101).
Some people align the dish using a non-SWM LNB, then remove that LNB and drop in their SWM LNB.
There's lots of advice and information in forums...
sometimes it is correct.
2011 Jayco 28.5RLS; 2008 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab; Duramax/Allison; Pullrite 14k Superglide Hitch
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2oldman
Wilson Creek WA
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Joined: 04/15/2001
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After much trial and error, I've found meters to be an exercise in expense and frustration. SWM requires a higher-end expensive meter.
I'm using a Swift Hitch camera aimed at the tv. I can remotely see the TV screen. When and if DTV ever decides to put the beep back in their receivers, I'll use that.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I do not know if the new HD receives still have the signal meter built in but my choice back in the SD days was a portable color TV hooked to the external TV jack.
Way better than any of the meters I ever saw in the stores save jobs with kilobuck price tags on 'em.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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lynndiwagon
Yukon, Oklahoma, USA
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Joined: 01/28/2004
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El cheapo signal strength meter......pre set elevation, heading, and skew per dishpointer.com and peak meter on 101. Other two will fall into place. For SL3 you need to be level and plumb with your mount. On cheapo meter you need to keep the gain control adjusted so that you don't saturate meter.
Lynn & Diana Wagoner
Three Boston Terriers
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2oldman
Wilson Creek WA
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lynndiwagon wrote:El cheapo signal strength meter.... Here we go again.
This is SWM, which requires a power inserter and 21v, which will be difficult to use a cheap meter with.
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falconman
On The Road!!
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Joined: 01/01/2007
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Just to clarify, I have no problem finding the general area of the satellite. I use my iphone with the sat app to locate the general vicinity and then fine tune using the tv with the wife's help. I want to be able to do it alone without walking back and forth numerous times to check the screen. I also don't want to drag extra cables or power supplies out to the dish, thats why I went with SWM. I have looked at the Accutrac website and while it says SWM compatible, the diagram show it connected to a power supply. So does it supply power on its own or does it need the PI to work? Using a non SWM LNB for setup sounds interesting, especially since I already have one, but would that require a connection to the receiver and reformatting just for the setup or can I just align the dish, switch out the LNB's and then connect the receiver?
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schneid
In the Wind
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Joined: 03/28/2010
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There is a new sub-$300 meter in route from Europe that purports to be SWM compatible and able to ID and tune the 99, 101, and 103. Whether true or not, I don't know. For now I sticking with my Accutrac 22 Mk II.
I am SWM and SL3 too so I know what you are looking for.
The SWM SL3 DOES require 21v to power the the LNB. I use a DirecTV ASL-1 but you can use a DirecTV green label splitter. Another rub is that the box must be kept off-line until you are tweaked as it locks up the Accutrac once fully booted.
Do NOT buy a First Strike or Tracker Light. Those dogs won't hunt. My opinion of course. I passed up the opportunity to buy an Accutrac III too.
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