|
|
|
|
Here I am in the digital world suggesting that you use an "older" analog type meter. Sounds wrong, doesn't it? It's not. Let me explain "why?" starting with a little background. What if I asked you "Why are you using a digital meter to read an analog signal?" Many of you would say I'm full of "it", or I couldn't be talking about satellite signal. But, I am talking about satellite signal, the signal at the "front end" that you measure is analog. That's another story, and you can read about it: designlinenetwork.com But, this is about getting the best signal possible in satellite systems! Guaranteed!
Signal meters - My Experiences When I was getting started in this business, the subcontractor who trained me on Dish Network, had a Sat Buddy with its jumping, digital readouts. I was excited about this new instrument before me, and had set my sites on getting one of those expensive, high tech, digital meters. Later, as I was training for DirecTV, they pushed the Perfect Vision Accutrac, digital meter, and if you could afford it, suggested buying a Bird Dog meter. I had seen the Bird Dog and everyone said that the Bird Dog was the meter to get. It was sort of the "Holy Grail" of meters to installers. The reason it was is so well liked is that it actually ID's the bird you're looking at. (Less costly meters only give you a satellite strength, but not satellite identification.) Due to the substantial cost of getting into the business (subcontractors must purchase all tools, supplies, etc.), I bought my initial equipment from a fellow leaving the business. Included in the purchase was a Channel Master Dual Analog Meter. What a let down! What I would soon discover though, was that I was pointing quicker, and better, than my peers! The first time I put the dual analog meter on a dish (500), I had been riding with a subcontractor for the previous 5 days, and had just got my hands on my tools and supplies. I told him I had gotten a meter and could he show me how to use it. His reply was that he'd never seen one and knew nothing about them. As I put the meter on the very first dish, I found that the dual analog meter operation seemed very intuitive to me. It just made sense. As I turned the dish and watched the needles, it looked so "right" that I ignored the instructions to partially tighten the dish until after the "Check Switch", and cranked it down tight! Having NO prior knowledge of the meter or satellites, the resulting signal on that dish was over 100 on both satellites and the largest signal we had seen all week! My trainer's eyes got big as he stated that I must've figured it out. ;-) For me, it was easier, faster, and proving to be a very effective meter. As it turns out, the Dish 1000 and 1000+ were causing the other installers so many problems that the install manager began sending them to me for help since my repeat service calls where the lowest the company had seen. The dual analog meter was quickly adopted by several of them and their re-point and warranty calls dropped dramatically. Eventually, however, I did purchase a digital meter - the Super Buddy. This meter is like a Bird Dog on steroids, and at nearly $700.00, it should be! It identifies satellites like a Bird Dog meter, but it also lets you check individual transponders and signal quality! (Why would you need a measure of signal quality in the world of "digital signal"? That's another story...)
The Super Buddy meter is a great trouble shooting tool and it can definitely assist in dish alignment. But, Let me relay a conversation I had recently with a technician that had bought a Super Buddy about six months prior. Previously and repeatedly, he had expressed his joy over his Super Buddy. This conversation had barely begun when he blurted out "If you peak 118.7 only, you lose 129!", to which I replied, "That's why I use a dual meter." Of all the people I know with a Super Buddy, they still use a dual analog to assist in peaking the multi-sat dishes. The Super Buddy meter is exceptional, but for overall performance, dish alignment, and price, if I had to choose one, it's definitely the reasonably priced, dual analog meter. For overall troubleshooting and definitely for dish alignment, the dual analog is really a great tool if you know how to use it! To achieve the best possible signal for multi-satellite dishes, you need the right equipment. The right equipment for this, is a Dual Analog Meter. The Channel Master 1008IFD Dual Signal meter, like this one, or the Advantage ADV1000 are a couple of choices. They are also very competitively priced and sturdy in construction. (Survived several falls from roofs with no problem!) They are larger and bulkier than other meters, but considering what they'll do, and the price, I'll take it!
I strongly recommend a Dual Analog type meter for those who are just getting started! I use the word "intuitive" regarding the use of this meter. This meter is just the simplest meter to understand and use. The knowledge that a beginner has will likely be confused and frustrated with a digital meter. After you get more experience and begin to understand satellite systems in greater depth, a Super Buddy would be a good second acquisition. Some digital meters allow connection and simultaneous viewing of two satellite signals. These meters, though, are generally more expensive, more fragile, and harder to read. The digital bars come and go, and they don't seem to quit moving. Compared to the smooth movement of the analog needles, the analog meter makes pointing very easy, and intuitive! (But, a dual digital meter with simultaneous viewing would still be better than a single meter.) For overall maximum signal, speed, accuracy, and troubleshooting, my dual analog signal meter wins, hands down! Why? Read on... Analog vs. Digital Meters: Speed and Ease When "Digital" Signal Isn't Digital... The analog meter is faster, even instantaneous, because the signal coming into your meter is ANALOG, not digital! Yes it's true. With all the talk of the "digital" world and such, it may be hard to believe that the signal you are reading is an analog one. (Dish does have 100% digital PICTURE. That's not signal.) This is why analog meters are so responsive and digital meters suggest a 20(?) second "wait" to see how the dish responded to the movement you just made. All signals received by these fancy, high tech, meters, has to be "digitally processed". It is the same as the pause when you select a new channel on your satellite system. Digital processing takes a little time to happen. It's slow by comparison to the analog meter. In order to point a dish correctly with a any digital meter, you must actually loosen the bolts and move the dish a little, then wait. You wait to see the effect of your movement while the digital processor re-figures the result. You can push and pull on the dish and see digital meter change, but for accuracy, the instructions suggest a wait for a stable, correct, measure. The "bouncing" of the digital readout and waiting for it to settle was very frustrating to me. Then you must check the next satellite, etc. This is very time consuming and frustrating when dealing with multiple satellite dishes. The beauty of the analog meter is that there is a real time continuous result. You are measuring the "continuous" analog wave signal. Without even loosening a bolt, you can check the alignment of a dish. Slightly move, twist, pull or push on the dish and immediately, and continuously, the analog needles are responding, giving you the real time results! It's fast and easy to see the effect of the smallest movement of the dish. That's why analog is easier and faster, due to faster results on the meter, and the smooth movement of the needles on an analog meter are easier to read and reference. Birdog users report to me that there is a relatively "large" amount of swing in the dish that all reports as 100% signal. What you need to do is to interpolate the peak of the signal. Swing the dish to the right until signal drops lower and remember that spot. Swing the dish to the left and remember that spot. Now, return the dish to the center point between the two. That should be peak. And that doesn't seem fast or efficient. With an analog meter you get needle movement with the smallest movement and peak is easily defined. Dual Analog vs. Digital Meters: Simultaneous Multi-Signal Metering Consider this: Most dish antennas we work with now, have 2 or more satellite signals to be able to receive. One dish = 2,3,4, or more satellite signals. (With the exception of the "Must Carry" or "Wing Dish", that points at a separate, individual satellite.) Every time you adjust the dish antenna to increase a signal from one satellite, YOU ARE CHANGING SIGNAL RECEPTION for all the remaining satellites that the dish is supposed to receive! With any meter, every time you make an adjustment for one satellite, you should then go back and check all the remaining satellites and make sure you didn't lower their signal. It is a "blind" adjustment with regards to the remaining satellites. Each time you adjust the dish for the satellite that you are "watching", you are simultaneously varying the signal for THREE more that you are NOT "watching"! With so many variables to check, doesn't it make sense to move to "even the odds"? A dual analog meter does just that. Channel Master Dual Analog Meter product review: Another View Some price comparison.... These prices are from a local supplier. Advantage ADV1000 Meter (Dual Analog) $119.99 Birdog™ Signal Meter PER1031 - (Single, Digital, Sat ID) $449.99 Super Buddy™ Meter - (Digital, One-at-a-time) $679.99 Dual Buddy (Dual Digital, 2 input, simultaneous) $229.95 A DUAL ANALOG meter will help you to; quickly learn satellite dish alignment improve overall signal strength reduce time spent in dish alignment reduce time spent troubleshooting eliminate re-points (As long as the mast is solid and bolts are tightened...acts of God not included!)
So, what if you use a DUAL ANALOG meter and view two at once? For example... The Dish 500 |
What do you want to know? Ask highdefjeff
Become a part of THE Digital Television Community!
Visit DTVUSA Forum and get the help you need!
|
|
You have a right to an antenna! The rule prohibits most
restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance
or use; (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use;
or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal. Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule Send questions or comments about this web site.Copyright © 2009 WOWVision! Ministries Last modified: 01/16/10
|
