Forum Discussion

ljr's avatar
ljr
Nomad
Feb 26, 2019

Meter for Dish DPH LNBs

My trusty old Acutrac III+ is almost useless with the new Dish DPH LNBs. Solid Signal is my go to source for questions like this but their replacement recommendation (Applied Instruments Modular Test Instrument Base With Turbo S2 Satellite Meter Module) adds up to >$1,000. That’s kind of pricey for something I’ll use once every couple weeks at most.

Anybody have another suggestion?
  • Look on EBay for a Super Buddy or Supper Buddy 29 they were made by Applied Instruments. They can be found on there from anywhere $200.00 on up and they still are being supported just updated software last week on mine.
  • Well, for about $400 you can buy a Winegard Pathway X2 auto align carryout dome.

    I regret not getting one sooner. I have a roof top but could rarely use it,

    With a dishpointer app to find a hole I set the Pathway out and go inside.
  • Big Katuna wrote:
    Well, for about $400 you can buy a Winegard Pathway X2 auto align carryout dome.

    I regret not getting one sooner. I have a roof top but could rarely use it,

    With a dishpointer app to find a hole I set the Pathway out and go inside.


    I have a Hopper 3.
  • So do I; in the house.

    I bought a 211z and leave it the coach.

    I moved the Hopper and WiFi and a Joey out twice with a tripod and it was unpleasant enough that I went shopping.

    I prefer DISH over Directv but found DISH harder to set up and peak all sats.

    The signal meter in the Hopper is way slower than Directs and it took an inordinate amount of time to setup.

    A meter would be quicker but in the big picture the carryout is so simple and fast and I don’t have to disconnect and reconnect every time I go camping.
  • I too have the Hopper 3 at home and went the X2 / 211z route despite owning a Super Buddy meter. I have no regrets and have never looked back.
  • All my sat and receiver stuff is neatly stored in my entertainment center. Unhooking and re-hooking would get old. If I were gone for weeks to months at a time then yeah. For now we're weekend warriors with the usual several 1-2 week trips scattered throughout the camping season.
    I went with the X2 as well for convenience.
    With my Dish Pro app and an added hard drive to record I'm all set.
  • ljr wrote:
    Big Katuna wrote:
    Well, for about $400 you can buy a Winegard Pathway X2 auto align carryout dome.

    I regret not getting one sooner. I have a roof top but could rarely use it,

    With a dishpointer app to find a hole I set the Pathway out and go inside.


    I have a Hopper 3.


    Me too & Super Buddy is the go to meter for an H3. There are several SB's on eBay now.
  • Switch to DTV. They have beeps in the receivers. Saves a whole lot of money and hassle.
  • DISH has beeps. My Directv DVR did not have beeps..

    With an auto seek dome I don’t need beeps anyway.
  • Big Katuna wrote:
    DISH has beeps.
    So Op's new setup doesn't have beeps? DTV reinstated beeps about, I'd say a year ago. Was a real pita without them.

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