SWM Satelitte Signal Meter Recommendations

mikestock wrote:
Just a thought. I have been wrestling with SWM 3 setup for years. I, after going through a variety of tools, have settled on the simplest method for me.

I pack a legacy Slimline horn with my dish. I have a, battery powered Acutrac III meter, purchased used for $60. They're no longer on the market. It powers up the legacy SL3 but will not power up the SWM. I drop the legacy horn in place and max out the 99/101/103. After peaking the three signals I drop in the SWM head and run the coax to the PI.

May sound like too much for some folks, but I've done it so many times I can do it in less time than any other method.

I had decided to use this method yesterday. I took everything down and realigned twice with no problems at all.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

TechWriter wrote:

mikestock wrote:

I pack a legacy Slimline horn with my dish. I have a, battery powered Acutrac III meter, purchased used for $60. They're no longer on the market.

May sound like too much for some folks, but I've done it so many times I can do it in less time than any other method.

So OP can just borrow yours?

I have three and could probably gather up a few more, if need be.

As stated, the Acutrac III is no longer for sale, either, but I've managed to find two more on Ebay for friends who wanted to try this. Here are a few on Ebay right now.One paid $75 and the other paid $50. They both use this method, and wouldn't change.

You can always pair any meter with an ASL-1 or a splitter to get power to the SWM. Then you need a PI at the setup location.

I don't make any claims about my method being the one anybody else should try. It's just for informational purposes, that I made this post.

mikestock wrote:

I pack a legacy Slimline horn with my dish. I have a, battery powered Acutrac III meter, purchased used for $60. They're no longer on the market.

May sound like too much for some folks, but I've done it so many times I can do it in less time than any other method.

So OP can just borrow yours?

Just a thought. I have been wrestling with SWM 3 setup for years. I, after going through a variety of tools, have settled on the simplest method for me.

I pack a legacy Slimline horn with my dish. I have a, battery powered Acutrac III meter, purchased used for $60. They're no longer on the market. It powers up the legacy SL3 but will not power up the SWM. I drop the legacy horn in place and max out the 99/101/103. After peaking the three signals I drop in the SWM head and run the coax to the PI.

May sound like too much for some folks, but I've done it so many times I can do it in less time than any other method.

Greyghost wrote:
donn0128 - So everything appears to be in the $400 - $600 range. I was hoping for a solution for about half of that.

y the dish is on a tripod outside the MH. Can't see the TV from there.

A Swift Hitch camera is about half that.

No, but your wife can.

Use the Signal Meters screen. It responds almost instantly when it finds the signal. The onboard meter is never wrong. I can't see investing in another one.

Alaska? You won't be getting anything there.

Greyghost, re "Unfortunately the dish is on a tripod outside the MH. Can't see the TV from there. I checked the setup on the Genie in the S&B and found that at least the Genie has an audio signal which the HD receivers don't."

Until I got Genie and the tones, I used a cheap baby video monitor. Pointed the camera at the TV screen and watched the display outside. Worked great most of the time and a lot cheaper than the good meters. Just a thought.

This is the meter I use. I little more today than what I paid but still less that most others.

Tracker Lite by Orbital

TechWriter - I tried bidding on that one and ebay locked my account due to suspicious activity. There's another one at $180 I'll probably bid on.

Greyghost wrote:

TechWriter - I looked at that one, but the Buyit Now price is $400 plus. I'll keep an eye on it.

Don't wait too long.

The Super Buddy 29 has been discontinued and replaced by a more expensive model -- the XR-3 ($479 + $310 new).

donn0128 - So everything appears to be in the $400 - $600 range. I was hoping for a solution for about half of that.

TechWriter - I looked at that one, but the Buyit Now price is $400 plus. I'll keep an eye on it.

K Charles and Nomad - You are absolutely correct. Unfortunately the dish is on a tripod outside the MH. Can't see the TV from there. I checked the setup on the Genie in the S&B and found that at least the Genie has an audio signal which the HD receivers don't.

Thanks for the input, I'm still looking.