Best Satellite Meter

joe250 · 17-02-2010 10:02AM #1

HI
I have been messing around with beeper for the last year or so.
I am looking to get a good satellite meter now.
What would you guys recommend?

bombibom · 17-02-2010 06:54PM

Trimax SM-2200 or 2500.Great peace of equpment for professional work.Costly dough.All the good meters are around 250-300€.It's an expensive hoby.:)

joe250 · 17-02-2010 07:07PM

No problem paying 250 for meter once its good.
I was looking at the First Strike meters anyone know if there any good?

AstralTV · 17-02-2010 08:29PM

Ive been using one of these for about a year now,

http://www.satcatcher.com/digipro_excel_tv_mk3

price about 575 GBP,

byte · 17-02-2010 09:51PM

Depends how much technical information you want from the meter.

You could possibly pick up a cheap Lacuna/Wolsey or Horizon HDSM second hand.

Otherwise, for more technical information like spectrum analysis, the ones above should be good. Satlook also used to make good meters, though haven't used one in a long while.

joe250 · 17-02-2010 09:55PM

Thanks for your help.

stevethesatguy · 21-02-2010 08:59PM

I have been testing the First Strike meter for over 2 weeks and all I can say about it is that it is a very easy meter to use and all the information is on one screen including the angle of dish elevation based on your Gps co-ordinates, makes dish installations very very easy, meter is housed in a protective jacket as well. Very simple menu structure.

joe250 · 21-02-2010 09:25PM

Thanks I think I will go for the First Strike.Can i ask where did you buy it?

jd6677 · 22-02-2010 08:36AM

joe250 wrote: »

Thanks I think I will go for the First Strike.Can i ask where did you buy it?

Hi Joe
I think Steve sells them :

http://www.satellitetv.ie/shop/index.php?controller=product&product_id=260

Steve how does the First Strike Meter compare to a Horizon Satellite Meter ?

JD

stevethesatguy · 22-02-2010 11:30AM

Well first of all is cheaper

It is as sensitive as the Horizon HDSM V2.5

Comes pre configured with all worldwide sats

Only thing you have to do is change the Lo setting to 10600 for one or two sats as the default is 96700 for some reason.

Have been using it recently on motorised 1.2m set ups and the best thing about it is the fact that the user ( me in this case ) can type in the fequency and the sat you are looking for, very handy for 8west which has lost a lot of channels lately and 16east which as we know died and was replaced a few weeks ago.

Another nice feature that is not on the Horizon is that with the First strike you can type in your current location , ( say 8.5w and 53.25N ) scroll to your choosen satellite and the meter will tell you the angle you need to set the dish at, and best of all it works.

Comes with the usual in car chager, 230v charger, neck strap, can be powered from receiver if battery dies during install,,,handy at times.

The Horizon I have has been through the mill with me and has never left me down, in fact I have had only 2 Horizon meters in the past 10 years and as far as I know the first one still works. Updates are however only available from the Horizon website.

Only time will tell how good the First strike meter FS1 is but first impressions are very good and I really like the fact that the user can update all the parameters easily at anytime , anywhere.

If I had to choose between the 2......... I would buy the FS1 if I was starting out again , but as I am not I carry and use both as well as the Trimax 2200 but that's another story.

All the best

DragonMedia · 23-02-2010 01:06AM

The Promax Sat Hunter is a fantastic meter i use it myself but its prob more for professional use but best meter i have seen in years and its not that expensive !

Steve
Dragonmedia.org

joe250 · 02-03-2010 10:40PM

just got my first strike meter today and so far so good.
first job was to to setup motor for friend.
worked great and even got good signal on 26east.
i purchased from America for 196euro delivered.

byte · 02-03-2010 11:13PM

Good stuff.

Did you get stung for import duties and VAT?

joe250 · 02-03-2010 11:17PM

No
i thought i would.
item was marked as worth199dollars but no charges

stevethesatguy · 05-03-2010 08:28PM

Joe,

Can I ask where you bought the FS1 First Strike meter?

stevethesatguy · 05-03-2010 08:49PM

Only asking because the Manufacturer tells me they have no record of selling any meters to anyone in Ireland apart from www.satellitetv.ie so if you got yours in for €196 then either someone is selling below cost or ?????????

€196 = $267 ,,,,that means as the USA retail price is $249 that the shipping only cost $18 thats €13 ,,,,??????? seems very very low joe?

joe250 · 05-03-2010 09:12PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

Only asking because the Manufacturer tells me they have no record of selling any meters to anyone in Ireland apart from www.satellitetv.ie so if you got yours in for €196 then either someone is selling below cost or ?????????

€196 = $267 ,,,,that means as the USA retail price is $249 that the shipping only cost $18 thats €13 ,,,,??????? seems very very low joe?

HI

I purchased off seller for 219.50$ and 45$ postage.
Did the manufacture tell you they offered me one for 169$ but as they wanted bank transfer it was to much hassle?

stevethesatguy · 05-03-2010 09:18PM

Joe,

Who in the USA is selling them for that price?

azzeretti · 05-03-2010 09:28PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

Joe,

Who in the USA is selling them for that price?

Here's one: http://cgi.ebay.com/First-Strike-Satellite-Signal-Meter-Finder-Locator-Kit_W0QQitemZ280473297887QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414d82e3df

Loads on ebay for similar price.

stevethesatguy · 05-03-2010 09:35PM

Thats a bid price not a selling price

joe250 · 05-03-2010 09:36PM

azzeretti wrote: »

Here's one: http://cgi.ebay.com/First-Strike-Satellite-Signal-Meter-Finder-Locator-Kit_W0QQitemZ280473297887QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414d82e3df

Loads on ebay for similar price.

Thats where I got mine.
Great meter.Friend is getting one to.I might post this bargain in bargain alerts.:D

stevethesatguy · 05-03-2010 09:37PM

Feel free

joe250 · 05-03-2010 09:39PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

Thats a bid price not a selling price

They have Buy It Now and if you offer $219.50 which is the lowest they will go you will get it.

Still if you to do a bank transfer $169 for them direct is even better.

joe250 · 05-03-2010 09:48PM

Another cheap one this time in the Eu so no chance of duty.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/FIRST-STRIKE-SATELLITEMETER-FS1_W0QQitemZ130370638225QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotoren_Positionierer?hash=item1e5ab21191

azzeretti · 05-03-2010 09:48PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

Thats a bid price not a selling price

I am see this alot (bigger prices in Ireland). I know that the guys in the business have serious overheads and are mostly sticking to the guide RRP but I haven't been able to find one item (and I mean one item!) that can be sourced locally, i.e in Ireland, cheaper that I can get online including delievery.

There is a big part of me regrets this, as I hate the thought of my money heading out of the country but the reality is that I just can't afford the bigger price within Ireland.

Another example is that I recently purchased another popular satellite item. The cheapest I could see on any of the Irish sites was €19 plus postage. I got the identical item (same brand and type) delivered for €8! Real pity.

stevethesatguy · 05-03-2010 09:56PM

I wish you the very best, you and people like you are the reason Ireland is in the predicament it is in, spending your money abroad, getting your friends to spend their money abroad, when the economy here dies and Irish businesses close down who do you think will employ you then, who will pay your wages, your unemployment benefit, what do you think you will be able to do with your cheap meter meter then? when we are all skint all you will have left is a sat meter and a dull memory of when Ireland was great.

Shop in Ireland, by all means ask for a discount on the RRP , Support Irish Business, the alternative is RUIN.

Slainte a chara!

azzeretti · 05-03-2010 10:03PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

I wish you the very best, you and people like you are the reason Ireland is in the predicament it is in, spending your money abroad, getting your friends to spend their money abroad, when the economy here dies and Irish businesses close down who do you think will employ you then, who will pay your wages, your unemployment benefit, what do you think you will be able to do with your cheap meter meter then? when we are all skint all you will have left is a sat meter and a dull memory of when Ireland was great.

Shop in Ireland, by all means ask for a discount on the RRP , Support Irish Business, the alternative is RUIN.

Slainte a chara!

Jaysus!!!
Can o' worms firmly opened.......

Listen....I understand you situation and I also see your argument. However, the bottom line is the bottom line. Ireland is the way it is because people didn't stop to ask "Why should I pay this much?". Instead they said (me included) "Fu*k it, we can afford it (borrow it)" and the prices kept going up. Now the adjustment is proving to be difficult for everyone.

I dont' (and didn't intent to) de-rail this thread. I was just stating a simple fact, why should I pay extra for something that I can get somewhere else? Doesn't make economical sense, regardless of the old "Ireland will crumble" retort of most traders.

you and people like you are the reason Ireland is in the predicament it is in

Are you serious? Ireland is the way it is for one reason and one reason only - cheap, uncontrolled credit.

54kroc · 05-03-2010 10:14PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

I wish you the very best, you and people like you are the reason Ireland is in the predicament it is in, spending your money abroad, getting your friends to spend their money abroad, when the economy here dies and Irish businesses close down who do you think will employ you then, who will pay your wages, your unemployment benefit, what do you think you will be able to do with your cheap meter meter then? when we are all skint all you will have left is a sat meter and a dull memory of when Ireland was great.

Shop in Ireland, by all means ask for a discount on the RRP , Support Irish Business, the alternative is RUIN.

Slainte a chara!

What a load of bull.

joe250 · 05-03-2010 10:54PM

stevethesatguy wrote: »

I wish you the very best, you and people like you are the reason Ireland is in the predicament it is in, spending your money abroad, getting your friends to spend their money abroad, when the economy here dies and Irish businesses close down who do you think will employ you then, who will pay your wages, your unemployment benefit, what do you think you will be able to do with your cheap meter meter then? when we are all skint all you will have left is a sat meter and a dull memory of when Ireland was great.

Shop in Ireland, by all means ask for a discount on the RRP , Support Irish Business, the alternative is RUIN.

Slainte a chara!

I see you have .co.uk site to.Are you trying to close down the UK?

Finne1993 · 05-03-2010 11:28PM

I don't wish to de-rail the thread as azzeretti already said but I feel compelled to add my say to this as I'm sure many others will also.

I buy a lot of gear in the UK as its cheaper (with the exeption of tvtrade.ie who have some of the most competitive prices in Europe on certain items and I wonder why other TV and satellite retailers don't follow their lead)
I also do my shopping in Newry as its cheaper, bottom line. Why should I pay prices I simply can't afford just to keep the richer ones happy? I can list numerous examples as I'm sure everyone else can. Just one is I recently bought a makita 24V cordless hammer drill for £229stg delivered to my door, the cheapest I could get the same one here was nearly twice that, was I supposed to pay the big money for it just to keep the bankers and our corrupt government happy in their elevated perches where they're oblivious to what is going on in the real world when they drive into their mansions in their Mercedes and BMW cars.

I, like many others am struggling to pay the mortgage and make ends meet at the minute and simply can't afford the prices of most products in Ireland and if I really need to buy something I think I'm well within my rights to find the cheapest price I can, as the well being of my family and I comes ahead of everything and everyone else.

I sympathise with all retailers as they've had little help from our government unlike the builders and banks but at the end of the day the regular Joe soap is going to find the cheapest option because as much as he'd love to spend his money in Ireland he simply cannot afford to.

stevethesatguy · 06-03-2010 11:25AM

Fair point lads, but if you get a bargain online from a company abroad , do not take the piss and advertise that fact in this public forum,, unless of course you want to hurt Irish retailers,,,be smart, enjoy your purchase and keep your mouth shut.

As regards Newry shopping,, Dunnes Stores in the Republic is as cheap for food shopping as any asda in NI,,,try it out if you do not beleive me.

As for looking after Family and kids ,,,shop local so that your kids will have a future in IRELAND, short term gain for long term loss is the other option that some of you seem to be opting for.

Slainte!

Best Satellite Meter

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