Just Sharing This A new meter and plans for next year...

sonnetpete

sonnetpete

Grumpy Old Retired Moderator and quiz inquisitor..
My Satellite Setup
Laminas 1.2M fibre dish with an IBU, on a Clarke Tech USALS motor, covering 57E - 24.5W to an Octagon SX88. Displayed on a 20" Dyon LED TV.

Seperate 80 cm dish on 28E with a Humax Freesat for SWMBO.
Free Sat V8 meter. Sony Bravia 46" LCD, Sony BluRay and Home Cinema.
My Location
Normandy, France
My old Satlink meter turned it's toes out earlier this week so a replacement was sought. I was looking for a S2 meter but was struggling to find one for less than £100. Then I came across this :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FREESAT-Di...&keywords=freesat+v8+digital+satellite+finder

Quite cheap and on an afternoons testing it seems to do the job. Additionally it has an HDMI out socket. I purchased it through Amazon.fr.

IMG_20170915_195708.webp IMG_20170915_200253.webp

Plans : My motorised dish will remain mothballed (though not literally) over this winter. There has been a suggestion that we need the trees surrounding the property felling. You might guess I'm supportive of this..So next year I'm considering putting the large dish on a ground mount next to the 'conservatory'...
 
A follow up on the meter....it's not as user friendly as the Satlink. The way you have to navigate through the screens and options isn't overly intuitive. However, I asked it to scan 19E this morning which it did very quickly, missing out the radio and data channels as asked and picking up the HD transmissions as I'd hoped. The screen is very clear and displays HD content well. For a budget meter without a spectrum, I'd recommend it...
 
Sounds good. Might ask Santa for one.
 
Mrs Santa surely?
 
sonnetpete said:
A follow up on the meter....it's not as user friendly as the Satlink. The way you have to navigate through the screens and options isn't overly intuitive.
Click to expand...


Sounds just like the other Freesat products.
 
Channel Hopper said:
Sounds just like the other Freesat products.
Click to expand...

I did notice they designate it 'Free Sat' rather than Freesat...though the 'instructions' call it a 'V8 Finder'....handy if you were searching for a small block Chevy...
 
V8 and font are the other clues.
 
Yes, I've just Googled the meter and seen the connection.
 
It is certainly a good price and looks fine.

Is the menu fairly simple to use or are there many sub menus to get lost in ?

God Bless Spiff
 
Spiff said:
Is the menu fairly simple to use or are there many sub menus to get lost in ?
Click to expand...

Simple but a bit confusing...E.G. You go into the installation menu, choose your satellite, then to bring up the transponder list, it's the 'back' key (bottom left on photo). It does show this on the screen but you'd need a magnifying glass to see it. I only found out by the 'engineers' method..hit all the buttons till one works....Given a few days it will become second nature to use I guess. For the price I don't think you can moan too much. I'm sure you could find it cheaper too...
 
Looks good to me so I have ordered one :)
 
Hallo Sonnetpete,

Thank you for your reply.

They don't write instruction books as they once did, if at all : )

Playing with an Ocular Rift at the moment, it relies a lot on the fact that the purchaser is already familiar with similar equipment.

I found the Trimax Digital satellite finder SM-4500 hard going, it is ok if you are using the receiver all the time as I do my Technomate.

I am selling the Trimax as I do not use it much, price wise it was a lot more that this one.

It looks to be a bargain, good luck.

God Bless Spiff

 
Was that the last signal from the Cassini Space Craft : )
 
^^^^^^^^



Only £9.30 more expensive than waiting a few extra days for free del. from PRC :D:p
 
Yes, looks like a good bit of kit for the hobbyist.

If only they bundled it with an SX88 for under 100 sovs ......
 
Channel Hopper said:
You could buy two of their iconic V7s for less.
Click to expand...

Agreed. However the meter is far more convenient than trying to set up a receiver and monitor outside...
 
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