Equipment for satellite installer

What an excellent thread! As im planning on going self employed.

I am currently doing an RDI digital installers course, and will be booking

courses with the CAI, as I have funding because I have recently been made
redundant.

I have a satlook micro and just bought a 2nd hand Promax 3 meter http://www.satellites.co.uk/satelli...-equipment/140219-promax-prolink-3-meter.html its got a black and white monitor.

Would the Promax be a good enough meter just to get me started? :)
 
Can't see why that meter wouldn't be any good Crossbones. Promax stuff isn't that bad if i remember rightly. I only ever used one once.

As long as it does power, Noise margin and BER it will do the job fine :D It would also be useful if it told you what satellite your looking at :)

Don't worry if it hasn't got a sat finder function on it as after a while you will find it quicker using the spectrum analyzer on it anyway :toke:

Can't remember the last time i used the Sat finder function :-ohcrap

Make sure it also has a function to show the digital clusters and transmitter name (you won't need the transmitter name once you get to know the frequencies)

It used to show on mine Sutton Coldfield, Wrekin B, Ridge Hill and Brierley hill. Now it just shows West Midlands on all 4 :-rofl2

I can recommend you grab hold of an aerial catalogue from your local supplier as it shows all the frequencies of all the UK transmitters.

The Triax catalogue is quite a good one as its only a small book that will fit in your pocket.

:-beer

Nano
 
Likewise, I mainly use the Satlook NIT spectrum trace for sat finding, much quicker than the satfinder function on the ST4.
 
Ok thanks guys, Ill probably end up selling the pair, when I get up and running, and hopefully earning loads of cash:) And buy a better newer meter.

I have got one of those Triax booklets Nano, as the Sales guy from Triax is on the RDI course with me, and he brought a load in for us. The UK factory is in Treorchy, Wales:)
 
The PROLINK 3+ are good meters and well supported.
 
I have got one of those Triax booklets Nano, as the Sales guy from Triax is on the RDI course with me, and he brought a load in for us. The UK factory is in Treorchy, Wales
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Yep i'm doing that course in April too :) Any idea how much its costs mate for the NVQ bit :confused:

The boss doesn't know it yet but hes paying for it :-rofl2

:-beer

Nano
 
I gather that the main focus of the RDI course is health and safety and very little on actual digital reception, the tail is starting to wag the dog. Only one potential customer has asked me if I have this NVQ and I think that was only because he's read on a newsgroup that he should ask the question. :-rofl2
 
I'm planning to disappear off to Australia in the next 2 years so i'm only after a few more qualification to make it look like i know what i'm doing :-rofl2
 
Oh no, reaching into wall cavities with funnel webs.:eek:
 
Don't think they have them in Tasmania :-rofl2

The area is more suited to my wifes line of work and to be honest i don't like it too hot. Might have had something to do with living in North East Scotland for 8 years. You get hardened to the cold
 
Won't bend the thread too much, but my mate Brian lives in Tasmania and loves it, had lived in Australia for 35 years previously.:)
 
rolfw said:
Yep, mentioned my laddermate in the earlier post.:)
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Doh! I thought you meant me in that gymnasium :)
 
I use Hilti drills a mains one that ive had since 1994, still going strong and a 36v battery drill . I havnt come across anything that can match them. i did have 3 bosch 24v drills when my first 36v hilti worn out but soon bought another hilti.
 
Channel Hopper said:
Doh! I thought you meant me in that gymnasium :)
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LOL, if I were doing that job again, I think I'd use a scissor lift, really didn't feel good working off the ladder.:)
 
anthonyrthomasuk said:
I use Hilti drills a mains one that ive had since 1994, still going strong and a 36v battery drill . I havnt come across anything that can match them. i did have 3 bosch 24v drills when my first 36v hilti worn out but soon bought another hilti.
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That has served you well. So far I have bought a bosch Hammer drill still need to get ladders harness, ropes and a meter.

I have booked myself onto a basic insallation course.

So all I need to do now is find a company who is willing to take on a enthusiastic beglearner!!
 
Heathrow Newbie said:
So all I need to do now is find a company who is willing to take on a enthusiastic beglearner!!
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Book yourself a Holiday to Lanzarote. You can do my work for a week and I´ll supervise. Same stuff just bigger dishes and about 20 degrees warmer.
You´ll have to drive so I can drink a few cold ones:-rofl2
 
LOL very good I will book my one way ticket! Hope you don't mind having us permently!
 
Yep i'm doing that course in April too :) Any idea how much its costs mate for the NVQ bit
confused.gif


The boss doesn't know it yet but hes paying for it
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I paid £150 for the course, the NVQ is free this year, but there will be an extra charge next year, so get him to book it early!:)

The course covers every thing not just health and safety.;)
 
I'm a subby (pity me), and I have the following

-24v GBH Bosch/spare battery (you'll need it)
-Horizon USB+ meter (2nd hand off ebay)
-Triple section 14ft ladders
-Two section CAT ladder (that never gets used...)
-Spinner (SDS bit adapter to fit a 13mm socet for expanding wall bolts)
-Pair of 6" cable cutters from Screwfix (stupid useful)
-13mm/10mm double ended ratchet spanner (dish bolts/expanding bolts in a jam) Teng Tools/Rolson do good ones
-Decent tool Belt (mines a roughneck from B&Q and serves me well
-Decent anti-vibration hammer (wall tacks are fu**ing annoying)

These are all the tools I use day in day out, and what I consider essential.

You'll also need a good workmate, because having someone to laugh with after a 3 hour lashing kit on the stack/b****** yuppie from hell install really helps make the day go faster.

A suicidal lack of fear, and a massive sense of humour will help.

You can make money doing this, but not if you like doing a decent job; the only one's making good money from subby work are cowboys.

So saddle up pa'dner!
 
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