Sat Meters

[Mike4t]

Anyone got any views on the merits of these two units

Lacuna North/South Satellite meter

and

Horizon V2 Digital Sat meter,

Does anyone have one and using in southern Costa Blanca, >??and are there any significant advantages on one over the other

Mike

 

[rolfw]

Do you mean this one http://www.lacunasystems.co.uk/satmeter.htm

and this one http://www.horizonhge.com/hge/hdsm.shtm ?

If so, there probably isn't much between them, I would probably go for the Horizon though, I have never used either but have seen both in action at the various shows. Whether they have the sensitivity for use in fringe locations, I'm not sure.

 

[dxsat]

I have the Lacuna with the North/South dataset loaded. The sensitivity can be adjusted to cope with fringe reception. For setting up Sky in Spain it works fine, but it is hard to visually average out the signal quality as it is metered in real time- the bars go up and down very quickly.
I've encountered two problems- short battery life and it can't tell the difference between Astra One and Two- quite a serious shortcoming. I metered a signal from a 70 cm dish receiving a signal from Astra 1( I also had it up on a TV as well, as the LNB was a quad) and the meter correctly identified 19 degrees Astra but it also told me it was reciving Astra 2D- obviously completely impossible on this size dish in Madrid.
I've yet to get a satisfactory explanation from the dealer who sold it to me- it's possible it is a faulty unit.

 

[bignick]

I have a Lacuna which I am very happy with except that the batteries don't last that long & you can't programme in certain transponders which is a pain when fine tuning for certain channel groups.


I also have a promax prodig which I believe you can programme the transponders into (unfortunately I don't have a copy of the software app that will allow you to do it - anyone got a copy?). It might be worth considering this one also.

Cheers

Nick

 

[Mike4t]

OK thanks for Info,, couple of additional questions,, Can you actual programme to see 2D and transponders on the Lacuna,, as I didnt see that info on any of the Sales sites or the Lacuna site,>..//

And bignick, can you post site for info the Promax Prodig,, I;ll do a search anyway,,
Thanks all
Mike

 

[dxsat]

On the Lacuna you have a choice of three data sets intended for different types of installation in Europe.It is loaded onto the meter using a special program and lead from your PC (not Macintosh).
On the Europe set Astra 2D is available as a separate satellite to find and measure signal strength, though you cannot choose specific frequencies.
I have the North/South set installed on mine, which is sadly going back to the manufacterers as it has a fault stopping the charger from working properly.
Tech support have admitted that there is an issue of common frequencies on Astra 1 and 2 which can cause the meter to become confused.
If you can find a unit where the charger works properly, (check it charges both boost and trickle) it works well for Astra 2 installers in Spain.

 

[bignick]

Here is the link for the Promax: http://www.promaxprolink.com/prodig1.htm

As the post above says, you can see astra 2d low beams (vertical & Horizontal) but you can't choose the transponders. Fortunately the North/South software pack will show Astra2d horizontal Low out here on smaller dishes, but I have no idea which transponder it finds!

OK thanks for Info,, couple of additional questions,, Can you actual programme to see 2D and transponders on the Lacuna,, as I didnt see that info on any of the Sales sites or the Lacuna site,>..//

And bignick, can you post site for info the Promax Prodig,, I;ll do a search anyway,,
Thanks all
Mike

 

[sat200]

hi there i have both the satellite one hdsm and hdtm i find them both very good and the battrie lasts ages on them i would recommend them

Anyone got any views on the merits of these two units

Lacuna North/South Satellite meter

and

Horizontal V2 Digital Sat meter,

Does anyone have one and using in southern Costa Blanca, >??and are there any significant advantages on one over the other

Mike

 

[trigger]

Just a quick note

The lacuna meter

There are certain suppliers in the UK that supply this meter at different prices depending on wether it is standard or North/South. As far as I'm aware it is the same meter but with different software. Buy from a supplier and make sure you get the data cable and you can update the software you want yourself and probably save 25 quid.

Does anyone know if when you do update the software the user settings are lost? I have had to adjust the meter levels as am in a fringe area for 2D. Its taken quite a few installs to get it how I want it and don't want to loose the settings.

Thanks

Stay warm

 

[bignick]

Hi

I can confirm that the only difference between the meters is the software installed when supplied. When mine came in it had UK Multisat set on it and I had no download cable. Making up a cable was simple. I just cut off the lead from an old PS2 keyboard and connected to a D socket that I got from a local store see http://www.lacunasystems.com/leadpinout.htm for details. Total cost = £1.25. Does the same job as the £25 download lead!!!

I have no idea what would happen to the settings if you updated the software.

Cheers

Nick

Just a quick note

The lacuna meter

There are certain suppliers in the UK that supply this meter at different prices depending on wether it is standard or North/South. As far as I'm aware it is the same meter but with different software. Buy from a supplier and make sure you get the data cable and you can update the software you want yourself and probably save 25 quid.

Does anyone know if when you do update the software the user settings are lost? I have had to adjust the meter levels as am in a fringe area for 2D. Its taken quite a few installs to get it how I want it and don't want to loose the settings.

Thanks

Stay warm

 

[remlap]

Hi try out this software it might suit your needs http://www.ssi-iraq.com/software/satmeter3.zip

 

[bignick]

Thanks for the link......I emailed the company and got the software from http://home.promax.es/ftp/Zips/SH106.zip


Cheers

Nick

Hi try out this software it might suit your needs http://www.ssi-iraq.com/software/satmeter3.zip

 

[bigkenny]

Anyone got any views on the merits of these two units

Lacuna North/South Satellite meter

and

Horizontal V2 Digital Sat meter,

Does anyone have one and using in southern Costa Blanca, >??and are there any significant advantages on one over the other

Mike

to put a spanner in the works what about the Rover range (what sky now use)

 

[sat man]

Hi mike ,

I live north of benidorm and I install using the Horizon meter. I have a special prog in the meter for ultra fine tuning etc. The tech support from the boy's at Horizon is first class and I would thoroughly recommend their kit.
What 2.4 do you have Portuguses or Turkish ?

Hope this is useful

 

[mysteronuk]

Not actually replying really but have just purchased a Mini digital System and, being ne to Satellites do not know what is meant by Astra1 28º East etc. means!

Can anyone recommend a Web site?

Thanks

Ron

 

[Llew]

Mysteronuk, don't hijack a thread unconnected with your query. Start another one!

Astra 28E is the cluster of satellites bringing you, mainly, Sky channels.

See www.Lyngsat.com for info on these and other satellites.

Llew

 

[mysteronuk]

Sorry, but am new to this sort of thing and couldn't find my way to open a new thread!

Ron

 

[Llew]

Just go to the section you want, and click on 'New Thread'.

BTW, welcome to the forum!

Llew

 

[Rob]

Hi mike ,

I live north of benidorm and I install using the Horizon meter. I have a special prog in the meter for ultra fine tuning etc. The tech support from the boy's at Horizon is first class and I would thoroughly recommend their kit.
What 2.4 do you have Portuguses or Turkish ?

Hope this is useful

Don't think he will find this very useful as he posted nearly two year's ago.

Still better late than never.

 

[geoffrey]

I have been told that the Horizon HDSM meter needs a C/N ratio of at least 3.5dB to lock signals. My Skybox does better than this. Can any users of this meter please say what they have found to be the lowest C/N at which they have got a lock.