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Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9610

Posted: 01:23am 11 Jun 2020

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Hello everyone.

I am looking for one of those portable DTV testing meter things. It has to be accurate and reliable. I know you can get cheap(around US$300) meters on eBay etc, but I want something of good quality that will last for a long time in service.

Last time I looked for a professional one, they were a few grand each, so that should give you the kind of quality range I want.

Problem is, I don't really know where to look now.

My old meter was a Salter meter for analogue TV with just a single needle-meter for measuring signal levels, and it served me very well, but analogue is gone now(so this poor old-faithful meter is useless), and I need one that can be used for digital TV.

I primarily want something that can be used on a MATV/CATV head-end based distributed systems, and that you can setup the unit to be able to look at ALL the transponder signals at once. This lets you know if one transponder is higher or lower in strength then the others etc. Most quality meters have that as a standard feature.

Does anyone have any suggestions for makes or models, and where to get them?
Ideally from a New Zealand supplier would be good, but happy to import if I have to.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

panky

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Joined: 02/10/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 1114

Posted: 05:26am 11 Jun 2020

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@Grogster

This any good for you?

... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it!

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9610

Posted: 05:45am 11 Jun 2020

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I have one almost exactly the same as that one, but they are cheap and unreliable in the field. I need something LIKE that, but of much better build-quality.

For example, the one I have like that, often gives readings that jump all over the place, giving the impression that the signal levels are up and down and not right.

When I borrowed a professional meter from a chum in the trade, they are ROCK-SOLID where they should be. That meter was about five grand when they bought it.

I'm afraid those cheapies simply don't cut the mustard for reliable readings in the field. They DO give you a rough idea, but I need precision too.

Thanks for the link anyway.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6283

Posted: 06:29am 11 Jun 2020

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Unaohm T40
not cheap but was very popular a few years ago.

Jim

VK7JH
MMedit

ryanm
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Joined: 25/09/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 203

Posted: 10:05am 11 Jun 2020

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Quote I know you can get cheap(around US$300)

I look after all the accomodation services in my suburb with a $30 unit and a multimeter. Puzzle sovling keeps the mind agile...

panky

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Joined: 02/10/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 1114

Posted: 11:45am 11 Jun 2020

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@Grogster

Quote I have one almost exactly the same as that one, but they are cheap and unreliable in the field. I need something LIKE that, but of much better build-quality.

The Satking unit, the SK-9000, is from an Australian company and sold through dealers here Satking (and possible through a NZ dealer too). Although your experience above has not been very good, maybe an email to the company, specifying your stability concerns might be worthwhile? The price is not too bad and local (just over the dutch) support should be a bonus.

Good luck,
panky

... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it!

Quazee137

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Joined: 07/08/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 593

Posted: 12:14pm 11 Jun 2020

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Don't know if they'd have a firmware update for your unit. I used a buddy's
different type of meter made for state side and it was all over for the day.
Then next few days rock solid. He found and update and it was rock solid after
he applied it. How most any thing these days have some kind of CPU at its heart.

I would have liked to peek in side but cost too much for that.

P.S. had a look at the SatKing SK9000 manual and it uses as USB stick to upgrade.
Edited 2020-06-11 22:23 by Quazee137

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9610

Posted: 11:18pm 11 Jun 2020

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Thanks chums.

Pretty sure the SatKing 9000 is what I have now, and am not all that happy with.
I am looking for it now, but I stopped using it cos it was giving unreliable readings, and now I can't remember where I stashed it!!! �

EDIT: Found my one! �It is a SatLink WS-6979. �I will look for an updated firmware for this one anyway - something to do. �I cannot find what the current version is in the unit, as it does not seem to tell me that anywhere in any of the menus.... �

Edited 2020-06-12 15:17 by Grogster

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

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