Today's email from tech tool supply, [Link: techtoolsupply.com], pushes a $90 meter. But what do I really need to get to be able to just dial in a dish, whether SWM or standard multiswitch? What are the latest, or the continuing best, models from the point of views of performance and price? And I clearly understand that I might get one or the other, not both!

Thanks in advance.

I would get the Applied Instruments Super Buddy 29 or the DirecTV AIM.

[Link: appliedin.com]

[Link: solidsignal.com])

[Link: techtoolsupply.com]

The guys around here like this one. It knows exactly which bird it is looking at so you can tweak the 99/103 and it measures down to 1/10 of a point. Not cheap though.

Heres the US version of the UK version I use, may be overkill for what you need but this thing sings and dances swell.

I've never used one of the Birdog units but I've heard they're nice.

Maybe someone with some experience with it will chime in.....

[Link: perfect-10.tv]

Jeez
I remember when I would aim both Dish and Directv all day with a $100 Digisat meter. Things have changed!

heck, back in the day you would open a windown, turn the TV speakers loud and listen for the beeps. That doesn't work anymore :-(

I let the Directv guy do it.

we have a Super Buddy.
[Link: appliedin.com]

Ernie,

Most guys either use a super buddy or a Birddog.   They're roughly $500.  meters.  

However, I have one (BirdDog), still in excellent working condition that I haven't used in years.  If you need it and are interested, shoot me a PM I'll give you a great deal on it.

It makes workign with the new 3-5lnb dishes awfully easy.

I'm curious do you guys use the non-SWM 4 output 5 LNB unit to aim the dish, then switch it out with the SWM LNB?

I use a Accutrac III+ unit that I got from solidsignal.com and have yet to figure out how to measure a SWM signal, so I just keep a 4 output 5 LNB head in my truck to use for aiming then switch it out with a SWM head.

I also just leave the side to side adjustment at the middle and don't fuss with the dithering measurement. So far I haven't had a problem. I'll have to check if there is a firmware upgrade for my meter.

DirecTV has a video on their installer training site that illustrates just how far off you will be if you don't do the dithering process. (And you will be off!) They use a laser assembly shooting at a large graph about 50 feet away and demonstrate both with and without the dithering process. Now multiply that variance by the distance between you and the satellite and you'll understand just how bad it is off. The dithering process is incredibly important, and will only become more so as time goes on. It doesn't really take a lot of extra time to do it correctly (about two minutes once you get the hang of it), so why wouldn't you?

Likewise, swapping out the LNB assembly isn't a good idea. The new assembly is now no longer as accurately aimed and adjusted as the previous one.

I know the Accutrac III+ is SWM compatible for both the SL3S and SL5S single wire LNBs but I've not used one. Time to dig the manual out and learn how to do it properly!

Yes.

I use a bird dog that supports the swm lnb