Do you “really” need a satellite meter?

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A lot of people look at the price of our DIRECTV AIM meter and ask the same question: “Do I really need that?” After all, that’s a pretty big chunk of change to spend on something you won’t use every day.

Here’s the answer. It really depends on how much you value your time. Check out these three scenarios:

Without any satellite meter at all:

You can go to dishpointer.com or use the basic settings in your receiver. Then you can use the built-in meter in your satellite receiver, but it takes about 10 seconds between each change before you can be sure you’re making the right moves. If you’re a novice, plan on taking 2-3 hours the first time you align a simple round dish or 4-5 hours the first time you align an HD dish. If you get good at it, this method could have you up and running in 30-45 minutes.

With a simple satellite finder

We do sell much less expensive signal finders like this one. They only measure signal level and you can’t be sure what satellite they’ve actually locked on to. They’re also completely useless for DIRECTV SWM and even DIRECTV HD signals. They’ll get you started and then you can use the receiver’s built-in meters from there. In my estimation they’ll save you 30-45 minutes the first time and maybe 20 minutes after that. So as long as you’re trying to align a DISH system or a round DIRECTV dish you’ll probably be ok with this method, after all 20-30 minutes isn’t too bad to align a dish. I honestly don’t ever recommend these to anyone. They’re inexpensive, but why waste even one dollar?

With a really good signal meter

A meter like our AIM 2.o will power the dish for you, meaning that it can be used completely without a receiver even on DIRECTV SWM systems. It will identify the DIRECTV satellites, even the reverse band beams that are used on DIRECTV’s newest satellites. You can be sure you’re getting the right signal because it will lock in and won’t give you false readings. It’s still going to take about 1-2 hours the first time you do it, but an experienced person with a good meter can peak a dish, even an HD dish, in 20 minutes or less. That’s the benefit of using a good tool

You see, it depends on what value you give to your own time. If you feel like your time isn’t worth a lot or you just aren’t going to be aiming your dish that much then you might feel like skipping the meter is a good bet. However, if you really want that perfect aim or if you’re the sort of person who goes out tailgating every weekend… that’s another whole thing. You’re definitely going to want that meter with you when you’re working. Trust me… you can never goi wrong using a good tool.

Get the meters and accessories you need from Solid Signal

Shop Solid Signal for the same parts and accessories that DIRECTV techs have on their trucks. We have the best selection at the best prices. Not sure what you need? No problem! We have a fully trained tech staff on site at our Detroit-area corporate offices. Just call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. Or, just fill out the form and we’ll get back to you!

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.