Antenna man signal meter

General Discussion
1

just saw on his channel he will be selling a fifty dollar plus tariff private label meter

1 Like
2
1 Like
3

Looks a lot like this box.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806889809419.html
https://www.alibaba.com/product-introduction/Junuo-Factory-ATSC-Digital-TV-BOX_60474995337.html

2 Likes
4

While I will admit, that box on Ali looks very similar, I think that is just a STB TV converter. I don’t see any mention of it including a meter.

I would bet that Tyler is getting his from the same factory, but had it configured specifically with the Signal Meter functions, and then had it branded. I’ve had some dealings with him, and he seems like a stand up guy. If he is promoting this, I trust he would stand behind it. With that, he deserves to make some money with it, and his price is no outrageous. Hopefully, he took these new tariffs into consideration. I may get one.

4 Likes
5

I remember several months ago he asked for input on such an item from his YouTube channel. He said he was thinking about this so I mentioned that it should have an audible ping that increased or decreased in pitch or frequency when the signal got better or worse, so you didn’t have to look at the meter when adjusting the antenna. Don’t know if that made it into this product, but it’d be a nice feature to have.

1 Like
6

That would be a great feature. I hope it does.

7

It looks very similar to the Mediasonic DVR that he’s recommended as a signal meter for a few years. I’ll be interested in what differences there are.

With that said, I don’t think Tyler is ripping anyone off. It’s only $49.99 and he’s offering personal support to the first purchasers of the product.

The Mediasonic, that Tyler previously recommended, helped me to finds exactly the right location for my indoor antenna. I know most people recommend an outdoor antenna. In my location, that wasn’t necessary to receive my local channels.

Hopefully, this will encourage more people to get a signal meter and stop guessing where to place their antenna.

8

I’m glad I live if “flat” Texas, so tower maps more or less just work. Good enough to figure out “where to point”. But I know that things get weird depending on ability to trust straight lines. There are apps for that on your phone that will show that pretty sell with regards to orientation.

In a lot of cases, an antenna goes, where it goes and in some of those cases, there is minimal adjustment to orientation that can be made effectively. In some of those cases such a device could be interesting because you know you’re not going to get “the ideal”, so you may see various differences based on the “less than ideal” orientation choices you’re stuck with.

9

I still think the best tool would be to have a function in the settings of the tablo that could show the signal strength in the app on your phone or tablet. Climb up on your roof, open the app, adjust antenna. It doesn’t seem practical just having the signal strength shown on the tv screen.

5 Likes
10

We have this outside of Tablo, family calls it “dad”.

Edit: Some say “dad” is free, others say it costs way too much.

3 Likes
11

Yup. The “Yell when the picture’s clear” app.

1 Like
12

I’m hopeful that Tablo is looking into adding this feature. If you think about it, most considering using a network-connected gateway device to stream OTA programming in the home is at least a power user and a basic signal meter is insufficient for the level of testing desired to set things up to our liking.

1 Like
13

I think most of us here are the forum would be considered ‘power users’ but that is not Tablo’s target market. If you look at their marketing, it really makes it seem like it is an off-the-shelf consumer product, especially the version bundled with the mudflap.

I recommend Tablo to plenty of people, but I make sure they understand what it takes to get the most out of it, and that does involve some effort.

14

I think it is one of those Mediasonic tuners, but possibly with slightly customized software with more of a focus on the meter? I have one, but haven’t used it in a long time. Maybe the meter shows up by default instead of having to hit some extra keys?

15

Looking at the video, it looks exactly like the Mediasonic DVR with the software modified so the signal meter comes up immediately.

I’m not saying that’s bad. The Mediasonic device helped me to finds the right place for my indoor antenna. As you said, I haven’t used it in a long time. Once I found the right spot, there hasn’t been a reason to use it.

16

I have to agree with khaver, having the signal strength displayed on the TV is useful for indoor antennas, but is not that helpful for those of us with an outdoor antenna. It would take three people for me to use that device: one on the roof to point the antenna, one near the TV to see the signal strength display, and a third person half way between the other two to relay the information (my TV is too far away from the antenna).

It would be much more practical to have the signal strength displayed on a device outside, right at the antenna.

17

Here’s how you could use the Antenna Man’s device for a rooftop antenna. Buy one of those cheap WiFi security cameras that send video to an app on your phone. I found a used one at Goodwill for $10. Point it at the tv screen, open the app, and adjust the antenna.

18

When I set up my antenna I used an HD Homerun tuner and the Signal GH app on my iPhone. I was able to see real-time the signal strength on four channels simultaneously. (The HDHR was a 4-tuner.) So for those with an HDHR and an iPhone, the Signal GH app is a bargain at $5 or so, and solves the aiming problem easily. Standing on a ladder I could rotate the antenna mast to the ideal direction. Unfortunately, the app is available for only iPhone, iPad and Apple TV and works with only an HD Homerun tuner.

19

@khaver I had a similar idea. Use my wife’s iPhone to send live camera video to my iPhone (there are apps for that).

20

All day! All the time!