SatHero SH-500G Satellite Meters

This ‘sat meter’ is more of a portable satellite receiver with some useful ‘installer’ features

Sathero’s SH-500G doesn’t feel quite as robust as we’d like, and the 7in 16:9 display screen is built into a rather flimsy plastic enclosure. An outer ‘jacket’ and neck strap are provided, offering some protection to the device, but care should still be taken not to drop the unit.

Next to the screen is a menu joypad, a set of function-dependent smart-keys and a series of LEDs that confirm signal lock, LNB voltage, 22kHz tone status and charging of the internal 2.6Ah lithium-ion battery pack.

Sathero SH-500G

On the side of the unit are a pair of ‘F’ connectors. One is connected to the LNB of the dish to be aligned, while the other provides a simple cable-test function. Connect one end of the cable to this, and the other to the LNB input. If all is well, a ‘cable OK’ message is displayed on-screen. Sadly, this second F connector does not support LNB loop though.

On top of the receiver are 3.5mm composite-video AV inputs and outputs. You can feed the meter’s screen from an external AV source, or use it as a receiver with an external TV. Reflecting this dual role, a remote handset is also provided; it’s an arguably of limited value for dish-alignment work! Operated without the jacket, a flip-out stand props up the unit for TV use.

Functions are arranged into installation (choosing and scanning satellites), system-setting (AV matters, date/timer, languages, measurement units and so on), channel-editing (deleting/moving channels and assigning favorites), satellite-specific angle calculation, motor configuration (DiSEqC 1.0/1.1/1.2/USALS are catered for) and finding (measurement) menus.

The look and feel of the menus is very similar to those of a budget FTA receiver. If you have experience of these, you’ll quickly get to grips with the SH-500G. This intuitive feel is perhaps just as well, considering the sparse nature of the accompanying instructions. Pressing the buttons through the clear plastic of the carrying case can, however, be awkward and is easier without.

On top of the receiver are 3.5mm composite-video AV inputs and outputs

Twin receivers

The SH-500G is, in fact, two satellite receivers in one. The first one fulfils the conventional role of receiving DVB-S transmissions (note that DVB-S2 signals can be measured, but not ‘decoded’). You can scan individual transponders or full satellites, and there’s a blind scan mode in addition to the usual auto, manual and network scans of all or FTA-only channels.

Also buried deep in the SH-500G’s innards, though, is a GPS receiver. This allows the ‘angle’ menu to calculate the elevation, azimuth and LNB skew angles for a given broadcast satellite at your specific location.

On the other hand, the Promax unit features a superb spectrum analyzer. There’s no such function here; metering or ‘finding’ functions are restricted to the usual ‘power’ (signal level, in dBV or dBm), carrier to noise ratio and bit-error rate of the currently-selected transponder.

An internal speaker, needed for conventional FTA-only ‘receiver’ operation, also provides audible confirmation of signal level (something the Promax doesn’t offer). The frequency of its ‘bipping’ increases with signal level, enabling you to peak the dish without having to stare at the screen.

SH-500G suffers from the same design inadequacy that we met on the SH-200 a couple of issues back

Unfortunately, the SH-500G suffers from the same design inadequacy that we met on the SH-200 a couple of issues back. Its charger connects via a USB-type terminal, but delivers 14.5 volts of DC as opposed to the 5 volts enshrined in the USB standard.

This means you cannot use a computer’s USB port to recharge the unit and, were you to accidentally plug the SH-500G charger into a ‘true’ USB port, damage is almost inevitable. The USB port also allows the firmware and spreadsheet-format channel databases to be updated via a comparatively-slow serial interface, but the necessary cable is provided.

Verdict

This aside, the SH-500G acquitted itself well. It’s responsive in use, and changes to settings can be made ‘on the fly’. The channel-finding functions were speedy, while the blind-scan and ‘stand-alone’ receiver functions will certainly appeal to enthusiasts. We obtained just under three hours of continuous operation, which correlates to the manufacturer’s spec.

The channel-finding functions were speedy, while the blind-scan and ‘stand-alone’ receiver functions will certainly appeal to enthusiasts

Features §  RF connections: Chassis F-plugs for input and ‘test’ §  Other connections: Non-standard USB (firmware updates, charger) §  Freq range: 950-2150MHz §  LNB compatibility: User definable local-oscillator frequency, 22kHz switching, 13/18V polarity §  Signal metering: Level (audible confirmation, level in dBV or dBM) C/N ratio, BER §  Dish alignment: GPS-powered angle calculator, DiSEqC 1.0/1.1/1.2/USUALS §  Symbol rate: 2Msps – 45Msps §  Accuracy: Not specified §  Battery life: 3 hours from user-replaceable 2550mAh lithium-ion pack §  Memory: 16MB (at least 100 satellites and 3000 channels!) §  Weight: 0.6kg §  Dimensions: 210x125x35mm Ratings Plus §  Very easy to use §  Channel monitoring works well §  Metering of practical value §  Good value for money Minus §  Non-standard ‘USB’ §  Not robust enough for serious professional use §  No LNB loop through §  Cannot view DVB-S2 channels §  Build: 7/10 §  Setup: 8/10 §  Searching: 8/10 §  Navigation: 8/10 §  Performance: 8/10 §  Features: 9/10 §  Value: 8/10 §  Overall: 8.2/10