TEST REPORT Satellite Meter SPAROS SAT HD of SPAUN

• very sensitive tuner • easy recognition of satellite name • accepts INI files from popular satellite charts • compares very favorable to high-end signal analyzers • expansive ways to export measurement data

34 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/2012 — TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine 35 TEST REPORT Satellite Meter

Uncompromising Performance

The SPAUN SPAROS SAT HD comes in robust plastic enclosure. Thanks to that, the meter will not get broken even if you treat it without big re- spect. The enclosure is very handsome and when you attach a strap included in the kit, you can conveniently hang the analyzer on your neck. When opened, the lid can be used as a shade protecting the display from sunlight. Addition- ally, the internal side of the lid is an excellent place to look for the foiled paper with SPAUN‘s quick start instructions for this model. SPAROS SAT HD has been equipped with a very clear 4.3” TFT liquid crystal display with a bright backlit. There are 8 buttons and a round “tuning knob”. As you probably guessed already, it is not a mechanical knob but an array of sensors that can detect your clockwise and anticlockwise fin- ger movements. The three buttons to the left of the “knob” in the upper row are: ON/OFF switch, Parameter menu (transponder lists) and Setup menu. The lower row is used to choose analyzer modes: Spectrum, Measurement and TV watch- ing. The remaining two buttons to the right of

04-05/2012 SPAROS SAT HD Very useful meter for setting up critical satellite systems

36 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com 1 6

the “knob” are: Enter and an F type connector, there all this is done with a USB the analyzer to spectrum Escape. Except for the dis- are: A-type USB port, Mini-B memory stick. You can also mode (the leftmost button in play and the controls, there USB port and DC power in- download the measurement the bottom row) and change are two LED indicators: one put jack on the right side of results or screenshots from the azimuth and elevation of showing that power is ap- the meter. The USB port can the meter to the USB stick. your dish until you see signal plied to the LNB and the be used to upload either new In this way, you can process peaks on the display. Fine other to indicate that the in- firmware or new configura- the data later on your PC. tune your dish to maximize ternal accumulator is being tion files (with transponder The SPAROS SAT HD comes the peaks. Your antenna is charged. data and antenna setups) with a USB stick containing now receiving a satellite but Except for the RF input with prepared on a PC. Of course, the initial configuration files which one? To find it out, 2 7 11 that match those prepro- press the Spectrum button grammed in the meter. More again. Spectrum disappears about it later. As expected, a and you can see a chart plug type AC/DC adapter is showing signal strength and also included in the SAT HD quality of four transpond- kit. ers of one satellite. Satellite So, how should you start name is shown in the upper using the SPAROS SAT HD? part of the window. If your Here is our advice for a sim- dish is aimed at this satellite, ple fixed antenna setup. you will see high green qual- Once you have mounted your ity bars and a merry green dish on a pole and attached smiley icon. If not, the bars a LNB to its holder, connect indicating signal quality will 3 8 12 the analyzer to the LNB. Af- be low or completely empty ter switching the SPAROS and the smiley icon will be SAT HD on, go to Configura- sad and red. In such situa- tion menu and change “Sat. tion, press enter button and remote supply” from Off to use the “knob” to change On or Auto. The latter set- satellite. Continue until you ting is advised if you do not find out which satellite your want to repeat the action dish is presently directed to. every time you switch your Once you know where analyzer on. The remaining your dish is “looking at”, you settings in the Configura- know if you need to move it tion menu will be probably eastward or westward. For OK for most users setting a example, if you want to re- 4 9 13 fixed dish in Europe as they ceive EUROBIRD 2 on 28.2° are prepared for a universal East and you have just dis- Ku-Band LNB. covered with SPAROS SAT The next step is to switch HD that your dish is currently 1. Spectrum view 2. DVB-S transponder measurement results – first window 3. DVB-S transponder measurement results – second window 4. DVB-S transponder constellation diagram (QPSK) 5. DVB-S2 transponder measurement results – first window 6. DVB-S2 transponder measurement results – second window 7. DVB-S2 transponder constellation diagram (8PSK) 8. MPEG-2 video decoded 9. Every FTA channel from the current transponder can be selected 5 10 14 for viewing 10. No, your antenna is not presently aimed at 10-02 on 1° West; SPAROS SAT HD could not lock to anyone of four trans- ponders from this satellite. 11. Correct! Your antenna is directed to HOTBIRD on 13° East. SPAROS managed to lock to all four transponders associated with this satellite. After another button press, the analyzer double chec- ked its diagnosis by comparing information transmitted in the NIT tables of the transponders (see the pop-up in the foreground). 12. In this menu, you can configure SPAROS to work with almost any reception system. 13. This window is used for setting up meter user interface and managing meter memories and software. 14. All transponders associated with a preprogrammed reception setup (e.g. DiSEqC 1.0 switch and four LNBs) are being measured. The results can be stored in the internal memory and later copied to an external USB Flash memory.

38 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/2012 — TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine 39 aimed at HOTBIRD 13° East, way, after a short while, you Press Enter key when the urement button again and you know that you should will have your dish aimed at word Setup is highlighted at display the next window in turn it 15 degrees eastward. EUROBIRD 2 on 28.2° East. the top your screen. This will which among others, MER Switch the analyzer back to Does it end the process? activate transponder switch- is shown (the very bottom spectrum mode (by pressing Not exactly. We are sure ing. Now turn the “knob” and line). Modulation Error Ratio spectrum button twice) and that after spending money find a transponder that gives is the parameter you should turn slowly your dish east- on a signal analyzer, you rather high readings of RF maximize. Usually it is both ward until you see again sig- would like to have each of power and C/N ratio. Some very sensitive to azimuth, nal peaks. Adjust azimuth, your dishes set up perfect- installers would start mak- elevation and tilt adjust- elevation and tilt for maxi- ly. So, it is time to switch ing the final dish adjustment ment as well as quite stable. mum peak height and check to measurement mode now looking at this screen but It is our favorite parameter which satellite it is. In this (Measurement button). we suggest to press Meas- when we fine tune antenna

40 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com 15 19

16 20

adjustment. When maximiz- ers for each of them. The And what about the other but it is called SConf.xls. In ing MER, you will notice that analyzer we got for the test configuration file? Well, it is its first spreadsheet tab, it you are maximizing the oth- had in its memory as well as a little bit more complex. Ex- can contain up to 1000 tran- er green bars too. And, as a in the corresponding file 10 cept for identifying satellites sponders from as many sat- matter of fact, that‘s all you European satellites as in the based on their four tran- ellites as you need. On the do to set your dish. table below. sponders, SPAROS SAT HD following twenty tabs, you The SPAROS SAT HD what Four transponders are de- can measure a larger num- store configuration data for we got for this was prepro- fined for each satellite (fre- ber of their transponders and specific reception systems. grammed by SPAUN with the quency, polarization, DVB-S show the results in a form of So, for example, the list data of a few popular Euro- or S2, symbol rate). As you a table. Such table can be Lst00 can contain the tran- pean satellites. SPAUN also already know, these tran- stored in memory as well sponders numbers referring 17 added a USB memory stick sponders are used by the as exported to USB stick for only to the transponders with the MS Excel configura- SPAROS SAT HD for satellite further processing. This fea- from ASTRA 1 (fixed anten- tion files that you can edit, identification. If, for exam- ture can be useful to check na, no DiSEqC commands convert to CSV format and ple, one of the transponders if the reception system can needed), while the list Lst02 upload to the meter‘s inter- is switched off and no longer receive various transpond- can be dedicated for a 2-sat- nal memory. The analyzer transmits, you need to re- ers of different frequencies ellites setup and contain does not accept XLS files di- place its data with another and polarizations. Some the transponder numbers rectly. one which is active. Once you reception systems require from ASTRA 1 and HOT- SPAUN prepared two edit the XLS file, you should DiSEqC commands to switch BIRD along with the DiSEqC spreadsheet files. The first execute a built-in Excel mac- between satellite and we can commands: Position A or file, called Sat.xls, contains ro, and a corresponding CSV order the SPAROS SAT HD Position B. So when the in- a list of all satellites that you file will be generated which to do that by putting the pa- staller has a customer hav- want SPAROS to be able to when stored on the USB rameters in the second con- ing a popular setup with a 21 identify along with the cor- stick can be imported to the figuration file. monoblock LNB for ASTRA responding four transpond- meter. This is really simple! It is also an MS Excel file 1 and HOTBIRD, he makes

15. Editable list of all satellites and transponders preprogrammed in the SPAROS SAT HD internal memory Satellite name Orbital position Orientation 18 16. One of many possible configurations preprogrammed in the TURKSAT 2 42 E meter's internal memory; this exemplary setup is for the ASTRA/ HOTBIRD reception system with a DiSEqC 1.0 switch ASTRA 2 28.2 E 17. Another configuration file stores the information about which ASTRA 3 23.5 E four transponders of a given satellite should be used when reco- gnizing antenna alignment ASTRA 1 19.2 E 18. Spectrum view can be stored and later copied to a USB stick as a graphic file EUTEL W2 16 E 19. Spectrum view can also be stored as an CSV file containing list 13 E of values; after converting it to a spreadsheet file, you can do your own chart INTL 10 02 1 W 20. Transponders assigned to a preprogrammed reception setup ATLANTIC 3 5 W (here: fixed antenna aimed at TURKSAT 42° East) can be saved as BMP graphics... ATLANTIC 2 8 W 21…or a CSV file that can be opened by any spreadsheet applica- HISPASAT 30 W tion and processed or charted as needed.

42 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com www.TELE-satellite.com — 04-05/2012 — TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine 43 SPAROS SAT HD measure learn how to download the tons. But we discovered that And thanks to that, we dis- the system with the use of INI files and import them to our worries were completely covered the strongest point Lst02 configuration. No need the Excel spreadsheet. unjustified. Menu structure of SPAROS SAT HD. It locked to enter transponders data The SPAROS SAT HD can is very logical and not too without any problem even or DiSEqC commands manu- do more than what we de- deep. And we were especial- to very weak signals and as ally – the analyzer will know scribed so far. Except for ly delighted with the opera- well as signals with very low what to do to measure the identifying a satellite based tion of the “tunning knob”. It symbol rates. Despite being transponders from two sat- on its four transponders, it was fast and precise at the apparently more powerful, ellites. SConf.xls can contain can read the NIT table and same time. There is really its competitors were unable up to 50 transponders in in this way double check no need for a numerical key- to lock to many signals that each configuration list (Lst0 identification. The analyzer pad with such well designed SPAROS SAT HD processed through Lst19). Similarly as can measure all parameters “knob”. smoothly. See the attached Sat.xls, SConf.xls is editable of a particular transponder, You can not fully evalu- charts with MER results. MER and generates a CSV files for show its constellation dia- ate an analyzer if you do not zero reading means that the SPAROS when an Excel mac- grams and decode and dis- compare it with competitive meter was unable to lock. ro is invoked. play video and audio of FTA instruments. So we did it. We The tuner of SPAROS SAT HD But what to do if we want to channels. It can export the chose two high class, multi- is really brilliant! add more satellites or more measurement results to CSV purpose analyzers (satellite/ When you compare chan- transponders – is a manual as well as BMP files. It can terrestrial/cable) with large nel power results, you will entry the only option? No! even export spectrum views graphical displays as our see that SPAROS SAT HD is You can download from the as graphics (BMP) as well references to which we com- quite close to other meters INI files containing as CSV files. Such CSV file pared the performance of the and its results are rather transponder data for every when imported to MS Excel SPAROS SAT HD. TURKSAT higher than lower than its possible satellite. They are can be used for creating your satellite on 42° East was our competitors. The other available on the pages with own charts. test signal source. We used charts presents MER read- satellite charts like for ex- At the beginning, we were a 90 cm dish which does not ings. Here you can see how ample www.satbeams.com. worried that it would be dif- give very strong signal from many transponders were If you follow the instruction ficult to operate SAPROS SAT that satellite at our test lo- receivable for the SPAROS in the user guide, you will HD because it has few but- cation in Western Poland. SAT HD but not for the oth- er analyzers (zero result in our chart). Please note, that except for TURKSAT tran- sponders, we also included one strong transponder from ASTRA1 (11436 MHz, verti- cal). With such strong signal, SPAROS measured visibly higher MER what also proves how good and noiseless its tuner is. Initially, we were con- cerned that the lack of blind- scan might be regarded as a drawback. But when we saw that its competitors having the blindscan feature can not lock to many low SR signals, we changed our mind. Tak- ing transponders data from INI files (instead of trying to blindscan them) can be quite a reasonable approach. However, there is one thing SPAUN could improve. If it happens that there is a non-receivable transponder on your list, SPAROS will end up with “Sync?” results in the transponder list. Howev- er, it takes a long while be- fore the SAT HD decides that

44 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com it is unable to receive such pleting the measurements of meter, which does a perfect tant feature, when you are transponder. In our opinion, the whole transponder list is job in aligning dishes. We es- in the process of aligning a it tries too long to lock to the quite fast. pecially liked its highly sensi- dish and keep getting weak signal. Of course, if all tran- The SPAUN SPAROS SAT tive tuner, which could lock signals until you finally found sponder are receivable, com- HD is a powerful satellite in to weak signals. An impor- the right focus.

TECHNICAL DATA Manufacturer SPAUN electronic GmbH & Co. KG, Germany Expert Opinion Web www.spaun.com Extremely useful for demanding installers E-mail [email protected] dealing with DX setups due to its exceptional Phone +49-7731-8673-0 tuner capable of receiving very weak tran- +49-7731-8673-17 sponders with low SR Very good operation of the “tunning knob” Model SPAROS SAT HD Brilliant LCD Function / and DSS Signal Analyzer Convenient method of configuration with Jacek Pawlowski Input frequency 950-2150 MHz TELE-satellite + easily available and up-to-date INI files Test Center Input power level 40-120dBµV Possibility to store and export numerical Poland Spectrum analyzer span values 0, 10 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 1200 MHz results as well as graphics, spectrum views and data Symbol rate 1-45 Ms/sec The installer can pre-program the meter for typical installa- Video decoder MPEG2 and MPEG4 tions (like ASTRA1/HOTBIRD) and later execute all the meas- DiSEqC 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 urements with minimal effort Battery operation time ca. 2.5 hours Dimensions 192 x 200 x 102 mm none – Weight 1.5 kg

46 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 04-05/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com