Lexium

TEST REPORT Satellite Meter LEXIUM

LEXIUM
FastAlign
5110Pro
Professional
Digital
Satellite Meter
• LEXIUM’s Newest Satellite Meter Innovation
• Three-digit azimuth indication
• Quick Sweep Technology Prevents Missing
Target Satellite
• QuickRecovery Software Restores Meter to
Factory Defaults
• Direct Replacement for the LEXIUM 5100Pro

74 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 09-10/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com www.TELE-satellite.com — 09-10/2012 — TELE-satellite International — 全球发行量最大的数字电视杂志 75

TEST REPORT Satellite Meter LEXIUM

Handheld
Powerhouse
LEXIUM is quickly becom- heard about this new meter,
ing a recognized name when we wanted to find out more
it comes to satellite receivers about it. If it’s anything like
and test equipment. WS In- the 7100Pro, then this new
ternational, a global distribu- meter should be just as excit-
tor of the most up to date & ing, even more so. Once again
current DTH (Direct to home) our friends at WS Internation-
satellite equipment includ- al provided us with a sample
ing MPEG2 & MPEG4, DVB- of the FastAlign 5110Pro so
S & DVB-S2 equipment has that we could have a little fun
distribution branches based with it and see what all the
out of Atlanta, Georgia, Los fuss is about.
Angeles, California and with The 5110Pro signal meter
sales & development offices comes packaged in a nice,
in Zhuhai and Guangzhou small box along with all of its
China markets the LEXIUM accessories including two bat-
brand name world-wide. Just tery chargers – one for a wall
a few months ago, in fact, it outlet and another one for the
was in the 12-01/2012 issue car, two female-to-female “F”
of this magazine, TELE-sat- type adapters, a USB cable
ellite introduced the LEXIUM and a handy carrying strap.
FastAlign 7100Pro satellite There’s also a 24-page Eng-
signal analyzer. The 7100Pro lish-language user manual.
boasted the unique capability So, let’s look at the me-
of identifying the name of a ter itself. The 5110Pro is a
satellite as soon as the meter handheld digital signal ana-
showed a lock. The LEXIUM lyzer that is small enough to
line of digital satellite sig- fit in one hand. The internal
nal meters, up until recently, electronics are enclosed in a
also included the FastAlign sturdy black plastic case that
5100Pro. With all this going is 142 x 82 x 35mm in size.
for them, did they feel the The case itself is encased in
need to sit back and relax af- a bright yellow rubberized
ter these success stories? Did cover that acts as a shock ab-
they feel that their job was sorber; it will help protect the
done? No, not at all. Instead, analyzer if it should ever fall
the engineers went straight to the ground. The rubberized
back to work. cover can easily be removed
The result of their efforts if you ever need to access
is the LEXIUM FastAlign the battery compartment.
5110Pro. The 5110Pro is actu- At just a hair over 1.0 pound
ally a direct replacement for in weight, the meter is very
their very popular 5100Pro easy to carry around with you
model. Of course, when we wherever you have to go. So,
it’s no trouble to climb that
ladder to the top of that roof
with the 5110Pro hanging on
your shoulder; you won’t even
09-10/2012 know it’s there.
The meter sports a pair of
■ TELE-satellite Test Editor Ron Roessel aligning a 76cm LEXIUM FastAlign 5110Pro
Digital Satellite Meter
dish using the new LEXIUM FastAlign 5110Pro Professional Helps enormously to install
male “F” type connectors on
Satellite Meter. "It so easy to point the dish with this meter," any satellite dish the top side of the unit. The
says Ron Roessel, "and it even makes fun!" www.TELE-satellite.com/12/09/LEXIUM connector on the right side is


LEXIUM
used to connect to the LNB and this should be more than where the second “F” connec- for just by looking at the type
on the satellite dish. Power enough time for a typical in- tor on the left side comes in. of connector that was being
to the LNB is supplied by the stallation. However, if you find Ordinarily, the left connec- used.
5110Pro itself. The manu- that a little more time is need- tor isn’t needed unless sup- On the bottom of the ana-
facturer specifies that the ed at the installation site, the plemental power is needed. lyzer you’ll find the charging
meter should last for about meter can also be powered by The two female-to-female “F” port for the two power adapt-
four hours on a single charge the satellite receiver. That’s type adapters supplied in the ers (home and car), a USB
package are used to connect port to link the meter with a
the meter to any existing coax PC and a number of slats be-
cables. hind which is located the me-
Oddly enough, though, the ter’s speaker. The front panel
two male “F” connectors on of the meter consists of an
the meter are not marked in LCD display and a keyboard.
any way on the casing; we The display is 6.2 x 4.6mm in
had to refer to the user manu- size and is divided into five
al in order to figure out which different sections. We’ll get
connector did what. There are more into this a little later.
also no markings for the ports The keyboard is located under
on the bottom of the 5110Pro the display and is made up of
but in this case it was easy a numerical keypad as well as
to figure out what they were a number of additional color-

ed function buttons.
According to the manufac-
turer, the meter should be
fully charged before it’s used
for the first time. The charg-
ing process should take about
four hours but no more than
six hours to complete. An
LED on the front panel of the
analyzer lights up red indi-
cating that the meter is be-
ing charged by the external
power supply. This LED turns
green when the meter is
turned on and the power cord
is removed.
To turn on the 5110Pro, mo-
mentarily push the red POW-
ER button on the front panel.
If the meter has never been
used before, the display will
not show any data except for

78 TELE-satellite International — The World‘s Largest Digital TV Trade Magazine — 09-10/2012 — www.TELE-satellite.com

LEXIUM
1 2 3

4 5

6 7

zeroes. As mentioned before, selected channel number ei- Only whole numbers can be 1. As the antenna was rotated,
the signal quality (Q) bar graph
the display is divided into five ther from the “local channel entered; a more precise loca- clearly shows that we were
sections: Positioning, Satellite list” or from the “user defined tion for us would have been closing in on GALAXY 19
Selection, Channel Number, channel list”. The Latitude 40.7°N 73.3°W but for the 2. Turning the antenna a little
more and “Locked” lit up telling
Latitude and Longitude and and Longitude section high- purposes of entering in our us that we had a signal lock on
Measurement. The Position- lights the location where the location in this meter, we had GALAXY 19
ing section runs across the meter will be used in degrees to round to the nearest whole 3. Adjusting the dish a little
further increased the S/N level
top of the display from one latitude and longitude. Also number. Fortunately, this mi- until we reached a peak S/N
side to the other and shows found here are a number of nor limitation should not ham- level of 10.1 dB. The dish was
now perfectly aligned with
the required azimuth, eleva- additional function indicators per us in any way when trying GALAXY 19.
tion and polarization angle such as battery level, PC link, to find a specific satellite. 4. Next we tried for the
HISPASAT satellite at 30°W
settings for the target satel- speaker mute and channel Now that our location has using the same antenna. As
lite. This section will only dis- list. The Measurement section been set up, it’s time to see the dish came within range of
the target satellite, the 5110Pro
play data if you already have displays the signal strength what this meter can do. The showed that we were getting
entered in your local position (S) and quality (Q) levels in 5110Pro comes with a pre- close; the signal quality bar
graph (Q) began to react
and selected the satellite you bar graph form. Additionally, programmed “local channel
5. And then moving the antenna
want to find. The Satellite the signal strength (S) is also list” that includes nearly eve- just a little bit more…LOCKED!
Selection section on the left shown in numerical form as is ry satellite from around the 6. Fine tuning the antenna…
side displays information on the signal-to-noise level (S/N) world. The LEXIUM 5110Pro 7. …until a maximum S/N level
the currently selected chan- and the bit error rate (B). automatically filters out the was achieved. The antenna was
now peaked on HISPASAT.
nel (satellite position (L), In order to get the most out satellites that are below the
transponder frequency (F), of this meter it’s clear that horizon and thus not visible 139.0°W to 4.8°E for a total of
symbolrate (SR), LNB local the very first step would be to from your location based on 111 channels to choose from.
oscillator (LO), polarization enter in the local latitude and the local coordinates that If you change the location co-
(LNB) and 22 kHz). The Chan- longitude position where the were entered earlier. For ordinates in the meter, the list
nel Number section in the meter will be used. For our our test location the visible of visible satellites changes
lower left hand corner of the location here in Long Island, satellites (above the hori- along with it to adapt to the
display shows the currently New York, it is 41°N 073°W. zon) included all those from new location. To give you an


LEXIUM
idea of how this changes, and polarization angle) in- we had to do is start moving the antenna much faster than
we changed the local coordi- stantly appears at the top of the antenna into roughly the you might otherwise be able
nates in the analyzer to 37°N the display. This data tells you correct position. According to if you were using a differ-
122°W to simulate the use of exactly where to point the an- to the 5110Pro, the antenna ent meter. It’s a time saving
the 5110Pro in San Francisco, tenna to receive that satellite. alignment settings yield an feature that helps to speed up
California. The list of visible So, with the meter in hand, azimuth (A) of 214°, an eleva- the alignment process.
satellites for this west coast we went outside to align the tion (E) of 36° and a polariza- So, with the meter con-
location included everything dish. Since Galaxy 19 was just tion angle (P) of -25°. nected to our 76cm dish
from 160°E to 43°W. As you entered into the “user defined With the help of our com- and turned on, we rotated
can see, the meter automati- channel list”, it makes sense to pass, we turned the antenna the antenna towards 214°
cally adjusts the local channel begin by aligning our antenna in the general direction of while keeping an eye on the
list based on its operational to this very popular satellite. 214° and elevated it roughly 5110Pro. The analyzer also
location. One thing to keep in Keep in mind that you can use 36° above the horizon. Since has an audible tone that
mind though: this visible list either the “user defined chan- our 76cm dish was not on changes pitch with the signal
of satellites represents those nel list” or the “local channel a horizon-to-horizon (H-H) level. This lets you take your
satellites that can be “seen” list” to start with since Galaxy mount, the LNBF had to be eyes off the meter and listen
from your location and does 19 also appears in the pre- rotated inside its holder so to changes in signal level if for
not necessarily represent programmed list. You’ll also that its horizontal and vertical any reason the display is out
a list of those satellites that need a short piece of coax polarization levels matched of your view.
can actually be received. Only cable to connect the meter to the position of the GALAXY 19 As soon as we approached
those satellites that have a the antenna’s LNB. And don’t satellite. We adjusted the po- the 214° position as dictated
beam pointing in your direc- forget the compass so that sition of the LNBF in its mount by the 5110Pro, the signal
tion can be received. you know which way to turn to reflect the -25° offset sug- quality bar graph on the dis-
In addition to the “local the antenna! As it turns out, gested by the meter. play (Q) began to instantly
channel list” there’s also a the 5110Pro is not compatible Thanks to the 5110Pro’s react. We had found GALAXY
“user defined channel list”. with any of the DiSEqC proto- built-in QuickSweep technol- 19 on the very first pass! As
This list is customizable by cols so the analyzer needs to ogy you don’t have to worry we continued to move the an-
the user so that more popu- be connected directly to the about missing the target sat- tenna the signal quality (Q)
lar satellites can be accessed LNB; there cannot be any DiS- ellite if you turn the antenna bar graph continued to in-
more quickly. The 5110Pro EqC switches in between the too quickly. There is no delay crease and the “Locked” indi-
comes shipped from the fac- meter and the LNB. from the time the signal is re- cator on the display illuminat-
tory without any data in this As luck would have it, we ceived to when it is displayed ed. We continued to move the
list. When setting up the “user had a spare 76cm offset dish on the meter; it reacts almost antenna until we reached a
defined channel list”, the first lying around so we decided instantly. This lets you move maximum point. We then fine
open channel is selected so to use this antenna to align
that a satellite can be set up. to GALAXY 19. We installed a
So, let’s say, for example, we standard Ku-band LNBF (LOF
wanted to add Galaxy 19 at = 10.750 GHz) on the dish and
97°W into the user defined connected it to the LEXIUM
list. The meter has to first be 5110Pro meter using a short
placed into the “user defined 10-foot piece of coax cable.
channel list” mode by press- The meter was turned on and
ing and holding down the Op- we decided to use the chan-
tion/Local button for about nel data that was just entered
three seconds. into the “user-defined channel
Once the meter is in the list”. We could have also used
correct mode, you can then the preprogrammed data in
enter in all the relevant data the “local channel list” (chan-
for Galaxy 19 (orbital position nel 38) that was associated
(L), transponder frequency with the Ku-band side of GAL-
(F), symbolrate (SR), local AXY 19 at 97°W. This channel
oscillator frequency (LO), po- was set for 11.789 GHz, 28125
larization (LNB) and 22 kHz SR, LOF 10.750 GHz and LNB
on/off). For this purpose we 13 (vertical polarization). Ei-
chose the 12.177V GHz tran- ther transponder would have
sponder with a symbolrate worked for this test.
of 23000. As soon as the en- At this point pressing any
tered data is saved into the one of the number buttons (0

LEXIUM
meter’s memory, the correct to 9) activates the measure-
alignment information for the ment section of the meter.
antenna (azimuth, elevation The 5110Pro was set to go; all


LEXIUM LEXIUM
tuned the elevation (E) un- frequency is not an active fre- rect transponder frequency SAT and once again we found that’s not all that much fun obtained free of charge by go-
til a maximum S/N level was quency for North America. using the numerical keypad to perform. But thanks to the ing to www.LEXIUM-dvb.com.
TECHNICAL
the target satellite on the first DATA
achieved. The dish was then Luckily, changing the exist- and then momentarily press pass! built-in QuickRecovery soft- The LEXIUM FastAlign Manufacturer LEXIUM
secured in place; it couldn’t ing entry in the “local chan- the Option/Local button once Clearly, the LEXIUM ware, you don’t have to wor- 5110Pro digital satellite me- California, USA

get any easier than that. nel list” to a workable value again to move the arrow cur- 5110Pro’s QuickSweep tech- ry about any of this. Simply ter is an extremely powerful Home Page www.LEXIUM-DVB.com

Was this just beginners is a snap. At present, the cursor to the next entry (SR). For nology lives up to its name. press the “Recovery” button signal analyzer wrapped up E-mail sales@lexium-dvb.com

luck? We wanted to make sor arrow indicator should our test we used the 12.052H The meter reacts instantly to reset the meter back to its in a nice little package. It’s a Model FastAlign 5110Pro Digital Satellite Meter

sure so we decided to give the be pointing to the channel transponder with a symbol- when you approach the tar- original factory settings. How lightweight handheld device Input Frequency Range 950 – 2150 MHz
HISPASAT satellite at 30°W a number (in this case channel rate of 27500. Continue this get satellite as you’re turning great is that? that you can easily hold for LNB Power 13V, 18V; 400mA
try with the same dish. From 86). By momentarily push- procedure until all the remain- the antenna. Thanks to this Earlier we mentioned the longer periods of time without C/Ku-band Compatible yes
the “local channel list” we ing the Option/Local button ing parameters are entered speedy response time, you USB port located on the bot- any fatigue. It comes with nu- Memory 300 channels (local channel list);
100 channels (user defined list)
scrolled through the channels on the front panel once, the and then press the Save/C don’t have to sit there wait- tom of the meter; this port merous useful features that
Symbolrate 2 – 45 Ms/sec
until we found the only entry cursor arrow should move to button to store the data. The ing for the analyzer to do its allows you to connect the me- help make satellite installa-
for 30°W located at channel the frequency position (F) and ter to your PC and gives you tions a breeze. It comes with 22 kHz Control yes
LEXIUM 5110Pro is now ready job every time the antenna
86. The entry at this location the first digit in the current for the HISPASAT satellite. is moved a notch. You can the ability to add, delete or a pre-installed list of satellites USB Interface yes

was for 11.466 GHz, 3500 SR, frequency should be blink- According to the 5110Pro, simply rotate the dish on its modify the satellite list, tran- from all around the world and Operating Temperature 0 - 40° C

9750 LOF. As it turns out, this ing. Simply enter in the cor- the proper antenna settings mount and stop the rotation sponder specifications and yet is smart enough to only AC Power Supply Input 100 – 240VAC, 1.6A, 50-60Hz; Output 18.5VDC, 3.5A

for HISPASAT are an azimuth when the analyzer reacts to 22 kHz settings directly from show those satellites that are Dimensions 142 x 82 x 35mm

(A) of 125°, an elevation (E) of the target satellite. It’s that your PC or laptop. In order to visible from your location. It Weight 1.0 LBS (including battery)

25° and an LNB polarization simple. be able to do this, you’d need would make the perfect addi-
adjustment (P) of +38°. We A note to those of you who to download the necessary in- tion to any satellite installer’s More about this company
repositioned the LNBF in the will be setting up systems that terface software which can be toolbox. www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1109/eng/wsinternational.pdf

mount to reflect the new po- use universal Ku-band LNBFs:
larization adjustment angle of the LEXIUM 5110Pro will work Expert Opinion
+38°. Next we loosened the with these types of LNBFs but
Lightweight, easy to use handheld digital
mounting bolts on the anten- not exactly in the way that you
satellite signal meter for precise alignment
na so that it could be moved. might expect. When selecting of antenna to target satellite. Its QuickSweep
The antenna was turned to- the LOF to be used, you’d un- technology takes the worry out of accidentally
wards an azimuth setting of doubtedly expect one of the + passing the target satellite while moving the
antenna in that the meter reacts instantly to
125° and sure enough as we choices to be “universal” how- Ron Roessel
approached the 125° position ever that is not the case here. any antenna movements. Its three-digit azi- TELE-satellite
Test Center
muth display allows this meter to be used any- USA
the signal quality bar graph With this meter you have to
where in the world.
(Q) on the meter began to re- enter the correct universal
act. LOF (9.750 or 10.600 GHz) No DiSEqC protocols; meter must be connected directly to
As the antenna was moved and set the 22 kHz signal to
a little more, the S/N level ON if needed. The correct set- – the LNB without any DiSEqC switches in between. There’s
also no universal setting for the LOF; universal LNBFs can be
increased and the “Locked” tings will depend on whether used with this meter but the LOFs need to be set up manually.
indicator on the display illumi- the transponder frequency to
nated. We had found HISPA- be received is in the LNBF’s
low band (10.7 to 11.7 GHZ)

Using the LEXIUM
or high band (11.7 to 12.75 Align 5110 Pro for the first
GHz). Of course, the LEXIUM time. Hardly had we keyed in
5110Pro is also C-band com- 16° East and 48° North that

FastAlign 5110 Pro
patible. the FastAlign 5110 Pro called
And as if all of the above up a list of pre-programmed
wasn’t enough, this meter satellite positions ranging

in Europe
comes with yet another fasci- from 58° West to 92.2° East.
nating feature: it has Quick- This means the device truly
Recovery Software built in. shows all satellites that can
This software restores the Thomas Haring be received at our current
5110Pro back to its origi- location – at least in theory.
nal factory settings should a Why do we say in theory?
problem ever occur during a Even though the LEXIUM global scale. Due to the fact rizon. Obviously, we were The fact is that the list of
data transfer to the meter. In FastAlign 5110 Pro is dis- that the local position has to more than happy to evaluate satellites shows visible satel-
the past such a data transfer tributed by US company be entered when the meter the LEXIUM FastAlign 5110 lites, as opposed to receiv-
interruption would almost al- WS International the device is first turned on, it is pos- Pro in one of our European able beams. For example,
ways result in a dead meter. comes with all prerequisites sible for the device to find test centers in Austria. CHINASAT 9 at 92.2° East is
Restoring the meter used to that are needed to use it in out fully automatically which First things first, and so we shown as the easternmost
involve opening up the case, other regions as well. This is satellites are visible at the entered our coordinates for visible orbital position, even
locating and then reflashing all the more reason for mar- current location and which Vienna, Austria right after though its beams are sent to
the memory. It’s a process keting their latest meter on a positions are below the ho- turning on the LEXIUM Fast- China only and reception in


LEXIUM
Vienna therefore is not pos- not everything that counts.
sible. We think this makes The painful truth is that it
sense as beams can easily can quickly become worth-
be changed and moved by less if transponder data are
satellite operators, so that not equally up-to-date and
the odd Asian position might comprehensive. To check
in fact be of interest in Eu- the LEXIUM FastAlign 5110
rope one day. If or when Pro’s worth in that field we
such changes occur, the new randomly selected a number
LEXIUM signal meter will al- of European satellite posi-
ready have the relevant pa- tions and tried to align our
rameters stored in its inter- dish to those birds using the
nal memory. LEXIUM meter. We noticed
We appreciated the fact right away that the pre-
that LEXIUM has pre-stored stored LOF for the high band
both C band and Ku band was correctly set at 10600
transponders: While the Ku for some positions (such
band definitely dominates as ASTRA 4A at 4.8° East),
the European market the C while other satellites (such
band is the preferred fre- as BADR 26° East) came
quency range in most other with a wrong frequency of
corners of the world. 10750. In addition, none of
In total, we found 109 pre- the pre-stored high band
stored satellite entries on entries came with an acti-
our list. You might object at vated 22 kHz signal, which
this stage that this is way is required for the LNB to
beyond the number of re- switch from low band to high ing satellite antennas. It a swift alignment process
ceivable positions in Europe band. This means that Eu- worked nicely with weak- without the risk of overlook-
– and you’re right. LEXIUM ropean users have to make er signals as well, such as ing a signal while moving the
has chosen to create sepa- a point of checking all pre- those from BADR 26° East or antenna.
rate entries for Ku band and stored transponder settings ASTRA 2D 28.2° East – the To sum up, we truly en-
C band transponders on sat- for the selected satellite and built-in tuner boasts a rea- joyed working with the LEX-
ellites that use both bands, the LNB that is used. sonably low threshold and IUM FastAlign 5110 Pro un-
such as INTELSAT 14 at 45° Most European satellites the measurement results der a European sky. It’s a
West. In terms of usability, come with correct tran- turned out to be very pre- very handy tool and if the
they couldn’t have made a sponder data, however, so cise. We loved how quickly manufacturer decides to
smarter decision. that the LEXIUM FastAlign the LEXIUM meter reacts to update the pre-stored tran-
Then again, an impressive 5110 Pro turned out to be a changes in the incoming sig- sponder list it would leave
number of satellite entries is useful companion for align- nal, which in turn allows for nothing to be desired.

1 2 3

1. Signal measurement on TURKSAT 42° East 4 5
2. Signal measurement on ASTRA4A 4.8° East
3. Signal measurement on EUTELSAT 7A 7°
East
4. You need to adjust and correct the tran-
sponder details for ABS1 75° East before you
can actually receive a signal: Polarization
should be vertical, the LOF does not cor-
respond to universal Ku band LNBs (10600)
commonly used in Europe, and the 22 kHz is
not active by default.
5. Once we had adjusted all settings the
LEXIUM FastAlign 5110 Pro was able to per-
fectly scan and lock signals from ABS1 75°
East.


Lexium

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