The simple answer to the above question is no. However there are reasons why you might choose to buy one so let's deal with the pros and cons. I will assume here that you don't really want to pay over £200 for a professional meter but even some basic meters can cost you upwards of £50 and yet they only detect the carrier signal. They don't distinguish between the different satellites up there or even between digital and analogue transmissions, so you could be pointing the dish at a different satellite from the one you want and yet still get a strong meter reading! Secondly, even if they do detect an Astra 2 digital signal their readouts are themselves often analogue (a needle moving across a scale or an audible tone which rises or falls in pitch) leaving you to decide when the signal is at its strongest. Whilst a meter can get you in the right area of sky, sufficient to get a signal of sorts, the readout provided by the digibox itself is the only indication that the alignment is spot on. The problem in the past (and still to this day for all I know) is that the instructions supplied with most meters are of insufficient quality to tell you how to use them. I on the other hand will tell you how to use a meter properly in the section concerned with aiming your dish!

(Suppliers still refer to these things as satellite finders which I think comes close to contravening the Trade Descriptions Act! I prefer to use the term 'signal meter' which correctly carries no implication of guaranteed success!)

And now the case for the defence. Because the dish has to be aimed both horizontally and vertically, a signal meter will help in getting it in the right general direction, and you can then concentrate on watching the TV screen for the correct digital readout. A meter will not guarantee you a signal but in conjunction with my technique, it can definitely help. Furthermore, it is now possible to buy a meter very cheaply, with even B&Q for example selling them for around £10.

Therefore, I now recommend that you buy one if only as a fallback.

You'll find a number of suppliers listed on the links page. I make no specific recommendation about any signal meter - that's a matter for you and the supplier of your choice.

Incidentally, the Lidl supermarket chain occasionally has satellite equipment for sale, including signal meters for around £4. At that price even I'm impressed! The stock tends to fly off the shelves, but it might be worth a speculative journey or check online at www.lidl.co.uk.