Soil Tester?

Not sure if this belongs here,,, but figured you folks would know, so..

Picked up a tester during the summer on a whim. Have no confidance in if it's a good one or not. Plus, there is no PPM on it.
This is what I've got;


Seems rather spartan, but in the moment of need it was all I could find at the local Agway.

Need something I feel to be accuate, reliable, etc,.
Reading PH, fertility(?), PPMs. Moisture would be nice but not really required.

Use will be for indoor grows in soil.

Any help appreciated in good choices to pick from (and maybe where to find).

Thank you very much.
Canon

Don't know much about the digital meters other than I know I can get a digital ph pen for 25 bucks at my hydro store.
I have one like the pic u posted but mine is a three way moisture,ph,and fertility. The ph on these is not very accurate but will let you know if your way off . I use a different one for moisture , they give me an good Idea how wet the soil is at different depths good for learning how wet your soil is as to how heavy the pot is . I,m organic and have no need for an expensive meter ,sure some one will point you in the right direction.

i have that exact thing and i don't think it works very well at all. i always forget to slide the switch and the battery dies. i think the "soil fertility" setting works better than th ph setting but they still both suck imo. i have not found a basic probe meter that gave accurate ph readings. the moisture probes work ok. i test my soil ph by checking the runoff with drops. and i've never used a ppm meter because i can't afford one. that will probably be the investment that takes my grows up to the next level but it's just not in the cards right now.

Been thinking about it and guess I need to really get involved on listening to what the plants say / show me.
Maybe just use this to sorta confirm?

That meter is a joke. get your soil tested at a local farmers coop or something, its just over a dollar a pop here.

Yes definantly "listen to your plants learn to read them , and just use the best testing methods u can afford for now. I use drops to test my water the aquarium one works good I ,ve learned to read the color of the solution and not really have to use the color charts with mine light yellow to light green is where I want to be . And like the fellow said above check your runoff also to be sure whats going on in your pot.After a few grows you will get it down .Reading your plants that is , it can be fun they have a lot to tell you .

Some of those meters for soil work and some dont. I know ive had a couple I bought and some giving to me over the years and the moisture ones all ways seem to work pretty good, the ph meters seem to be hit and miss. Some seem to work some dont, I guess its just all on where you buy them and what brand they are.