Need a new SWR meter

[N8N]

what should I buy? I just got a "new" radio (used Cobra 29,) and due to the inconsistency between the built in SWR meter and my external meter I took it to the CB shop yesterday and the guy there set my antenna length for me. He said that when he was done SWR was about as good as it could get, and looking over his shoulder I didn't see a lot of needle deflection. Well, today, I hooked up my own meter (Para Dynamics PDC5 - that is, a cheap one that I think I ordered online when I got my other radio) and sure enough it's reading over 3 on ch40 and about 2.6 on ch1. So I have to assume that it's my meter that is bad (although I don't really trust the one in the Cobra either.)

So... what should I get? I'm likely not going to be using this all the time, but I do have another antenna to set up (on my pickup truck) would rather invest in good tools than rely on a shop being around when I need it (it's not really convenient anyway, although oddly enough I will likely be driving the pickup by there tomorrow, but that's something that naturally happens only maybe once a year or so.)

BTW I did get a good radio check on the Cobra while I was driving to Annapolis today, although the driver that responded was only about half a mile from me :/ So I'm going to call the setup in the car good, now I just need to figure out which radio goes in which vehicle and where to permanently mount them.

[240bravo]

This is the one I bought not to long ago. I like it 'cause no matter how big of a radio I get in the future, it will be able to handle whatever I put into it. I have another cheep one like the one you were talking about, but it only goes up to 100 watts which is too small for both my radios, so I use it as an in-line meter to make sure I've got the right watts coming out of my 959 into my amp. Good luck.

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[N8N]

thanks, I'll have to see if I can get one of those. RS doesn't carry a whole lot near me but maybe I can order one off their website or find one cheaper on a certain auction site. Just don't like not knowing if my stuff is set up correctly or not, yeah I have cheap radios but no sense blowing them up 'cause I didn't get the SWR right.

[231]

Did the guy ever tell you exactly what the standing wave is? When you say you saw it just barely dip, what does that mean? Did he use an analyzer or an SWR meter? I'm curious only to suggest you ignore the meter in the radio and use the PDC5...along with it's built in antenna tuner. I kinda' think that's a nifty thing to have especially with those installations where it's at like 2:1 or so, as it's just a little bit of help for the impedance. It shouldn't really affect one way or another how things perform, but rather make the radio happy. And if it's not, that's a pretty good indication the SWR meter in the radios isn't functioning as it should. Or rather, in my mind (given the info' I've read so far). Just a thought is all.

Honestly if you haven't already done so, I'd consider a new jumper coax too. Never can have too many of them that's for sure. Plus, you wouldn't be the first person to ever have one right off the shelf that had something wrong with it. Either that or build your own (which is what I prefer). Either way, it'd be nice to have another one to compare with when you are getting goofy readings.

The RS meter is a terrific value (at least I think it is). I had one for awhile and it was pretty accurate on the SWR and about 5% generous on the wattage end (within it's rated error factor). But it covers 1.8-30MHz, which many of the CB meters don't do. Plus it'll handle 2kw. The ONLY thing I didn't like about it is the meter was hard for me to see. I had to be right on it to view accurately which made it difficult sometimes for these tired eyes.

Best of luck.

[DoubleD]

i have a RS meter. and never complained. its been great to me and like 231 says its pretty accurate. ive see some ppl putting in a little led in the meter and then wiring up a 9v batter with a switch to it for the meter. it does become hard to see and holding a flashlight while keying the mic and be a pain.

[kc4eoe]

I have one and it works just great. Cannot complain about the price and I keep it stashed in a ziplock with the jumper cable behind the seat in case I ever need to help someone else out tuning their mobile antenna. There was a post a while back concerning the Peak Reading for this meter and I did not get a chance to go out and test that function, but the link posted above is a great article and did explain about the Peak Reading scale (see below).

"Another good point about this meter is it's ability to measure peak output giving it the ability to show SSB output. Although not an active peak reading meter it does a pretty good job of showing your peak output in SSB modes. I'd say in most accounts when measured against an active peak wattmeter I found the Radio Shack meter to show about 15% lower on the peak output readings."

I do find the onboard SWR meter on my Cobra to be slightly different than the trusted meter reading, but I am sure Cobra did not mean for that to be a dead on reading, just simply a reference to give the user an general idea of how their system was functioning (correct me if i am wrong). There is a meter adjustment pot inside the radio, so I assume you could tweak that to make it "happy" if you wanted.

[jackrabbit]

my personal opinion, budget may be an issue...but the meters that dont require calibration tend to be a huge help. Also, i owned a rat shack meter. My was used, but after a while it became impossible to calibrate it, and gave bad readings. I used alot of equipment over the years and I rarely get a quality product that is a RadioShack brand.

['Doc]

Considering the size, the 'matcher' in that PDC-5 is going to be limited in power handling ability and just now much of an impedance mismatch it can handle. I have no idea what those abilities are, but don't expect much. The best advice is to turn that 'matcher' off when doing any SWR checking and to recalibrate that SWR meter with any change in power levels! I couldn't find any specs about that PDC-5, and since I don't have one, I would be very conservative with it.
The Radio Shack SWR meter pictured is probably the most common one around, and is certainly accurate enough for typical use. It's not 'lab-quality', but that's not a particular benefit except in 'lab' conditions, so what's the difference except the 'name' on it?
That 'shop' saying that the SWR is about as good as it'll get can have more than one meaning. I think I'd want to know exactly what they meant by that. If you happen by the place again, I think I would ask them.
SWR is a sort of 'relative' measurement. It's nice if it's low, but I wouldn't ever expect a 1:1 except by accident. If it's 1.5:1 or less, it really is about as good as it'll get, there's no -practical- difference between 1.5:1 and 1:1. When I hear that an antenna is 1:1 over the whole band, rather than just a channel or two, I figure something isn't being done correctly. The ideal SWR is only going to be 'ideal' over a very narrow range of frequencies. That's just how is works, no matter what any meter, or anyone tells you.
Of the three meters under discussion, I honestly think I'd take the 'Rat Shack's opinion before the others. That assumes none of those meters has been 'worked' on. That's an 'opinion' about those meters, and worth about as much as any other opinion...
- 'Doc

[Bombero]

Hola...

This is the one I use to check the readings on the mobile...otherwise it's connected to my Icom 756 Pro III in the shack.


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[231]

Yea, according to [Please login or register to view this link] he's running a stock radio through the PDC5...which is good. That's about all that tuner would be good for.

I use the CN-801HP as well Bombero. I know it's not the best, but for me has worked quite well and I've been very happy with it. It sure makes seeing things easy for my tired eyes. It's nice not to have to do any calibrations with it too.

[Bombero]

Yea, according to [Please login or register to view this link] he's running a stock radio through the PDC5...which is good. That's about all that tuner would be good for.

I use the CN-801HP as well Bombero. I know it's not the best, but for me has worked quite well and I've been very happy with it. It sure makes seeing things easy for my tired eyes. It's nice not to have to do any calibrations with it too.

Hey...

The Diawa meter has served me well for as long as I have had it, and there is a bit to be desired.

I have been saving for an Array Solutions PowerMaster and I should have one by the end of August.


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[jessejamesdallas]

This is the one I bought not to long ago. I like it 'cause no matter how big of a radio I get in the future, it will be able to handle whatever I put into it. I have another cheep one like the one you were talking about, but it only goes up to 100 watts which is too small for both my radios, so I use it as an in-line meter to make sure I've got the right watts coming out of my 959 into my amp. Good luck.

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Just don't stick more than 2000w's into it! I hit one with 2500 in Peak Mode, and stuck the needle in the corner...It's still in the corner... never came back down.


Thought I had the switch turned to Avg...If I had, it may still be working...Then again, maybe not....

[De_Wildfire]

I use this one and is easy on my eyes. I don't have to worry about calibrating nothing. It's the WM1 computing meter.

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