SWR meter/ Wilson 1000 possible issue...

[Bigradioman]

Hello all,

I have a question on something that is puzzling me. I have a Connex 4300-400 paired to a Wilson 1000, and a newer Radio Shack SWR meter. I purchased the W1000 a few months ago, and my trusted old-school tech (25 years in the business) checked my SWR's for me after I installed the antenna with his high quaity SWR meter (handheld pack like unit). My SWR's were no higher than 1.4 on all channels (more like a hair over 1.3), and my internal SWR meter on my 98VHP showed basically the same thing.

Now my question is this, I decided to check my SWR's now that I'm running the Connex with my Radio Shack SWR meter. I calibrated it correctly, and it's showing my an SWR of 3+ on channels 1-20 (needles to say I almost crapped my pants). I changed nothing but the radio, and of course turned the power setting all of the way down as well as the RF gain and receive. I checked it many times but the only channel it's reading as a 1.4 is channel 40. Is my Rat shack meter incorrect in its readings? is the Connex alittle to strong for it? I've been using the Connex for about a week and I'm hoping it's just a bad reading, otherwise did I do damage to my $600 radio?

Thanks in advance everyone.

[Bigradioman]

Oh and by the way, The radio is from Pro-Tech and it screams! Around these parts it's considered a huge radio.

[Ricky]

sounds like the antenna whip is too short? try loosning it and making longer.

[Smokn_X2]

Hello all,

I have a question on something that is puzzling me. I have a Connex 4300-400 paired to a Wilson 1000, and a newer Radio Shack SWR meter. I purchased the W1000 a few months ago, and my trusted old-school tech (25 years in the business) checked my SWR's for me after I installed the antenna with his high quaity SWR meter (handheld pack like unit). My SWR's were no higher than 1.4 on all channels (more like a hair over 1.3), and my internal SWR meter on my 98VHP showed basically the same thing.

Now my question is this, I decided to check my SWR's now that I'm running the Connex with my Radio Shack SWR meter. I calibrated it correctly, and it's showing my an SWR of 3+ on channels 1-20 (needles to say I almost crapped my pants). I changed nothing but the radio, and of course turned the power setting all of the way down as well as the RF gain and receive. I checked it many times but the only channel it's reading as a 1.4 is channel 40. Is my Rat shack meter incorrect in its readings? is the Connex alittle to strong for it? I've been using the Connex for about a week and I'm hoping it's just a bad reading, otherwise did I do damage to my $600 radio?

Thanks in advance everyone.

Yea, try what Ricky said and I doubt you messed anything up, Did you buy the antenna new? Because I had the same problem with my Wilson 5000 mag mount except opposite. My standing wave was high on the low channels, so I had to trim.

[Grump]

but if his antenna was fine then changing radios is NOT going to affect his swr are you on the d band on that connex cause other than d is another bandwidth which will give you different readings

[Smokn_X2]

but if his antenna was fine then changing radios is NOT going to affect his swr are you on the d band on that connex cause other than d is another bandwidth which will give you different readings

True but wouldn't that mess up all channels?

[Bigradioman]

but if his antenna was fine then changing radios is NOT going to affect his swr are you on the d band on that connex cause other than d is another bandwidth which will give you different readings

Yes I was on the D band/11m, and the strange thing is I didnt change anything about the antenna or coax (no pinches). I guess I'm going to try and adjust (lengthen) the stinger to see if it evens out the SWR's, but the thing that puzzles me is that they were fine before with my 98VHP. Channel 40 I get a 1.4 on the Rat Shack meter, but everything else is is 3 or close to it. I did buy the antenna new and my tech checked the SWRs for me in his parking lot after I through it on, and he said it was working well. Weird...

[Bigradioman]

Hello all,

I have a question on something that is puzzling me. I have a Connex 4300-400 paired to a Wilson 1000, and a newer Radio Shack SWR meter. I purchased the W1000 a few months ago, and my trusted old-school tech (25 years in the business) checked my SWR's for me after I installed the antenna with his high quaity SWR meter (handheld pack like unit). My SWR's were no higher than 1.4 on all channels (more like a hair over 1.3), and my internal SWR meter on my 98VHP showed basically the same thing.

Now my question is this, I decided to check my SWR's now that I'm running the Connex with my Radio Shack SWR meter. I calibrated it correctly, and it's showing my an SWR of 3+ on channels 1-20 (needles to say I almost crapped my pants). I changed nothing but the radio, and of course turned the power setting all of the way down as well as the RF gain and receive. I checked it many times but the only channel it's reading as a 1.4 is channel 40. Is my Rat shack meter incorrect in its readings? is the Connex alittle to strong for it? I've been using the Connex for about a week and I'm hoping it's just a bad reading, otherwise did I do damage to my $600 radio?

Thanks in advance everyone.

Yea, try what Ricky said and I doubt you messed anything up, Did you buy the antenna new? Because I had the same problem with my Wilson 5000 mag mount except opposite. My standing wave was high on the low channels, so I had to trim.


Thanks man, I am just paranoid about ruining the finals in this new radio and thought I did damage already (used it about 6 times).

[Smokn_X2]

Good deal, I'm glad it was something simple.

['Doc]

What are the chances of you getting your tech friend to check it again? that would seem like the logical thing to do. Barring that, if changing the radio was the only change made, and if things were 'right' before that change, then I'd have to suspect the radio is what's making the difference. How about changing to another radio just for 'grins' to see what happens? If things are back to normal, then you have an idea where the problem is. If not, then start looking for things that may not be readily apparent as being changed. If that Radio Shack meter is on the right scale (power), and if you calibrated it correctly, then I would think that it should be working at least close to right, shouldn't be that much error in it's readings. I really don't think I'd make any irrevocable changes to anything till I had a better idea of where to make those changes...
- 'Doc

[SARGE]

Was PRO-TECH the ones that checked your swr's? Could it be because they checked it at 4w and you are keying up with that connex with a built in amp? Mine always reads higher with the amps on, but when I use the radio only set at 4w, swr's are near perfect.

You couldn't of picked a better shop, as RAY is the best in these parts with a radio!!!!

[sideways]

I would put the other radio back in before you adjust anything and see if it still reads good.Also what are the chances your jumper is bad? While I'm learning a lot here I've always tried to only change one thing at a time to isolate the problem instead of doing a lot at one time as some of the more proficient folks here can do,AFTER I've asked a lot of Q's,LOL. I have had good luck with my R.S. meter, hope this helps some.

[coondog]

Hello all,

I have a question on something that is puzzling me. I have a Connex 4300-400 paired to a Wilson 1000, and a newer Radio Shack SWR meter. I purchased the W1000 a few months ago, and my trusted old-school tech (25 years in the business) checked my SWR's for me after I installed the antenna with his high quaity SWR meter (handheld pack like unit). My SWR's were no higher than 1.4 on all channels (more like a hair over 1.3), and my internal SWR meter on my 98VHP showed basically the same thing.

Now my question is this, I decided to check my SWR's now that I'm running the Connex with my Radio Shack SWR meter. I calibrated it correctly, and it's showing my an SWR of 3+ on channels 1-20 (needles to say I almost crapped my pants). I changed nothing but the radio, and of course turned the power setting all of the way down as well as the RF gain and receive. I checked it many times but the only channel it's reading as a 1.4 is channel 40. Is my Rat shack meter incorrect in its readings? is the Connex alittle to strong for it? I've been using the Connex for about a week and I'm hoping it's just a bad reading, otherwise did I do damage to my $600 radio?

Thanks in advance everyone.

i myself would go back to this guy that used you say a hand held pack unit,no doubt it was a high tech ant. analyzer like alot of us here use.i"d never trust a swr meter from The Rat Shack completely over a analyzer.

with your Rat Shack meter as long as your on the low power setting like you say and with using a 3 to 4 watt DK and your mic gain is off and your doors are closed you should at least be some what close to your techs reading.

[Bigradioman]

Thanks for the advise everyone, this weekend I'm going to try a stock Cobra 25 with the meter and see what I get first, then I should know if its the meter or radio interference. I'm also thinking it is just best to go back to my tech and ask him to check it with his analyser also before I touch the stinger, and no Protech didn't check my SWR's (I wished I lived closer to them lol). .

[wrong way]

got a bad **Censored** radio now you need a bad **Censored** meter rat shack cant handle watts like that same thing happend to me almost caused me to puke..

[Bigradioman]

got a bad **Censored** radio now you need a bad **Censored** meter rat shack cant handle watts like that same thing happend to me almost caused me to puke..

Lol, well I'm glad I'm not the only one I guess, I too almost puked at the thought I was using my >$600 radio with those swr's. I thought for sure I hurt the radio. This radio works well for me, since I don't have the extra space for an external amp in my truck.

[Bigradioman]

Hey all,

I brought the gear to my local tech and explained my issue. He checked the set-up with his MFJ antenna analyzer, and it read 1.2-1.3 on 1-40 am which was good. He then hooked a SWR meter in line and re-checked the SWR's with the power up. SWR's jumped from 1.4 to 1.5 max at full power, and he tried tuning out the antenna (and grabbed a 66 inch off of the rack and tried that, as well as a ground plain kit) however 1.5 on CH 1 and 1.3 0n CH 40 with full power is the best it will match. He did notice what he reffered to as "spikes" now and then when the SWR's would jump to around 2, then immediately go back down. He thinks the Linear itself is just causing spikes, and other than roof mounting a W1000, there is nothing else I can do to lower the match and I should just run it as is. Thanks for the help all.

[coondog]

Hey all,

I brought the gear to my local tech and explained my issue. He checked the set-up with his MFJ antenna analyzer, and it read 1.2-1.3 on 1-40 am which was good. He then hooked a SWR meter in line and re-checked the SWR's with the power up. SWR's jumped from 1.4 to 1.5 max at full power, and he tried tuning out the antenna (and grabbed a 66 inch off of the rack and tried that, as well as a ground plain kit) however 1.5 on CH 1 and 1.3 0n CH 40 with full power is the best it will match. He did notice what he reffered to as "spikes" now and then when the SWR's would jump to around 2, then immediately go back down. He thinks the Linear itself is just causing spikes, and other than roof mounting a W1000, there is nothing else I can do to lower the match and I should just run it as is. Thanks for the help all.

nothing beats a trusting MFG analyzer :D

[Wile E. Coyote]

I had the same problem and found out that the normal whip that comes with the wilson 1000 is only 64 inches long. I went back to the radio shop and got the 66 inch and I have 1.3 all across the board. Before, I had 1.8 on channel 1 and 3.5 on channel 40 and channel 19 was at about 2.5. As I trimmed the old whip the swr's got higher.

Good luck, the longer whip cost me 17.00 but what a difference in tx and receive.

Wile E. Coyote................Danny Rogers
Unit 505 Land of Enchantment, New Mexico

['Doc]

There is no practical difference between a 1.1:1 and a 1.5:1 SWR. It's just not worth worrying about at all. I tend to believe those antenna analyzers more than a simple SWR meter. An SWR meter just isn't as 'smart' as an analyzer.
Typically, if there are 'spikes' in the readings, I'd start looking for a 'not good' connection somewhere.
One aspect about using an antenna analyzer that people may not know is that they are a combination of a low power transmitter, and SWR meter, and some circuitry that manipulates those readings to determine the reactances present. One 'catch' to that is that a strong signal present (sort of close) can 'slew' the readings. That analyzer is 'smart' but it isn't a 'genius'. A broadcast station sort of near by can change that analyzer's 'mind' about what it's seeing. There are ways of compensating for that, but the analyzer can't do it without help from the operator.
There ain't nothing that's completely 'fool proof'! Just too many of us 'fools' around for that...
- 'Doc

[Ran2370]

There's a chance it might be your antenna(can't handle the watts).Read somewhere(might have been here on this site) about cutting antenna ratings in half. Had a lil wilson on with a cobra 29 black chrome hp edition,antenna tuned out perfect with a analyzer. now the antenna is rated at 400 watts worked good with cobra. Bought a galaxy 48t(around 200 watts) figured antenna could handle it,nope swr went up,put analyzer back on it said it was fine,put galaxy back on it swr's high(just under 2)decided to give it a try see what happened. could only get out about 1 mile and told it sounded like crap.Went and bought a wilson 5000 problem solved(perfect swr's, getting out there about 15 miles or so,and sounding good) So maybe this will help or maybe it won't. GOOD LUCK

[Red Warrior]

If a person has a spur, the spur is by definition off frequency, and if the antenna tuning is not broad banded enough to handle the spur, then the spur will cause a high reflected power. Since the SWR meter is basically a power meter it will measure all power on all frequencies and report a bad SWR.

If this is happening, the way to correct it is to lower the drive power into the linear to bring it back into linear operation and reduce the power in the spurs. Another possible cause is overmodulation causing spurs to be generated by the radio into the linear which are then multiplied in the linear. In this case, reduce modulation until spurs are reduced.

[Bigradioman]

There's a chance it might be your antenna(can't handle the watts).Read somewhere(might have been here on this site) about cutting antenna ratings in half. Had a lil wilson on with a cobra 29 black chrome hp edition,antenna tuned out perfect with a analyzer. now the antenna is rated at 400 watts worked good with cobra. Bought a galaxy 48t(around 200 watts) figured antenna could handle it,nope swr went up,put analyzer back on it said it was fine,put galaxy back on it swr's high(just under 2)decided to give it a try see what happened. could only get out about 1 mile and told it sounded like crap.Went and bought a wilson 5000 problem solved(perfect swr's, getting out there about 15 miles or so,and sounding good) So maybe this will help or maybe it won't. GOOD LUCK

The Wilson 1000 and 5000 are essentially the same (tx and rx) except for power handling. The Wilson 1000 is rated for 3000 watts (so lets say 1500 safe), I'm well below that (maybe 500 honest watts, just maybe) so upgrading to a 5000 is a waste of money IMO. Also We tried the 66inch whip and it made no difference, so I'm just going to leave her as is and stop stressing over it. Thank you all for the input I really appreciate it!

[Bigradioman]

If a person has a spur, the spur is by definition off frequency, and if the antenna tuning is not broad banded enough to handle the spur, then the spur will cause a high reflected power. Since the SWR meter is basically a power meter it will measure all power on all frequencies and report a bad SWR.

If this is happening, the way to correct it is to lower the drive power into the linear to bring it back into linear operation and reduce the power in the spurs. Another possible cause is overmodulation causing spurs to be generated by the radio into the linear which are then multiplied in the linear. In this case, reduce modulation until spurs are reduced.

That is very interesting, I was planning on having the radio double checked this week so I will make sure the drive and modulation is where it should be. Thanks!