How to use a SWR Meter – Part One

1. 

   racecardriver467 says:

   June 15, 2012 at 1:33 PM

   do you need this for any CB radio that does not have an SWR meter built in?? i got a Cobra 19DX 4, would i need one?

   Reply
2. 

   UKCBTV says:

   June 15, 2012 at 1:28 PM

   – you do – some antennas are stated as being “pre-SWR’d” but there are too many variables involved for this to be accurate. A SWR meter is one of the best little CB buys you can make – don’t forget to order a short PL259 patch lead as well, which is needed to connect the meter to the radio.

   Reply
3. 

   26highstreet says:

   June 15, 2012 at 1:20 PM

   better off doing your swr on channel 20..
   anything below 3 is fine, i mean i would rather have my rooftop antenna thats 1.7-2.0 swr then my shed mounted one that is 1.3-1.5.
   I also always keep my coax as short as possible and then adjust my antenna accordingly.
   Had that same swr meter bought it from tandy in exeter for £9.99 back in 1994..
   great videos by the way… 73s

   Reply
4. 

   LAZYDOG505 says:

   June 15, 2012 at 12:25 PM

   1.5 and under is ideal

   Reply
5. 

   bben95 says:

   June 15, 2012 at 11:49 AM

   How could you make an antenna longer?

   Reply
6. 

   UKCBTV says:

   June 15, 2012 at 11:39 AM

   – most antennas have some sort of telescopic section that allows it to be tuned for SWR. Some have tuning rings (Antron/Solarcon99, Imax and Dial-a-Match for example).

   Reply
7. 

   pyrofful says:

   June 15, 2012 at 11:02 AM

   What does it mean when it reads 1.5 on channel 1, 1.8-2.0 on channel 40, and 0 on channel 20?

   Reply
8. 

   UKCBTV says:

   June 15, 2012 at 10:09 AM

   – the readings are pretty good anyway, but some improvement may be seen by shortening the length of the antenna a bit (no more than 1/8 of an inch at a time). You’ll probably end up with around 1.6 on Ch1 and 1.6 on Ch40 with Ch20 showing 1:1.

   Reply
9. 

   pyrofful says:

   June 15, 2012 at 10:04 AM

   Thanks a lot!

   Reply
10. 

    pyrofful says:

    June 15, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    Hi again. Did you ever own an Imax 2000 CB/HAM base antenna? If so do you think it is worth buying? Thanks!

    Reply
11. 

    UKCBTV says:

    June 15, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    – I’m using one using one now, it’s long and floppy, works about the same as a A99 on local contacts and the short summer skip too (300-1500miles), but does work better than the A99 on the long skip and I’ve had contacts over 7000 miles with it this year.

    Reply
12. 

    pyrofful says:

    June 15, 2012 at 8:42 AM

    OK because I changed my mine I now want a Imax 2000. Also does it act as a big lightning rod, and cause some problems?

    Reply
13. 

    TrowbridgeHardcore says:

    June 15, 2012 at 8:31 AM

    Bristolian?

    Reply
14. 

    thepowerfulnews says:

    June 15, 2012 at 8:21 AM

    Should i buy a swr meter with a power meter on it?

    Reply
15. 

    UKCBTV says:

    June 15, 2012 at 7:58 AM

    No essential but a nice thing to have – to get anything like an accurate result, the power output needs to be measured into a dummy load though.

    Reply

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