Posted: 5/4/2010 7:58:04 PM EDT
Another dumb question from the resident n00ber.... what's a "decent" SWR meter for 2m/70cm? I've read good things about the Daiwa meters, and the Comet and Diamond cross-needle types seem to get okay reviews. But I've heard some not-so-favorable things about the MFJ units, even though they appear to be the most plentiful on eBay (probably a reason for that...  ) Just looking for something that'll be decent without breaking the bank. I figure I'll need something decent eventually anyway when I finally get the funds together for the HF rig. So I'm plotting now and watching for a deal. Would appreciate any recommendations - I don't need a $200 SWR meter - something in the $50 range or under would be great (may not be realistic on my part - so let me know if bare minimum for decent means $100+) - new or used matters not, as long as it won't give me false readings  |
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MFJ has been nicknamed "Mississippi's Finest Junk" for a reason... avoid it if you can for obvious reasons...
I prefer to use a Bird Type 43. Kinda spendy at first.. different bands require different slugs. But a Bird is the gold standard in RF measurement. I have several.. from pristine ones for the bench, to one that looks way worse than this. They are built like a tank and last forever. Plus you can get parts to repair/rebuild them easily. http://cgi.ebay.com/BIRD-WATT-METER-MODEL-43-3-SLUGS-/280500090662?cmd=ViewItem&pt=2_Way_Radios_FRS&hash=item414f1bb726 yeah, it looks like crap... but they clean up nice. good price on this one too!! ETA.. forgot to answer the question.. lol $100 is pretty damned cheap for a good meter... I present to you, Beauty and The Beast Both are 30 yrs+ old and function flawlessly, everytime 
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MFJ has been nicknamed "Mississippi's Finest Junk" for a reason... avoid it if you can for obvious reasons... I prefer to use a Bird Type 43. Kinda spendy at first.. different bands require different slugs. But a Bird is the gold standard in RF measurement. I have several.. from pristine ones for the bench, to one that looks way worse than this. They are built like a tank and last forever. Plus you can get parts to repair/rebuild them easily. http://cgi.ebay.com/BIRD-WATT-METER-MODEL-43-3-SLUGS-/280500090662?cmd=ViewItem&pt=2_Way_Radios_FRS&hash=item414f1bb726 yeah, it looks like crap... but they clean up nice. good price on this one too!! ETA.. forgot to answer the question.. lol $100 is pretty damned cheap for a good meter... I present to you, Beauty and The Beast Both are 30 yrs+ old and function flawlessly, everytime
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r250/k5jmp/junkbin/bird43002.jpg Couldn't agree with you more. 
Keep an eye out on ebay for great deals, a Bird 43 and some slugs for about what you'd pay for a BUIS is a super deal. Picked up a Bird 4304 that does 15 watts to 500 watts in 4 steps, from 25 mc to 1000 mc on ebay for little more than a 43 w/ some slugs and it's like new. The fellow who sold it was quitting the biz and I told him I'd care for it like he did. 
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I have a Diamond SX40C that I paid about $70 for. It's a cross needle type that does 2m/70cm. It gets the job done and really helped me diagnose an issue with my big dual band antenna. That's actually a decent little meter... but it wouldn't be suitable for HF use later on as OP specified. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I have a Diamond SX40C that I paid about $70 for. It's a cross needle type that does 2m/70cm. It gets the job done and really helped me diagnose an issue with my big dual band antenna. That's actually a decent little meter... but it wouldn't be suitable for HF use later on as OP specified. Looks like the SX20C will do 2m and also HF though, and is only $79.95 So here's a question - what use is using an SWR meter with a commercial antenna? I understand using one with a custom antenna one is building, but other than measuring your SWR with a commercial antenna, it's not like you can somehow change the length or "fix" a commercial antenna, can you? |
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I have a Diamond SX40C that I paid about $70 for. It's a cross needle type that does 2m/70cm. It gets the job done and really helped me diagnose an issue with my big dual band antenna. That's actually a decent little meter... but it wouldn't be suitable for HF use later on as OP specified. Looks like the SX20C will do 2m and also HF though, and is only $79.95
So here's a question - what use is using an SWR meter with a commercial antenna? I understand using one with a custom antenna one is building, but other than measuring your SWR with a commercial antenna, it's not like you can somehow change the length or "fix" a commercial antenna, can you? To verify the antenna is working correctly- both out of the box and later. To verify power output from your radio. And most commercial antennas can be adjusted. |
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Quoted: To verify the antenna is working correctly- both out of the box and later. To verify power output from your radio. And most commercial antennas can be adjusted. Really? Huh...still waiting on my Diamond X200 to show up, so I'll have to see what they say about adjusting it if needed. Of course, I'll have to get the SWR meter first as well Thanks for all the advice guys. |
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I will let you guys in on the best kept secret in the wattmeter world.
AN/URM-120 The military surplus AN/URM-120 series meters will cover 2-1000mhz with just three slugs, at higher power than we will ever use. Most folks who use these and a Bird end up using these more just because you don't have to screw with, or buy, so many elements. This covers with 3 elements what it would take a Bird 43 at least 12. The 120A's are the older ones, and run around $100-150 with all three elements. The newer 120B's run a bit higher, but include a calibration knob so you can check SWR with doing the math to get the ratio. I gave $120 for my 120A and it is by far one of the best pieces of test equipment I ever purchased. Trust me on this one- buy once, buy quality, and buy covering any possible need you can see down the road. I can tell you when I started playing with 440 and GMRS repeaters and 900mhz stuff I was sure gald I had purchased this and not an HF or HF/2m only unit. Also, buy rugged. Even if you don't plan it now, your meters are likely to end up being used all over the shack, outdoors, on the roof, in the car, at remote sites- a rugged metal cased meter will survive. Plastic cased stuff not so much. |
