Setting SWR

[tander2114]

I am attempting to set the swrs on my setup. I am using a radio shack swr meter. The instructions tell me to set the radio to channel one the meter to cal and rotate the calibration knob until the needle goes to cal. When I try to do this the knob runs out of rotation before the needle reaches cal. I have the meter between the amp and the antenna. My coax in all RG8 except for the short jumper for the meter which is RG58. What am I doing wrong!!!!!!!!!


Connex 3300hp
Davemade 2X4
Wilson 5000

[rayray1963]

Keydown and hold the mike first then rotate the knob to cal.

[tander2114]

That is what I did.

[rayray1963]

Sorry hit the wrong button............once needle reach's cal. release key and switch to swr and rekey the mike to read swr's.

[tander2114]

Thats the problem, the needle never reaches the cal mark.

[BobOstro61]

Sounds like a bad meter to me.

[tander2114]

I got the problem somewhat figured out. I got another radio shack meter and I still had the same readings. So I went to another local cb shop and had them check the swrs. The cb shops meter read somewhere above 5. The guy from the shop looked up at my wilson 5000 and immediatly said that my whip was too short. I had just purchased the antenna three days ago from the a shop that was nearby so I went back and explained to them that I had checked the swrs and they were high, also that I had been informed that the whip was too short. Now remember I had attempted to set the swrs with my radio shack meter so I had moved the whip since they had sold me the antenna and supposedly set the swrs, but the guy goes back out to my truck and puts his meter back on it and says it was reading 1.3. (He didn't let me see the reading) He then tells me it will be fine just don't keep the mic keyed for more than 10 seconds. I just left and went back to the other shop. They sold me a new whip and got the swrs down to 1.4. I am going to try to run a ground from the antenna to get them lower.

[Other1]

...but the guy goes back out to my truck and puts his meter back on it and says it was reading 1.3. (He didn't let me see the reading) He then tells me it will be fine just don't keep the mic keyed for more than 10 seconds.

What loser shop did you go to?

[rayray1963]

Really glad you got it figured out.

[jessejamesdallas]

OK. Here is the problem with your Radio Shack Meter...

Apparently you have your radio set at a low dead-key. Something lower than 2 watts. The Radio Shack swr/power meter needs at least 2w's or higher DK inorder to work.

Try setting your radio to a higher DK. Then try and calabrate...

If you have a amp. in-line, have it turned on while trying to set swr also. With the RS Meter between the amp and the antenna....

I did a comparison test a few years ago for Radio Shack, and Microna (who makes the meter) and found the Radio Shack meter to be as accrate as most other meters on the market, if not better than most. Was real close to reading the same as Bird's. (which always bring negative remarks from Bird owner's! :D )