checking swr

[birddog_01]

Should you check swr at the radio or after the amp with the amp on high??
What if you change amps will the swr change??

[BigBopper]

between radio and amp, changing amps shouldn't change radio swr

[Duck Commander]

Does it sound right on a Predator 10K to have to trim about half of your stinger off to get the swr right? Cause i trimmed a 1/4 of an inch everytime and it took me forever and my 10K ain't so tall now.

[jessejamesdallas]

You need to put the meter "After" the amp to check swr.
Radio>amp>meter>antenna...

Reason is, you want the amp to see what the antenna is set at first. Radios are more forgiving with high swr, than the amp. High swr hitting the amp, and amp wont last long. Set the amp where you would normaly have it (Low or High). Then set swr...swr should read the same whether the amp is on or off. Generaly however, with amp on, swr could be a little higher, than if its off...(ideal, would be if swr is same, amp on or off)

Depending on which Predator antenna you have, would determan how much of the stinger needs to be trimmed off...They all come with the same stingers, longer the shaft or dual coils, will need more cut off, than say a single coil on a 9" shaft.

[cannonball]

[

quote="jessejamesdallas"]You need to put the meter "After" the amp to check swr.
Radio>amp>meter>antenna...

Reason is, you want the amp to see what the antenna is set at first. Radios are more forgiving with high swr, than the amp. High swr hitting the amp, and amp wont last long. Set the amp where you would normaly have it (Low or High). Then set swr...swr should read the same whether the amp is on or off. Generaly however, with amp on, swr could be a little higher, than if its off...(ideal, would be if swr is same, amp on or off)

:06-28iag: