Best SWR/Watt meter for around US$100

[WØTKX]

I remember using a neon bulb to ground to indicate a match. Dimmit, dammit.

[n2ize]

You get your best swar meter right here, Good Buddy.

Nope !! Doesn't go up to enough Jigawatts for me.

[n2ize]

need recommendation for a good HF swr/watt meter for around $100. Been lookin on EHAM but the ones in that price range are all low review scores. ANyone know of a good one for that price range?

Just use your plate current meter.

[N8YX]

Would have to agree with the Daiwas, and will throw in two more "used" choices: The Kenwood SW-200/2000 series and the Drake WH-7.

Judicious shopping will net you a unit which is in very good shape. The Kenwood setup has the advantage of using sampling heads - a maximum of three per unit. Thus, you can look at HF, VHF and UHF power sources at will by merely rotating the meter's input selector switch.

[kb2vxa]

There goes IZE thinking small again. Tune for maximum smoke and minimum street lighting, when Niagara Falls runs backward you hit the sweet spot. Now that takes care of the exciter, you have the final properly tuned when the SUN dims.

[n2ize]

Ah, ok. Makes sense then.

To tide yourself over, you can get a SWR meter from radioshack, make your adjustments at low power, and then once it's set, bring power up, slowly, taking the meter out of the loop when you're ready to transmit. They're about $30 last I checked.

You can easily build your own swr brige as well. I once needed a swr bridge quick and I picked up the one from RS. It worked quite well and supposedly handles power levels up to at least 1Kw. I just keep it inline between my transmitter and the Dow Key.

[n2ize]

There goes IZE thinking small again. Tune for maximum smoke and minimum street lighting, when Niagara Falls runs backward you hit the sweet spot. Now that takes care of the exciter, you have the final properly tuned when the SUN dims.

Also make sure your signal is punching holes in the ionosphere. :)

[kb2vxa]

Mmmm, just look up as the space critters look down and wonder WTF?

[K0RGR]

I really like the crossed needle meters, but I've had poor luck with Daiwas. I had a VHF/UHF one that I used for years, but it didn't survive a crosstown move. I bought a general purpose one in the Twin Cities and left it in the back of the car for a few days before I tried to use it - one of the needles was kaput. The warranty says it's not valid outside of Japan! I put these items in the category of 'jewelry' and regard them as very fragile. On the other hand, I've had several MFJ units and none of them has failed. I bet Daiwa makes the meter movements for both of them, though.

For cheap, the Vanco SWR-1 is good for HF and 2 meters, and can be had very inexpensively. You might have to look for one of these - it seems that the big dealers have stopped carrying them. Too cheap, I guess. They are nearly indestructible and I have one I bought at a flea market for a couple bucks that's probably 40 years old, and works great. They used to give these away when you bought a new rig.

[n2ize]

You can probably check around ebay and find a Bird wattmeter for somewhere betweem $100-$200.