SWR Meters and Antenna Analyzers for Ham Radio
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- čas přidán 7. 05. 2022
- In this video we talk about the difference between a SWR / Power Meter and an Antenna Analyzer. We also talk about a few of the brands and models on the market. This is an excerpt from our Weekend Show Coffee and Ham Radios which can be found here:
• Ham Shack Tools! - Cof...
I can't say more for the NanoVNA series. I started with the tiny chinese less than $40 dollar version. I then went with a 4 inch version. Its been a learning experience but there are many CZcamsrs who teach you everything you need to know. I now have the serious metal case V2 version like that one. Its extremely accurate ! That said, I think the smith chart was what really surprised me,. I like to call it a Dynamic Smith Chart because you watch things change in the circuit real time. One of the first demos of that quality was watching a tuner tune to an unknown antenna and ending up with a 50 ohm match so easily. Absolutely no guessing and terrific. My photo is of Captain Ron, a funny captain of a family sailing ship and a great movie by that name.
Thanks for the comment Kayaker. Captain Ron was awesome!
Love my RigExperts but the speed of scan is amazing on the later NanoVNAs. I can see results of adjustments in near real time. I can screen share with an IPad to a laptop at the feed of the antenna and compare results swiftly. Very effective.
Thanks for checking out the video Aim 👍
I like my RigExpert A-55 Zoom, I do very little if any vhf/uhf. I had a nano but didn't like the sma connectors and the menu system. As for MFJ I am still waiting for my 259d to be returned from the repair shop eight months later. I don't miss it after getting the RigExpert.
I like the BT feature on the 55 Zoom 👍
I use a classic analog SWR and MFJ ant analyzer shoebox. Works for me.
Fantastic 👍
@@TheSmokinApe On permanent Ant instillations, I use both. Or if one or the other is showing something wicked.
I do not have an external SWR meter such as you do in this video. I just rely on my internal SWR meter on the the radio however I do have a question about my analog meter on my radio. I have the IC-7300. This IC-7300 has an analog meter. When I set my IC-7300 to 100 watts and key up my mic the forward power is suppose to show 100 watts of forward power being put out however my analog meter shows only 35 watts of forward power being put out. What do you think could be causing such a huge discrepancy between the 100 watts the IC-7300 is set to and and the actual amount of forward power (35watts) that is being put out?
Could it be measuring average and not peak? If I had to guess, I would say you are testing on SSB, try RTTY.
@@TheSmokinApe Yup, that was it LOL. Thanks
@@BlackHamRadioUniversity glad you got it worked out 👍
@@TheSmokinApe I am going to get an SWR meter but need it to be digital as I need to see the readings at a quick glance. I am on a tight budget so I just need something not too expensive so I am trying to decide if I should get the MFJ-849 or the Nissel D3-503. They both are the exact same but still not sure which one I should get.
QUESTION : I have several end fed , 1/4 wave wire antenna, no balun used AND an 80M OCFD with 4:1 Balun. SWR reading on my VNA of the end fed antennas prove to be within 1/10th , example VNA/1.6 swr, radio/meter 1.7 swr. BUT on the OCFD my real life SWR reading are DOUBLE of VNA swr readings. Example, VNA will say 1.6 swr, but on the radio/meter reading it will be SWR of 3 or more. THis doesnt make sense to me, my only explanation is the Balun somehow throws the VNA off, anyone have experience with this issue when making wire antennas ?
Is the VNA properly calibrated? I've seen that be the problem before.
I have a vna in my shopping list, just gotta wait for funding.💰😄
They are awesome 👍
I have an oldie but goodie Heathkit 2140 it is the best peak reading watt meter that I have ever had, I have a Kenwood, and a Comet and they not as good as the Heath. If you can find a clean one get it and download the manual from the internet.
Some of that older gear was built to stand the test of time, today everything is meant to be thrown out. Thanks for sharing 👍
Ham without radio
RigExperts are from UKR......
Yep, a 20 year anniversary comming up in the coming months, in the sad shadow of the horrors & agressions from Russia, though most production pipelines is overseas, its mostly development that taken a toe, even from Kyiv.