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rparigor(at)SUFFOLK.LIB.N
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 Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more thing, a small hole in the top that looks like you plug into that
is labeled FS ANT and is ~ .077" in diameter.
Sorry bout these Newbie questions:
Could I use this meter to test my Becker Mode C Transponder and Com.?
What settings and scale would I use and what am I looking for?
If this is unusable, any recommendations on what would be a good tool for
the job?
Thx.
Ron Parigoris
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luckymacy(at)comcast.net
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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http://www.flycom.co.uk/antenna_swr.htm
http://www.bellscb.com/cb_radio_hobby/swr.html
lucky
[quote]-------------- Original message --------------
From: <rparigor(at)SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
[quote] --> AeroElectric-List message posted by:
I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more t hing, AeroEl [quote][b]
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sportav8r(at)gmail.com
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:40 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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That's a "CB" style meter good through perhaps 50 MHz. Not reliable
(not properly calibrated) at VHF comm frequencies and certainly not at
transponder ones. Connectors are UHF-style coax (SO-239) and won't
fit anything on your plane, most likely.
Tell us what kind of "testing" you had in mind. Transmitting into a
poorly matched load might damage what you are trying to "test."
-Bill B
On 1/26/07, rparigor(at)suffolk.lib.ny.us <rparigor(at)suffolk.lib.ny.us> wrote:
| Quote: |
I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more thing, a small hole in the top that looks like you plug into that
is labeled FS ANT and is ~ .077" in diameter.
Sorry bout these Newbie questions:
Could I use this meter to test my Becker Mode C Transponder and Com.?
What settings and scale would I use and what am I looking for?
If this is unusable, any recommendations on what would be a good tool for
the job?
Thx.
Ron Parigoris
|
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N6030X(at)DaveMorris.com
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:59 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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Ron, a lot of the SWR meters are designed for HF and won't work worth
crap at VHF (your Com) or UHF (your transponder). You'll need to
check that particular model and find out if it is designed to work at
VHF, but a quick Google search here makes me believe it is for HF
only. The serrated crown connectors are called SO-239 and are
designed to mate with PL-259 plugs on coax that are most common for
HF antennas.
Dave Morris
N5UP
At 10:57 AM 1/26/2007, you wrote:
| Quote: |
I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more thing, a small hole in the top that looks like you plug into that
is labeled FS ANT and is ~ .077" in diameter.
Sorry bout these Newbie questions:
Could I use this meter to test my Becker Mode C Transponder and Com.?
What settings and scale would I use and what am I looking for?
If this is unusable, any recommendations on what would be a good tool for
the job?
Thx.
Ron Parigoris
|
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mprather(at)spro.net
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:59 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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I believe that SWR meter was designed for CB frequency - something around
10meter band ~30MHz. Your com is VHF, around 118-136MHz. The meter won't
be very accurate at giving absolute SWR readings in the VHF band, but
should be able to tell you some information about relative
feedline/antenna efficiency. Lower readings are better. "1" is ideal.
The transponder runs closer to 1GHz frequency range. Your meter will be
even less efficient in that band. Plus, the meter is designed to work
with the transmitter putting out power continuously. With the comm you
can force that condition just be holding down the PTT key. On a
transponder that would be tougher to accomplish - probably requires a test
harness.
I think what you need is an antenna tester designed for the proper
frequency range. Something like this would work for the comm:
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-269
I believe you would need something more $ophi$ticated for testing the
transponder. Probably something specifically designed for testing
transponders would be the most cost effective.
Your meter probably has PL-259 connectors on it...
http://www.seed-solutions.com/gregordy/images/pl259n01.jpg
They can be attached to RG-58 cable and that can be connected to BNC
fittings..
Regards,
Matt-
| Quote: |
I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more thing, a small hole in the top that looks like you plug into that
is labeled FS ANT and is ~ .077" in diameter.
Sorry bout these Newbie questions:
Could I use this meter to test my Becker Mode C Transponder and Com.?
What settings and scale would I use and what am I looking for?
If this is unusable, any recommendations on what would be a good tool for
the job?
Thx.
Ron Parigoris
|
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luckymacy(at)comcast.net
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 11:12 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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Guess I should mention that from what I found a CB SWR was better than nothing for the VHF frequencies in aviation. You can get BNC to p259 adapters at radio shack for about $6 each. You'll probably need 2 of them. Secondly, though the absolute value read on the meter won't likely be "actual" value, the trend will still be reliable. In otherwords, if you have a real bad connector and are getting a lot of reflection, the meter isn't going to move much towards the1.0 value on the meter regardless of whether it's a CB band SWR or VHF fre SWR. If it's a really good antenna "system" the meter will move towards 1.0 anyway regardless of meter type even if it's not an "exact" correct value.
lucky
[quote]-------------- Original message --------------
From: luckymacy(at)comcast.net (lucky)
http://www.flycom.co.uk/antenna_swr.htm
http://www.bellscb.com/cb_radio_hobby/swr.html
lucky
| Quote: | -------------- Original message --------------
From: <rparigor(at)SUFFOLK.LIB.NY.US>
| Quote: | --> AeroElectric-List message posted by:
I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more t hing, AeroEl
|
|
[b]
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rparigor(at)SUFFOLK.LIB.N
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 11:34 am Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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Hello Bill
Thx. for the reply.
"Tell us what kind of "testing" you had in mind."
Testing would be to find optimum antenna location and or wire routing to
make radios function best.
Vertex Handheld VX700 driven by a Advanced Aircraft bent in half (or
not)(that is one of the tests)
Becker Com driven by a Bob Archer antenna in top of tail, need to test
locations and orientations and play with bending part of the top swept
back a little for an easier fit
Becker 250 watt mode C transponder driven by a Advanced Aircraft antenna,
want to fool with location (pitch tube and cables)
It would be very nice to see how all 3 antenna is propagate signal,
somehow walk around and see just how much that motor and gear is
blanketing??
Ron Parigoris
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bobf(at)feldtman.com
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: Is garbage picked SWR meter useful? |
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On Friday 26 January 2007 11:57, rparigor(at)suffolk.lib.ny.us wrote:
It will work fine. I am a ham and a pilot and use my amateur SWR meters to
check my airplane SWR.
Has to do with the frequency characteristics of the diode in the circuit.
Hook it up, turn the knob to "cal" and flip the switch to SWR - if it is less
than 3:1 it is just okay. If it is 1:1 it is perfect. Anything in between is
fine.
Bobf
125GS (glastar)
W5RF (amateur extra class)
| Quote: |
I acquired form a garbage pick (Ham gave it to me some years back) a
Micronta Field Strength / SWR Tester
On bottom it says MFGed for Rat Shack with a CAT# 21-525B
The connectors in the backfor ANT and TRANS have a serrated crown, are
610" in diameter and the center hole looks like it takes a pin .150" in
diameter.
The SWR goes from 1 to 3 and a red area from bout 3 to 4 that says CAL
Also below that scale is a scale (%)REF POWER and ranges from 0 to 5
There is a switch that has a setting for REF and FWD and an adjustable
knob that is labeled CAL
One more thing, a small hole in the top that looks like you plug into that
is labeled FS ANT and is ~ .077" in diameter.
Sorry bout these Newbie questions:
Could I use this meter to test my Becker Mode C Transponder and Com.?
What settings and scale would I use and what am I looking for?
If this is unusable, any recommendations on what would be a good tool for
the job?
Thx.
Ron Parigoris
|
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http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List |
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