which is better to tune an antenna.... radio's SWR meter or separate?

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by corneileous, Aug 21, 2010.

  1. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    Which is better to tune a CB antenna, the built-in meter on the radio or a seperate, stand-alone meter? I have a cobra 29 NW LTD classic with the built-in SWR meter and a roadpro SWR/power meter with a 3 foot coax. I've heard different opinions about both, but don't know which opinion to follow. As it stands right now, the radio's SWR Meter says that I have a SWR reading of 1.5 on channel 1 and a reading of 2.0 on channel 40. With the separate meter, channel 1's SWR is 2.0 and channel 40's SWR is 1.9. Now, with the seperate meter hooked up between the radio and the antenna, the radio's meter now says my SWR reading on channel 1 is 2.1 and the reading for channel 40 is now 3.1. Which meter is better to go by?
     
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  3. TriAxleTrucker16

    TriAxleTrucker16 Light Load Member

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    IMO, and external meter is better to set the swr than an internal meter.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  4. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

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    Does not matter in this case your SWR sucks. You need to tune your antenna(s). It would appear that either is close enough, 1.1 to 1 to 1.3 to 1 is expectable, anything else is to high. Your worried about your meter you need to worry more about your match, there both telling you the same story.

    Without checking the radio and the meter there is no way for me to magicly pick one over the internet. Sorry, but I think I gave you good advice.
     
  5. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    I know they aint perfect, but I hardly think the SWR sucks. Its not over 3. My antenna is tuned to an extent, but like I said in my opening post, I dont know which meter to go by because the readings are a little bit different. Not by much, but they arent the same. I will continue to tune and test different placements/angles and such of the antenna but after i get a better grasp on which meter is better to use and trust.

    What does my math have to do with it? Those numbers I gave are not estimates or guesses. How are they telling the same story? The radio's built-in meter says that my antenna is a little bit still too short and the stand-alone separate meter says the antenna could be shortened a tiny bit but overall, as far as the outboard meter is concerned, the swrs are about as good as they are gonna get unless I do something different with how and where the antenna is mounted.

    Not asking you to "magically" pick anything, just for your opinion as to whether or not you would trust the swr measuring on a built-in meter or from a separate, outboard meter.

    Either I didnt ask my question very clear or you didnt fully understand it but at this point, dont be sorry, but your advice needs a little work before it can be referred to as "good".

    Apparently I did somethin right because the other poster answered the general question at hand and gave their opinion towards the outboard meter.
     
  6. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    My meathod for adjusting SWR's 1. get a good external meter.

    Do one whip at a time, but make sure they are both hooked up, Set the SWR first at the whip, then at the radio where both coax lines run togeather.

    This will give you optimim performance.
     
  7. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    Thats what Im kinda wondering. Why arent the built-in meters trustworthy?
     
  8. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    A built in meter is a multi purpos meter. and often times they arent the most accurate thing in the world.

    An External SWR meter is built for one purpose and one purpose alone, and above and beyond that it is of higher quality than the internal.
     
  9. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    What do you mean by "good" external meter? I bought one of those basic, stand-alone meters at a Loves for only like 25 bucks. That suitable enough? I dont really wanna go all out on this, just have a radio and antenna that work good enough together without damaging anything. Id like to get more range than what the stock antennas, stock coax, atock mounts and stock multiplexer could yield but Im not looking to talk to other CB'ers 20 miles away......
     
  10. RenegadeTrucker

    RenegadeTrucker Road Train Member

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    I have no idea on the brand, but it will probably do a better job than the meter in your radio, the only way to know is get out there and get it tuned up.
     
  11. corneileous

    corneileous Road Train Member

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    hmmm, good point...... I just figured the inboard meter would be better to an extent because unless you leave the outbord meter connected all the time, the built-in one shows or could show if it were accurate, the current swr values as it stands right now unlike the outboard one, that only shows you what your swrs are with a temporary piece of coax and a temporary meter that will eventually get unhooked if you choose to unhook it and not leave it as part of the loop.
     
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