How to use a watt meter?

[Snowman1975]

Please, I know I am opening the door for some type of sh*t here with this but I am stupid when it comes to watts, volts, and stuf like that (except that I know when you run more, you get better performance....I think).

Here is my question: When you look at a watt meter, it has a switch that usually reads 1/10/100. Where should that switch be when you key the mic? When you check for swing and stuff like that, do you speak in a level tone or do you want to slowly raise the volume of your voice to see how high the watts peak at? I know to some of you, this will sound like complete amatuer questions. Well, that's basically what they are. I want to know this stuff so when I get my meter, I will be able to figure it out on my radio as well as help my buddy with his.

Any info is appreciated. Thanx.

[Phaze91460]

I dont remember what radio you are running but the safe answer is trial and error. The 1/10/100 should be your broadcast power ( Probibly in RMS ) so if you are running a standard CB radio with peak and tune start in 10, if the needle pegs on the right switch it to 100. A general lee would probibly just start in 100.

[BigBopper]

If you have a 1watt, 10 watt, and a 100 watt knob, set it to 100, and see where it swings, if your radio puts out less than 10 watts, then set it on 10,,,,speak in a level tone and say AUDIOOOOOOO, that should show swing, don't whistle, it really doesn't show you true watts, a tech that whistles in the mic isn't a tech,,,just my 2 cents

[Snowman1975]

Cool, thanks guys. I am not at all syure how much my radio is putting out so I will just have to switch it around and see what happens. I know I am pushing more than 1 watt at least....LOL...so I will start at 10 and see what happens. Thanks for the advice on how to check swing. I heard before ab9out whistling into the mic. I read somewhere that whistling would be great if we were all birds but we're not...LOL

Thanx again guys. Learned something new. COOL!!!

[Falkon MX-5]

If your meter has a switch that says RMS or AVG and PEP, set it to PEP to find your peak output.

IF there's no switch for that, then you're probably looking at peak watts.