SWR Meter Mount

[stlboarder]

Who keeps their meter permanently mounted? How do you have it mounted? In the open or hidden in the glove box?

[ouxly40]

It is not a good practice to do so, but, if you must, make sure the additional length of coax ( and the meter itself) is not altering the swr at the radio. If your radio has an swr meter that is accurate that would be a good indication,

[stlboarder]

I'd be running it between an amp and my ant. Why would it be a bad idea?

[Texas Mobil 219]

I used velcro to hold my meter in place on top of the Cb itself. That way both of my jumper are the same length. And the meter is after the amp also.

[stlboarder]

Is that the rat shack meter? How heavy is it... does the velcro hold it well? I ask because I drive on some pretty rough roads and offroad quit a bit and I don't want it to come loose and cause any damage.

[Texas Mobil 219]

I drive down some pretty rough road around here and it doesn't move at all. And yes it is a Radio Shack meter and velcro will hold it well. I just the Industrial velcro from Lowe's.

['Doc]

Best place to mount any meter like this is where it can be seen easily without taking your eyes off the road much, where it doesn't obstruct something else you should be seeing, and where it's at least sort of convenient/safe. If you have to change your position in the vehicle, it's probably not in the best place it could be, maybe.
Leave it connected or remove it? Up to you mostly. There are two good reasons to remove it that I can think of. One is that it can't handle what you 'normally' put through it. That's not exactly super common, but it's still a reason. The other one is that the additional things in the antenna system, meter, jumpers, etc, are another 'possible' point of failure. Neither of those are reasons you can't plan for and get around to some extent. It's probably more common to just leave the thing in line, or maybe it's an 'even' split?
My particular situation is a bit different, the meter in the radio is accurate (enough) for how I use the radio. The radio's 'head' is mounted directly in front of me, so seeing it isn't a problem. It's still a distraction though. Oh well.
- 'Doc

[stlboarder]

What do you mean by it can't handle what you normally put through it? Even though it measures up to 1000w is it the durability of handling that power day in and day out?

['Doc]

Guess I shouldn't have said it that way, just trying to cover all bases. SWR can be checked at any power level and doesn't change because of power. That means that if you check it at 4 watts, it will be the same at 40 watts or 4000 watts, if the antenna system is done right. Then, if your SWR meter can't handle what your amplifier normally produces in power, just take your 'low power' SWR meter out of line. See where I'm going with that?
- 'Doc

[stlboarder]

Ah, yes... I see what your saying. So if I have a meter rated for the power I'm pushing it's ok and if I just have a low power meter it wouldn't be advised. Gotcha.