Best SWR/Power meter

[659]

Trying to figure out who makes the best SWR/Power meter that is reasonably priced. Thank you,
Harry.

[Lost Ram]

How much power are you needing to measure? If its just up to 100 watts the Astatic 302-PDC2 or PDC1 would work. For one that handles more power, up to 300 watts the MFJ-822 is nice too. IMO either of these are money well spent without buying a cheap unit or something over priced. If you need one that displays everything at once the MFJ-826B it a nice unit, I have one and it works well. There are many other options out there, these are just a couple I have used and can say they work as intended.

[MDYoungblood]

Like lost Ram said, both those meters are nice, I would lean toward the MFJ because you don't have to fiddle with a calibration knob.
If you plan to stick with CB radio, just about any on the market is fine. I only use it to indicate something might be wrong, watching the needle as I am talking. Look for a PEP meter, it will show peak wattage in both AM and SSB mode.
If you plan to go, say ham radio in the future, look for something a little more expensive, say the Daiwa brand. The reason I like this style meter is because it is a "no brainer", only switches are for the light and wattage, dual needles show both wattage and SWR at the same time. They are a little more expensive but worth it in my book.

3's

Greg

[Bluerunner]

Anyone ever compare results of Bird Meters to the common sort. I wonder if the difference is significant on the CB HF bands?

[MDYoungblood]

In my opinion a "Bird" meter is not for the everyday CB'er or even ham operator, granted they are very accurate, they are just not cost effective. I would put my Daiwa meter (accuracy is >10%) against a Bird (accuracy is around 2% +/-) for telling me what I need to know. Now if I were a shop running tests everyday then the Bird would win. Like I said this is just my opinion.
Funny little tidbit,, watch some of those YouTube's of the popular radio shops and you will see a Dosy meter in the lot.

3's

Greg

[Bobcat]

Yes sir. Sometimes "good enough" is just that !!!!!!!

If you are just "in the hobby" and it tells you that you are putting out carrier and modulation... and that your antenna matches reasonable well.... it should serve you well. Back in the day most of us on CB had the little boxes with power & SWR and if you were lucky MOD%. Worked fine.

[Slim Pickins]

I agree with MD on the cross needle types. So simple and no messing around. I have one by Comet that has 30/300/3000w settings and it does everything I need.

[659]

Thank you all for your replies. I ask because I have 3 external meters. All are close on SWR but different on power. I am real particular about accuracy. My setup is good with SWR but I would like to have a reasonably priced accurate external meter for both SWR and power. My max is 200W. I will check the MFJ and Daiwa meters. Thank you again.

[MDYoungblood]

Each meter may be reading different because of changes in jumpers and what you are testing them to. When testing best to use a dummy load and have everything the same.

3's

Greg

[nosaj]

Each meter may be reading different because of changes in jumpers and what you are testing them to. When testing best to use a dummy load and have everything the same.

3's

Greg

+1 on that.

Question is 3's and even more shortened version of 73s?

nosaj
N1EBC

[Bobcat]

If I recall...... back "in the day" on CB we used to say something like "3's and 8's to ya".

I was never sure what either a 3 or an 8 was...........

[Rabbit Ears]

I just found an old SENCORE CB-41 on eBay and they are out there. It checks RF wattage, SWR, and %modulation. Just bounced it off of my O-scope for % of Mod, and the Bird 43P (very darned spot-on). Really a nice unit for as old as it is. It is built Like a tiger tank too.
Just bought it off of eBay for $30.00 just for the heck of it. It is a keeper.

[Grinder74]

I wouldn't sweat power inaccuracies. You can't hear the difference at the other end.

[critter52]

I have a Wawasee Black Cat 2000 Watt Meter
that I brought and never even hooked it up,
put it into storage about 30 years ago,
they were the cats meow back then,
hope when I pull it out it still works if it ever did,
they would read the dead key and peak all at once and were pretty accurate
Critter