Why trouble

[buzzyt517]

What is the exact way to use an inline micronta swr meter.
Its a three way meter with a cal, modulation, rf power,swr, cal Those are all switches the to cals move. WHat is the EXACT correct way to check swr with one of these meter. Which cal do you move first
SOmeone please explain. I just have not figured that out
Thanks for helping and i do know its a dumb question but it would help so much to get the exact correct procedure

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

which model?

is it this one?
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[buzzyt517]

No it is a 3 way IRS or RS or something like that there are two calibration dails and one selecter dial from rf mod and swr.

[SmallTruckBigRadio]

Micronta makes many different meters. I have searched the internet, but I need an exact model number to narrow it down.

Basically: You will need a coax jumper between the radio and the meter.
Connect the radio to the meter "in" jack, and the antenna to the "out" jack of the meter.
Set the radio to low power.

Set any Power or Watt settings on the meter to a setting a little higher than you expect the radio to push.

Switch the meter switches to SWR cal (calibrate) mode. Turn the SWR calibration knob low CCW.

Key the radio, and while it's keyed, turn the SWR calibration knob CW till the needle points to the spot on the dial that should be marked "SWR Cal" or "Set".
Then, release the mic key.
If that was successful, switch the SWR switch from "SWR cal" to SWR (or SWR check / test)
Key the mic again, the SWR meter should display your SWR's. Hopefully you find the SWR's significantly lower than "3.0". If it is higher than 2.5, avoid keying the radio until repairs are made, and don't use an amp. If SWR's are less than 1.5 your in pretty good shape, especially if you're not gonna run an amp.

If this appears to work, you should be able to do a similar calibration for Modulation. The modulation test, after calibration, will require that you talk in to the mic. Saying "Audio", is one of the less stupid sounding things I've heard.


Checking with an amp will require 2 jumpers. One between the radio and amp, and then the amp and meter.

Do not run an amp unless you know your SWR's are OK.

Seeing a picture of the meter will help us to guide on more specifics.

[jessejamesdallas]

SmallTruckBigRadio hit that one on the head! If that micronta meter is like the one that Radio Shack sell's, it's a prity good little meter.

Micronta is who builds the Radio Shack meter, and puts RS name on it. Did a comparison test for Radio Shack a few years ago, using there meter, and a Dosy, a Aries, a Bird, and a Dee...Radio Shacks was about as close to the Bird meter as you can get...The Dosy however was way out in left Field...

Only thing I could see wrong with the Radio Shacks meter, was the peak reading was a little higher than what it should have been. But RMS reading was right on the mark.

note: me and a Friend of mine, had to test 5- RS meters, against 5 each of the others. all brands had to be the same model. The Dose was the Dosy TC 4002 SW. All 5 of those read differently! On the Radio Shack meter, all 5 read exactly the same....

You can check out my post, on the Radio Shacks web site on that meter. Just click on the commits on that meters page.