VHF signal tester

[GG]

Got ahold of a VHF signal strenght tester: Reace model # SWR-3. I'm really not sure how the interpret the results of the test.Type of unit comes with an input connector where your connect your antenna connector into one side and then an output on the other side where you connect your VHF. It shows you the strenght of the signal both when receiving and sending, but the actaul scale is unclear as far as extablishing what I should be looking for.Could not find anything on the web on this unit.Does anyone have a similar unit with a manual?Thanks,G

 

[Peter18012]

SWR meter?

The only meter I've seen that's generally available and hooks up as you described is a Standing Wave Ratio meter. Don't know the manufacturer "Reace", but SWR-3 would seem to indicate it is an SWR meter. It hooks up as you've indicated inline between the VHF unit and the antenna. It measures not the strength of the VHF output, but the match of impedance between the radio and the antenna. A perfect match is 1 to 1 (1:1), and pretty good is 1.5:1. About 2.5 or above, and you're losing a lot of the power of the radio before it leaves the antenna. Many times high SWR's can be improved by lower loss coax cable, or better connections between the antenna and coax, or coax and radio. Don't know of manual, but there's a lot of discussion on ham and CB radio sites on SWR. Try to google "SWR marine vhf".