How to use SWR Meters for Ham Radio Beginners

In this video, look at how to use a few different types of SWR Meters for Ham Radio.

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[medve]

You're a great teacher! Easy to understand presentation.

[OmbiePants]

Hey, this is really cool. Thank you for keeping this simple. I came inIo this with zero knowledge and now I think I have a pretty solid grasp. Thank you!

[kenmcmullan]

Aaaahhh... One of the resistors in your dummy load is back-to-front! I know it makes no difference whatsoever, but it's playing merry hell with my OCD! Thanks for the vid!

[NineSeven]

Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your knowledge, I've learned a lot from your videos and I'm always looking forward for the next one. No doubt one of the best HAM channels on YT. Regards from Portugal.

[HOAHamRadio]

Always appreciate TheSmokinApe classroom! Love my MFJ cross needle meter; will take it over digital every day of the week.

[rlarajr]

Great help on how to read an SWR. I'm setting communications for my race car and this really helped out.

[WVHS]

Thank you Sir. I know have a better understanding of the cross needle display 👍

[janiceemery]

Excellent video Ape, love the explanation. Thank you for sharing.

[Swamp-Fox]

Man, you didn't even flinch when you hit the PTT on that BTech into a 250 ohm load LOL!

[kenmcmullan]

Very educational, but in trying to build an antenna, I was hoping to learn if it is possible to use the cross-needle SWR meter to optimise the antenna length. Thanks.

[bill-]

A VNA is very useful, got mine last year, it takes a lot of guesswork out of adjusting aerials. You can instantly see if it's too long or too short. Far easier than just using an SWR meter and great for the price.
QRP and resistive SWR meter here, tx never sees above a 2:1 SWR when tuning but still reads the true SWR. It does need taking out of circuit after.
G4GHB.

[kevinboog]

Great job helping people understand things in the R.F. world.
Only one negative comment on the dummy load. It looks to be a parallel circuit and I think i heard you say series on the audio track so I replayed it... oops.

Still great information you pass along!

Kevin KF0IPD

[KJRZOnTheAir]

Great video! Eventually I need to pick up one of those meters. 73!

[calvinlong]

Great video! Quick question - do you have a positive opinion of the RS-40?

[youtubeaccount]

nanovna might be the coolest piece of test equipment i've bought in a long time. Also, do you know morse code? If so how did you learn?

[WonderMonkeyRadio]

I appreciated the video, but I'm still a bit lost. I think I'm unknowledgeable enough to have to back up a step. If I'm going to be doing 10, 15, 20 and 40 meters, how does that eliminate or include a particular meter? I'm making this up as I go but it seems that would mean I care about 7.0 - 29.7 MHz, which would mean ALL your meters would work for me, is that right? I get confused with all the options and figure as soon as I purchase something, I'll figure out that now I need to buy a different one to handle another band. Are my fears unfounded and can the meters you show do basically anything a General license can do?

[gfodale]

still waiting on REDODO MPPT charge controller RFI testing. :) (please) thanks. If I can swing it, I'll order the VNA from your list this coming month. (bookmarked to return for your link.)

[MrBracey]

If you could go into detail about the nano VNA’s I would be grateful, I need a SWR meter for portable HF work, but haven’t got enough cash for a rig expert so that’s the way my wallet is leading me towards a VNA 😊

[hokefisher]

I am a radio novice with an ICOM A24 aviation handheld radio with output specs of 5W (PEP) and 1.5W (CW). I am testing VSWR for the radio w/ external antenna with a Sharman V20. Should I expect to see the forward output to be 1.5W or 5W? Thanks

[Coyotethumper]

Wonder if you have done a review on the surecom SW-102 swr and power meter I really value your opinion on ham equipment
Thanks.