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Posts : 61 Times Thanked : 4 Join date : 2020-05-03 QTH or Location : Hertfordshire Equipment Used : Uniden
Subject: SWR - how high is too high? Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:05 pm
Hi All,
I’m looking for advice as to whether I’m being too precious with SWR and in doing so, costing myself Watts.
Across most of the frequencies I use, I have an SWR of 1:1. Max 1.4 : 1 at the high end of my rig’s range. I have a Zetagi TM999 in-line which is a Wattmeter, SWR meter and matcher all-in-one. Now, when running low power, SWR of 1.4:1 would not bother me enough to use the matcher. However, when running a linear, I use the matcher to pull it down closer to 1:1. However, upon doing so the Wattmeter falls from 80W to 60W, (as example). Probability not the most accurate meter, however, am I concerning myself too much with the SWR v’s the linear’s transistors? Would you guys just roll with the 1.4:1? Is it even worth using the matcher for 1.4:1 ?
Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated as always,
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NUBSTER 10 + Year member
Call Sign : 26 CT050 26 FB080 26 WT105 26 TE171 Posts : 948 Times Thanked : 51 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : NORTH LONDON Equipment Used : ORIGINAL President Lincoln, President Teddy , Silver Eagle microphones , Gainmaster antenna, use a AMP ofcourse I do sometimes Age : 66
Subject: Re: SWR - how high is too high? Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:17 pm
As long as it doesn't go over 1.5 when using the amp your ok ,in fact on normal radio power even up to SWR of 2.0 is ok really just not as effective if it was lower, basically the lower the SWR the better,as for a matcher its doesn't actually lower your SWR it just lies to the radio in to thinking its lower .
Last edited by NUBSTER on Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:15 am; edited 1 time in total
Paddy, glenn dog and Tristar like this post
The Doctor Contributor
Posts : 61 Times Thanked : 4 Join date : 2020-05-03 QTH or Location : Hertfordshire Equipment Used : Uniden
Subject: Re: SWR - how high is too high? Wed Aug 12, 2020 11:53 pm
Thanks NUBSTER, Yes, it just “creates” a match. (Absorbs the reflected power, by minor tweaks to impedance I assume........) Paracetamol for radios
Thanks for your reply. Rory
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Tristar Senior contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-3771 Posts : 133 Times Thanked : 3 Join date : 2020-08-10 QTH or Location : Weston-super-Mare Equipment Used : CRT Millennium 3v hand sets, President Barry2 Age : 59
Subject: Re: SWR - how high is too high? Sun Aug 16, 2020 6:26 pm
Hi
I didn’t know that!
Always thought it magically fixed it!
Duh!
glenn dog likes this post
Bovril New Member
Call Sign : 26-CT-3694 Posts : 16 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2020-06-26 QTH or Location : Ruislip, London. Equipment Used : Yaesu FT2000D
Subject: Re: SWR - how high is too high? Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:41 am
Well, to some, all radio is magic...Tristar...he-he.
43CT016 Major contributor
Call Sign : 43-CT-016 Posts : 368 Times Thanked : 22 Join date : 2019-11-17 QTH or Location : Perth Equipment Used : iCom IC-7610/IC-9700/IC-705 Age : 55
Subject: Re: SWR - how high is too high? Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:02 am
The Doctor wrote:
Thanks NUBSTER, Yes, it just “creates” a match. (Absorbs the reflected power, by minor tweaks to impedance I assume........) Paracetamol for radios
Thanks for your reply. Rory
All the tuner (Really poor name for them, BTW!) is doing is presenting a near 50 ohm load to radio, nothing more. The SWR between tuner and antenna is still whatever it was before.
People will argue all day about the efficiency of resonant vs non-resonant antennas, so I won't even go there....
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Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2637 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: SWR - how high is too high? Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:59 am
The best tuner in the world can't adjust the physical length of the antenna. I just fools the transceiver into seeing a 50 Ohm load. I think i am correct but i could be wrong as i am falling to bit's
Today at 7:28 am by glenn dog
Subject: SWR - how high is too high? 
