If a radio can sense when SWR is TOO high then why can't it show me the SWR reading??

[mr_fx]

Simple question... if a radio can lower it's output power automatically, refuse to transmit automatically, or even shut itself down automatically when SWR is too high, then it MUST be capable of sampling the SWR, so then WHY can it not display the SWR somehow?

Like my Yaesu ft-2900r, it can display the VOLTAGE for God sake, but not tell me the SWR?

My Kenwood TR-9000 can show me power out, and will automatically lower it's output if the radio reaches 1.5:1 SWR, and will lower it more as the SWR increases... So WHY can it not find some way to display SWR?

 

[Watergate]

Because then you wouldn't buy a shiny new MFJ meter. It's the corporate machine mmaaaannnn.

It ought to be included. If you can buy a cheap Cobra CB with an SWR meter, then you should get one on a $1000 radio. Plus, I bet your Kenwood doesn't have Sound Tracker. What's up with that?

 

[mdavis735]

My CRE 8900 can be set to display rx frequency then tx frequency when keyed up. Or swr or battery voltage when keyed.

 

[mdavis735]

Or you can change the little s/rf meter to be swy instead when keyed.

 

[W5LZ]

Odd, I remember every Kenwood HF radio I've had in the last dozen years or so had an SWR meter. (The VHF/UHF Kenwoods don't though.) They are accurate too. Maybe that's one of the differences between a $100 and $1000 radio?
- 'Doc

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Beats me why they don't include that but I do not know of any VHF/UHF radio that does have a built in SWR meter. Only ones I have seen are on HF and a couple of older VHF/UHF base radios.

 

[mr_fx]

Because then you wouldn't buy a shiny new MFJ meter. It's the corporate machine mmaaaannnn.

It ought to be included. If you can buy a cheap Cobra CB with an SWR meter, then you should get one on a $1000 radio. Plus, I bet your Kenwood doesn't have Sound Tracker. What's up with that?

hahaha, what does Sound Tracker even do anyway?

 

[Watergate]

hahaha, what does Sound Tracker even do anyway?

Makes the gullible say "I thinly I'll buy this Cobra instead of this Uniden because it has Sound Tracker® Technology."

 

[mr_fx]

Makes the gullible say "I thinly I'll buy this Cobra instead of this Uniden because it has Sound Tracker® Technology."

lol, in that case it sounds like a great idea, well for Cobra anyway! :laugh:

 

[mdavis735]

Oops. Using tapatalk and didn't notice it was the VHF/UHF rig section. I apologize.

 

[KM3F]

They all could be designed to display SWR but on the lower end radios it's a matter of additional cost.
On an FT2900 it's a $150 radio. A small meter cost about $60.
Would you rather pay $210 for the radio with the feature or buy a seperate meter and have it for the next radio.
When you install them you normally do an SWR test and adjustment on a dedicated antenna for the band using an external meter anyway.
Unless something goes wrong, you don't need to see SWR all that often.
Even if it changes you can't do anything about it unless you stop and check it out then do the fix.
A small external meter will do just as well.
I don't think the commercial radios even have the feature.
Working into repeaters as you drive, the signal level changes anyway wether due to SWR or location so it's not a feature you really need like on an HF band where you chase the frequency with a VFO and may need to retune especially with an amplifier that's not broad band and an antenna whose match needs attention vs frequncy.
Also, an SWR of 1.5 = a power loss of only 3% plus transmission line losses.
An SWR of 2 = a loss of 11% plus line losses.
If you have a power output with very little SWR of 5 watts, an SWR of 2 looses only a half watt plus line losses so not even missed at the other end..
At 3 to 1, the loss get up to 25% plus line.
The more important thing is not to lose the final device in the radio when the match gets to high and causes either the current to rise overheating the device or the RF voltage goes too high risking loss due to junction distruction.
Good luck.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

$60 for a meter?? Let me know where you buy your parts so I can avoid them. With the LCD displays all they have to do is provide the info on the screen. That would cost pennies.

 

[Radio Tech]

I really don’t feel like cost is the issue here, probably more of supply and demand. Folks are not asking for it. I think a built in swr monitor on any radio would be a good idea. The problem is this though, if you have anything between your rig and antenna, such as a diplexer, amplifier or whatever, the built in swr meter is going to read that instead of the antenna. Which is not a bad idea either. When testing and repairing amplifiers I always have a swr bridge between the two to monitor input into the amplifier.

 

[KM3F]

MFJ, Diamond and few other vendors that market the same cross needle meter under different names for the 144 and 450 bands would be as good as any built in function in a mobile radio, cost for cost.
They retail anywhere between $60 and $80 usd.
I use them and found to be quite good.
When the SWR is below 3 to 1 you don't need any better meter.
Anyone who is more critical should have a uhf flat load to test the meter into to satisfy themselves.
There is no gaurentee any meter is so called accurate unless tested into at least a 2 to 1 load impedance above and below 50 ohms at the frequency of use.
Good luck.

 

[KM3F]

MFJ, Diamond and few other vendors that market the same cross needle meter under different names for the 144 and 450 bands would be as good as any built in function in a mobile radio, cost for cost.
They retail anywhere between $60 and $80 usd.
I use them and found to be quite good.
When the SWR is below 3 to 1 you don't need any better meter.
Anyone who is more critical should have a uhf flat load to test the meter into to satisfy themselves.
There is no gaurentee any meter is so called accurate unless tested into at least a 2 to 1 load impedance above and below 50 ohms at the frequency of use.
Good luck.