SWR Meter Lifespan

[Riverman]

Do swr meters suffer from old age like radios?
I have an old Radio Shack model that I've had for years and years. It still looks new and has never been dropped or bumped. Still good?

 

[Robb]

They are made of a pickup coil, wire, a meter, a switch, adjustable resistors for internal tuning, and 1N34 germanium detector diodes. Rarely, a diode might fail. Rarely. Or the switch gets dirty or wears out. Variable resistors might get dirty. Meter might get sticky/stuck. Can't think of any other problems.

 

[Riverman]

That's good to know. And makes my day.
Thanks, Robb!

 

[seagiant]

Hi,
I just bought this Daiwa.....

Hopefully it works?

 

[Riverman]

Hi,
I just bought this Daiwa.....

Hopefully it works?

These guys like it:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/7367

 

[seagiant]

Hi,
Thanks!

I payed $90 shipped, which was more than I wanted to put in an SWR Meter!

But, it is power and SWR and the "cheap" meters are $30-40!!!

Sometimes better to bite the bullet and just cry ONCE!

 

[Robb]

They are made of a pickup coil, wire, a meter, a switch, adjustable resistors for internal tuning, and 1N34 germanium detector diodes. Rarely, a diode might fail. Rarely. Or the switch gets dirty or wears out. Variable resistors might get dirty. Meter might get sticky/stuck. Can't think of any other problems.

What I described there is a passive type meter. It is fine for checking SWR; but not necessarily accurate for reading true peak power.

True peak power meters have more circuitry involved. Which requires a small amp circuit to be able to make the meter move when weak parts of the signal need to be made large enough to move the meter. As well as needing a battery or external power source to operate the extra circuitry. That is how they differ from passive-type meters. Doesn't mean passive meters aren't accurate for SWR - they are; but not really accurate for honest peak power readings. Fine for testing dead key power; but as much as 10% less for showing peak envelope power ('PEP') readings. Just a FYI . . .

 

[Riverman]

What I described there is a passive type meter. It is fine for checking SWR; but not necessarily accurate for reading true peak power. True peak power meters have more circuitry involved. Which requires a small amp circuit to be able to make the meter move when weak parts of the signal need to be made large enough to move the meter. That is how they differ from passive-type meters. Doesn't mean passive meters aren't accurate for SWR - they are; but not really accurate for honest peak power readings. Fine for testing dead key power; but as much as 10% less for showing peak envelope power ('PEP') readings. Just a FYI . . .

Thank you.

 

[Sarasota Slim]

Wouldn't the lifespan of a meter be dependent on the quality of meter? And maybe, where it is kept?

I don't mean to be argumentative. I have a Astatic meter that I kept in my truck; it's innards rattled apart. Specifically, a piece that was soldered to the board popped off. It's a cheap, $30 meter, so I can't complain. But, it being cheap, I figure that it may not have been all that well made, to begin with.