Radios with builtin SWR Meters

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Do I really need to spend $15 on a SWR meter if the radio already got one

When I got my SWR done at a radio shop it was 1.5:1 and then I checked it with the Cobra 29 internal SWR meter is was 1.5:1

I would rather put the extra money to a nice mic

[fire65]

I tend to agree with you. I got the Galaxy to 1.7 and it matches my SWR meter close enough for me. The Galaxy also has an alert light if the SWR gets above 2. Still need my meter though as I am putting my old Cobra in the wifes pickup.

[Stealth Stalker]

I am not aware of any known problems with internal SWR meters being inaccurate. You want the reading to be taken as close as possible to the radio. You can't get any closer than internal, right? I've always trusted them, and never found any to be significantly off from stand-alone meters.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Thanks guys I just ordered my new radio and the meter is so big I won't have any issues reading it.

Galaxy DX949 AM/SSB *factory refurbished* Tuned and Peaked for $99....Same price as my other choice the dx919. Either of those radio's with my Wilson 500 will get out there.
The added features of the dx949 were so much more appealing to me

I have heard great things about Galaxy's and I can't wait to play with a real big kids radio

[Stealth Stalker]

Wow! $99 bucks is a heck of a deal for that much radio!

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Wow! $99 bucks is a heck of a deal for that much radio!

I know I couldn't pass it up

Espeically now I will no longer need to upgrade futher. Maybe if I get serious about DXing I just need a few minor upgrads and I am done

[fire65]

Congrats. I am sure you will love it. I ended up paying 102 for the 919 so that is a great price.

[supercowpowers]

I had the tech at a CB shop tell me the internal meters are the same circuits they put in the standalone meters.

They're probably about as accurate as the $20 truck stop meters most of us are using. Even if it's off a little bit, as long as your SWR is the same on 1 and 40, and it's not something ridiculous like 2.5 then I would suspect you're not going to fry your radio.

[bradthemad]

When I got my Galaxy 979, I re-checked the SWR on both the radio's built-in meter and my cheap-ass Vanco meter. They were within 0.1 of each other.

Enjoy the new radio!

[AirMoore]

Despite what members on here have been saying, built-in SWR meters on most radios are somewhat inaccurate, go to most any CB forum, and they will tell you that you should ALWAYS confirm an internal SWR meter before using it. Generally they are not inaccurate enough to cause a problem (.2-.3 off at most), you don't know until you check it. Generally though, unless you are using a heater such differences are of negliable importance at most.

Generally the sense that I get is the following Rob: Using an internal SWR meter to monitor your SWR's is fine, just don't tune your SWR's using it.


Galaxy radios (along with many others) automatically calibrate their SWR meters to make for extremely quick and easy monitoring of the numbers... so that is a very nice feature.

Personally on my 959, mine is pretty much spot on (.1 off sometimes)... my guess is with its automatic calibration, but I am not sure.


Also your Galazy will have a'High-SWR' warning light, so if something is really wrong, it will tell you instantly.


Basically the bottom line here is: Once you have an antenna tuned and ready to go, there is generally nothing wrong with using your 949's meter just to make sure things are still in line, and as I said it will warn you (no matter what function you are on) PWR/SWR/MOD via a light if your SWR's are too high.


PS: If you want on your trip in May when we meet-up I can bring my SWR tester and my 959 just to do some testing in that aspect if we have time.