I have been using on of the small compact back lite cross needle DAIWA
SWR/power meters, model CN-410M. It is only 3"x3"x4" and can be flush
mounted.

It appears they are no longer manufactured.

Anyone care to suggest a suitable replacement for mobile HF operations?
Compact size and flush mounting preferred.

Thanks,

Greg

Anyone care to suggest a suitable replacement for mobile HF operations?

Hi Greg, I have never used an in-line SWR meter in my mobile rigs. I did not
think it would be helpful.
For tuning a HF mobile antenna I use an antenna analyzer. An SWR bridge
could be used, but it is not as useful to me because the analyzer gives lots
more info.
When you are going down the interstate at 75 mph and talking on the radio,
the SWR meter will tell you (if you happen to look at it) if something is wrong
with the antenna. If you did not have an SWR meter, you would know something
is wrong, cause the RX would go deaf, or the TX would fold back (have to look
at the TX).
Sorry I did not recommend a mobile SWR meter. Just listed the reasons why
you could get by without one.
73 Gary N4AST

On 08 Feb 2005 23:24:06 GMT, (JGBOYLES) wrote:

or the TX would fold back

This suggests a method: buy a meter with the appropriate form factor
(DVM of course); measure the line that drives the fold back control.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Sorry I did not recommend a mobile SWR meter. Just listed the reasons
why
you could get by without one. .....


I couldn't get by without one myself...Who wants to drag an analyser
around just to change bands, etc..Besides, I don't own an analyser.
I never thought they would be that helpful...:/ Or at least I've never
needed one for anything I've ever done...
Also, if you are driving down the road, and the antenna leans back and
changes the load my radio sees, the SWR meter will tell me at a glance
what the match is. You can have a 2:1 SWR or higher, and still not have
a "deaf" radio. But thats enough to cause a foldback...How much depends
on the rig..
I can tweak the antenna, or matching device very quickly to
make sure I get full power out. I couldn't see having to hook an
analyser
up to do that, while on a trip...But my SWR meter is in the radio. This

one reason why I preferred a IC-730 over say a TS-130, back when those
were current rigs...I'm so spoiled on having the meter in the rig, I
don't
think I could go back to not having it...I hate having to drag around
an extra box for that...Naturally, my current IC-706 has a meter also..
Icoms have had internal meters since waaaayyyy back...Sure makes things
a lot easier...Applies to portable too...As far as the original poster,
I don't have a clue, being I don't need one outboard...I'd use almost
anything as long as it worked...Even a cheap rat shack model would be
fine.
But....If he wants to live as I do, he needs a different radio...:-/
On hf, my meter stays on "SWR" all the time. I never look at the power
out,
or ALC.
If I see that meter/bar start swinging over, I know instantly, Houston,
we
have a problem. But to each his own , I guess....
MK

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 11:17:13 -0500, Spam Fighter
wrote:

I have been using on of the small compact back lite cross needle DAIWA
SWR/power meters, model CN-410M. It is only 3"x3"x4" and can be flush
mounted.

It appears they are no longer manufactured.

Anyone care to suggest a suitable replacement for mobile HF operations?
Compact size and flush mounting preferred.

Thanks,

Greg

Diamond Antenna makes a couple of small cross needle meters about 3.5"
square, the sx-20c and sx-40c, depending on the frequency range you
need. They're listed in the AEA catalog, or you could go to theeir web
site, or call 'em..

bob
k5qwg

On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 15:03:11 GMT, Bob Miller
wrote:

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 11:17:13 -0500, Spam Fighter
wrote:

I have been using on of the small compact back lite cross needle DAIWA
SWR/power meters, model CN-410M. It is only 3"x3"x4" and can be flush
mounted.

It appears they are no longer manufactured.

Anyone care to suggest a suitable replacement for mobile HF operations?
Compact size and flush mounting preferred.

Thanks,

Greg

Diamond Antenna makes a couple of small cross needle meters about 3.5"
square, the sx-20c and sx-40c, depending on the frequency range you
need. They're listed in the AEA catalog, or you could go to theeir web
site, or call 'em..

(make that AES, not AEA)


bob
k5qwg