Best low-end watt/VSWR meter you would suggest

[TIN_CAN]

MFJ-815D

Some people aren't keen on the MFJ meters but I to have had good luck with them I have the 868 and seems to correspond with my old 21-520A micronta meter, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Riverman]

On sale until the end of the month at HRO.

https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-015502

That’s a good price! I have one. Paid a lot more than that.

 

[144inBama]

My Daiwa came in today... Pretty impressed with it honestly. Thought something was wrong with it to start with because the SWR meter never moved on 20, went to channel 40 and it was working. I tried to post a vid but the site wouldn't let me.
Thanks for the recommendations guys, I greatly appreciate them.

 

[144inBama]

Apparently the scales aren't agreeing with each other... On the 15 watt scale it's reading about 8.5 watts and on the 150 scale it's reading around 15 watts... This is on the pep scale, which is basically only 3ish different from the avg power... Ehhh, beats me.

 

[dave457]

Just average out the difference

 

[Slowmover]

Just average out the difference

Close one eye

Yeah, that’s it!

.

 

[144inBama]

I was just expecting more of a difference between pep and avg. As far as the scales go....I would have thought the 150 scale would have read lower than the 15.....I hate inconsistencies, they screw with my already elevated learning curve...

 

[Slowmover]

I was just expecting more of a difference between pep and avg. As far as the scales go....I would have thought the 150 scale would have read lower than the 15.....I hate inconsistencies, they screw with my already elevated learning curve...

I drop any more gears in my elevated learning curve I may have to swing it around and try to crest it in Reverse.

.

 

[144inBama]

I drop any more gears in my elevated learning curve I may have to swing it around and try to crest it in Reverse.

.

If no one else understands.... I sure do..LOL

 

[Mudfoot]

Meter is working as expected.

 

[2NC995]

Apparently the scales aren't agreeing with each other... On the 15 watt scale it's reading about 8.5 watts and on the 150 scale it's reading around 15 watts... This is on the pep scale, which is basically only 3ish different from the avg power... Ehhh, beats me.

I believe, and I’m happy to be corrected, that standard calibration is for full scale reading. The further away from full scale you are, the less accurate you can expect.

In other words: you can’t expect a 100 watt scale to be as accurate at 3 watts as it is at 95 watts.

With that assumption, you would generally be better off reading on the scale closest to the full power output...in this case, the 15 watt scale should be much more accurate for your 8(ish) watt reading, than the 150 watt scale.

 

[144inBama]

I believe, and I’m happy to be corrected, that standard calibration is for full scale reading. The further away from full scale you are, the less accurate you can expect.

In other words: you can’t expect a 100 watt scale to be as accurate at 3 watts as it is at 95 watts.

With that assumption, you would generally be better off reading on the scale closest to the full power output...in this case, the 15 watt scale should be much more accurate for your 8(ish) watt reading, than the 150 watt scale.

And I agree, it’s the same in industrial instrumentation. But it’s usually a lower reading on a higher scale because you cal for upper end measurements, that’s what tweaks me. Guess I just need to keep in mind these aren’t Rosemont or Siemens transmitters...LOL

 

[kopcicle]

 

[Mudfoot]

I believe, and I’m happy to be corrected, that standard calibration is for full scale reading. The further away from full scale you are, the less accurate you can expect.

In other words: you can’t expect a 100 watt scale to be as accurate at 3 watts as it is at 95 watts.

With that assumption, you would generally be better off reading on the scale closest to the full power output...in this case, the 15 watt scale should be much more accurate for your 8(ish) watt reading, than the 150 watt scale.

A decent meter is accurate thru its range

 

[2NC995]

A decent meter is accurate thru its range

I guess Daiwa’s are indecent junk.

But, I do know how to spell “through”.