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Freebird
Intermediate Member
Username: Freebird

Post Number: 302
Registered: 1-2003


Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 2:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was wondering how do I hook up my swr/power meter inline with my cb radio and my amplifier?I know the antenna wire will go into where it says antenna from my mobile antenna but here is where i get stuck.When i run the coax out from the outside to the radio then there is no wire coming out of the amp to see how many watts its doing.do i need some sort of splitter?maybe i just need more coffee but i somewhat stuck on this one.can anyone help?thanks
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Wildrat
Intermediate Member
Username: Wildrat

Post Number: 266
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 4:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Take the coax coming out of the amp and plug it into the meter input, then take the wire coming from your antenna and plug it into your meter output. Your meter must be able to handle the power your amp puts out. You can ck your swr now with the amp off or on, but you must calibrate the meter for when the amp is onor off.

Wildrat
CEF674
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Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious

Post Number: 833
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 2:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

wildrat is correct.

i had to read this one tiwce to make sure i didnt misunderstand the question.

if i understand your question freebird; then here is your answer:

you need another coax jumper cable, (we call tehm jumpers if they are connecting peripheral equipment together).

that's it!

try this; go buy a 9 foot jumper of RG-8mini or better coax. hook this jumper up going from the radio to the input(transmitter) of the amp.
now run your other coax jumper from the output(antenna) of the amp to the input (transmitter) of the SWR meter. then hook up the coax from the antenna to the output (antenna) of the SWR meter.

so it goes like this: radio>coax>amplifier>coax>SWR meter>coax>antenna.

have fun and good luck,
what kind of radio and what kind of amp?
matt
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Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero

Post Number: 1875
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 10:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

as they said...& YES, use jumpers from radio to amp 6'-9' or even 12'. SHORT jumpers will cause you headaches. you may even need to use 9'-12' jumper from amp to meter.
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Moonraker
Member
Username: Moonraker

Post Number: 72
Registered: 3-2005


Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 12:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This may or may not help you remember, but here goes... connect the radio to the amp and the meter to the antenna. After doing this you only have 1 jumper left.
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Therealporkchop
Intermediate Member
Username: Therealporkchop

Post Number: 457
Registered: 11-2002


Posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 12:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have also been told you are suppose to connect the meter before the amp to check SWR. But to read power out from the amp you would have to hook it up after the box.

Simple...radio-coax jumper-box-coax jumper-meter-antenna.

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