Disclaimer: Please follow all rules and regulations regarding licensed and unlicensed radio transmissions. Please be aware there are certain rules and power output limitations regarding unlicensed transmission on Citizens Band Radio in the USA. We do show equipment that is not type accepted and is over the legal power limits for operation on 26.965 -27.405 Mhz in the USA. We are showing this for educational purposes only. We do not modify New 10 Meter Radio sales for operation on 26.965-27.405 MHz for profit. Any New linear amplifier sales are for the sole purpose of being used on the Licensed HF bands by Licensed Amateur Radio Operators. We do show for educational purposes only certain Linear amplifiers being used on 26.965-27.405 MHz on our channel. All of our tests are made transmitting into a 50 Ohm dummy load. To get in contact with us: ✉️ Sales@Scottsradiosllc.net
the radio shack 21-534 is one of the best small "cheap" meters out there!!! I now own 4 of them for the mobiles as they match 100% to my bird 43p!! and nothing else comes close!
As always, great video and awesome info. I miss radio shack stores. I know you can order stuff online, but going to a store and looking was part of the fun. Keep on keeping on bro, 73's.
I miss Radio shack also. There was something to be said about going in and being able to buy certain parts and components for electronics locally. They kind of had a little bit of everything electronics wise. It was sad at the end because they tried to sell cellular phones and anything they could to stay afloat. I believe the one that was local to me in the town I grew up and started carrying Verizon wireless and satellite service subscriptions. Although I do like the convenience of things like Amazon etc. I do miss being able to go to a local store for certain things. It was just a fun thing to do and got you out of the house.
I have one of those radio shack it's close but not right well said video thank you for the honesty that's something a lot of us repair guys do see a lot of take care keep the videos coming
Thanks for replying what I meant to say is a lot of techs are dishonest and more swing isn't the way to go unless you want to be a menace take care and 73 oh and by the way congrats on the new antenna
Note: I installed a couple of 9v battery holders on the back side of my bird meter. Ran some 9v battery clips into the interior battery snaps. Makes an easy battery change without taking the back off the bird.
Looks good. I enjoyed the picture you sent me of it. I was wondering if a power pack could be used in place of the (2) 9-volt batteries? I guess you would have to figure how the power is distribute to the peak circuit. I'm wondering if the two 9-volt batteries are in series or in parallel to power the peak kit device? I figured it could be rigged up kind of like how you did yours except wired directly to a plug into the wall power pack.
@@ScottsRadios I think there is an op-amp circuit, so +9 and -9. Two 9 regulated 9 volt wallwarts or one 16 vac center tapped transformer, a +9 and -9 volt regulator some caps and build a power supply.
Great review 👍. And truthful. I like my RS meter for an accurate SWR reading , other than that , it’s just a reference . What does a brand new Bird 43 with a peak reading included cost and where is a good place to order ?
Dallas, Thanks for watching. I ordered mine from Martin RF Supply. The service was excellent. I'm not being paid to endorse Martin RF Supply. Expect to spend $600+ On a Real OEM Bird 43P.
@@ScottsRadios Gotcha ,, that’s kinda what I figured . I’ll have to look at that website I have saved , they sale new and used calibrated ones , it might be the same company, I’ll look and see
@@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee I understand completely. Just be careful of aftermarket parts. It's really hard to tell. But there is a big difference between OEM Bird Peak Kits and Meter windows vs Chinese Knockoffs. They do a good job to replicate the authentic look so it can be very difficult tell the difference.
I have a Radio Shack meter like that one. It’s works great for what it is. Accurate...no, but it gets you in the ballpark. Got it on EBay for $35. One day I will get a used Bird. Any suggestions? Thanks for getting a vid on this meter!! It’s the only one out there. Good job sir!!
Got the MFJ-868B and it's great. It's a SWR/wattmeter 0 to 2000 watts. it is powered battery or wall wort so it has true Peak reading. has reflected power to tested with a friends bird43 & and was accurate. in the manual it shows you how to easily adjust if need to. it has 3 trim pots inside a 20 watt, 200 watt, 2000 watt. its that easy but you need another accurate meter to compare. all in all great SWR/Wattmeter.
FYI the two lower scales on that meter, you use that diagonal mark on the bottom and that meter was dead on at exactly 100w, you were reading the top scale which is only used for the 2000w setting so it’s accurate to your bird
I got a question for ya Scott . How accurate do you think the swr meters are on the President radios ? I love that feature on them . Maybe you could test one of those against one of your known accurate stand alone meters .
The SWR meter in the President radios is reasonably accurate. I try to encourage everyone to purchase a antenna analyzer. They are very useful tool and they are much more accurate than any SWR meter inside of a radio, or an external for that matter.
@@ScottsRadios thanks for the reply. Just bought one off ebay waiting for it to get here. Seen the video after I bought it and was curious of how it does.
@@304_Smiley They do work much better than meters like Dosy, Astatic, Para dynamic, ect. Although for better accuracy when reading peak I recommend a meter that has a power peak reading circuit.
You should do a video on how to add a powered PEP circuit to any swr / power meter. I have 3 different HANSEN true peak reading SWR power meters that work a treat.. Hansen FS500 H Hansen FS50 HP Hansen FS710 H ✌️73 🇦🇺 🪃
Disclaimer:
Please follow all rules and regulations regarding licensed and unlicensed radio transmissions.
Please be aware there are certain rules and power output limitations regarding unlicensed transmission on Citizens Band Radio in the USA.
We do show equipment that is not type accepted and is over the legal power limits for operation on 26.965 -27.405 Mhz in the USA.
We are showing this for educational purposes only.
We do not modify New 10 Meter Radio sales for operation on 26.965-27.405 MHz for profit.
Any New linear amplifier sales are for the sole purpose of being used on the Licensed HF bands by Licensed Amateur Radio Operators.
We do show for educational purposes only certain Linear amplifiers being used on 26.965-27.405 MHz on our channel.
All of our tests are made transmitting into a 50 Ohm dummy load.
To get in contact with us:
✉️
Sales@Scottsradiosllc.net
the radio shack 21-534 is one of the best small "cheap" meters out there!!! I now own 4 of them for the mobiles as they match 100% to my bird 43p!! and nothing else comes close!
As always, great video and awesome info. I miss radio shack stores. I know you can order stuff online, but going to a store and looking was part of the fun. Keep on keeping on bro, 73's.
I miss Radio shack also.
There was something to be said about going in and being able to buy certain parts and components for electronics locally.
They kind of had a little bit of everything electronics wise.
It was sad at the end because they tried to sell cellular phones and anything they could to stay afloat.
I believe the one that was local to me in the town I grew up and started carrying Verizon wireless and satellite service subscriptions.
Although I do like the convenience of things like Amazon etc. I do miss being able to go to a local store for certain things. It was just a fun thing to do and
got you out of the house.
I have one of those radio shack it's close but not right well said video thank you for the honesty that's something a lot of us repair guys do see a lot of take care keep the videos coming
Thank you for watching.
For the general radio user the RadioShack meter works just fine.
Thanks for replying what I meant to say is a lot of techs are dishonest and more swing isn't the way to go unless you want to be a menace take care and 73 oh and by the way congrats on the new antenna
Note: I installed a couple of 9v battery holders on the back side of my bird meter. Ran some 9v battery clips into the interior battery snaps. Makes an easy battery change without taking the back off the bird.
Looks good. I enjoyed the picture you sent me of it.
I was wondering if a power pack could be used in place of the (2) 9-volt batteries?
I guess you would have to figure how the power is distribute to the peak circuit.
I'm wondering if the two 9-volt batteries are in series or in parallel to power the peak kit device?
I figured it could be rigged up kind of like how you did yours except wired directly to a plug into the wall power pack.
@@ScottsRadios
I think there is an op-amp circuit, so +9 and -9. Two 9 regulated 9 volt wallwarts or one 16 vac center tapped transformer, a +9 and -9 volt regulator some caps and build a power supply.
I have one of those, love it. On my station for monitoring dead key or SWR.
Great review 👍. And truthful. I like my RS meter for an accurate SWR reading , other than that , it’s just a reference . What does a brand new Bird 43 with a peak reading included cost and where is a good place to order ?
Dallas,
Thanks for watching.
I ordered mine from Martin RF Supply.
The service was excellent.
I'm not being paid to endorse Martin RF Supply.
Expect to spend $600+
On a Real OEM Bird 43P.
@@ScottsRadios
Gotcha ,, that’s kinda what I figured . I’ll have to look at that website I have saved , they sale new and used calibrated ones , it might be the same company, I’ll look and see
I have heard good things about that company also.
@@ScottsRadios
Yeah me too if I can find a decent used one for my first bird meter at a competitive price I’ll probably go that route for starters
@@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee I understand completely.
Just be careful of aftermarket parts.
It's really hard to tell.
But there is a big difference between OEM Bird Peak Kits and Meter windows vs Chinese Knockoffs.
They do a good job to replicate the authentic look so it can be very difficult tell the difference.
I have a Radio Shack meter like that one. It’s works great for what it is. Accurate...no, but it gets you in the ballpark. Got it on EBay for $35. One day I will get a used Bird. Any suggestions?
Thanks for getting a vid on this meter!! It’s the only one out there. Good job sir!!
Got the MFJ-868B and it's great. It's a SWR/wattmeter 0 to 2000 watts. it is powered battery or wall wort so it has true Peak reading. has reflected power to tested with a friends bird43 & and was accurate. in the manual it shows you how to easily adjust if need to. it has 3 trim pots inside a 20 watt, 200 watt, 2000 watt. its that easy but you need another accurate meter to compare. all in all great SWR/Wattmeter.
Good to know mfj does make some quality products.
Unfortunately you hear more about their poor quality control over good things from them.
FYI the two lower scales on that meter, you use that diagonal mark on the bottom and that meter was dead on at exactly 100w, you were reading the top scale which is only used for the 2000w setting so it’s accurate to your bird
Palstar probably has a peak hold feature which is nice
I got a question for ya Scott . How accurate do you think the swr meters are on the President radios ? I love that feature on them . Maybe you could test one of those against one of your known accurate stand alone meters .
The SWR meter in the President radios is reasonably accurate.
I try to encourage everyone to purchase a antenna analyzer. They are very useful tool and they are much more accurate than any SWR meter inside of a radio, or an external for that matter.
@@ScottsRadios Yep analyzer on my list . lol . The never ending list . lol
@@timmygilbert1371 CB , Constantly Buying lol
I have one and it does work for ham radio legal power 1.5k.
What do think about the MFJ 868b giant meter
I haven't seen anything about that meter.
I'm sure some people are happy with them but sometimes it's like rolling the dice with mfj products.
Is it me or does this guy sound like Tom bodett I'll leave the light on for you LOL😀
Mike is that a customers or yours?
Mine
How close is it on 11 meters?
Which meter?
@@ScottsRadios the radio shack 21-534.
They are ok for testing dead key levels. Not so great for peak reading.
@@ScottsRadios thanks for the reply. Just bought one off ebay waiting for it to get here. Seen the video after I bought it and was curious of how it does.
@@304_Smiley They do work much better than meters like Dosy, Astatic, Para dynamic, ect.
Although for better accuracy when reading peak I recommend a meter that has a power peak reading circuit.
What about the mfj 868b giant watt meter
I would stay away from that one personally.
You can see some detailed reviews here.
www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=6459
You should do a video on how to add a powered PEP circuit to any swr / power meter.
I have 3 different HANSEN true peak reading SWR power meters that work a treat..
Hansen FS500 H
Hansen FS50 HP
Hansen FS710 H
✌️73 🇦🇺 🪃
Try the Monitor Sensors peak meter from 🇦🇺 🦘
@ScottsRadios ok I will... is that check ? Or checkmate ?.
Lol.