Thanks for the review. I am looking for a cross reading meter for my Ham rig after recently having an RF problem in the shack. I am looking for a Palstar cross needle meter, and this review was very helpful. I own a Plastar DL2k dummy load which has served me well for several years, and they build a an affordable quality product here in the USA.
I watched the video on the WM-150, I've never seen one, but probably had the same problem as the 2000A. Which is the reflected power measurement. The reflected power measurement is AVERAGE only, it has no active circuitry to display "PEP" reflected power. Meaning, the only way to get the most accurate SWR reading is to set the meter to "AVE" so both meters are reading average. The active circuitry for PEP and peak hold is ONLY on the forward scale.
several comments, the meter you are using is a Palstar PM2000 not the 2000a The 2000a correct several problems and add several features. Keep in mind that the other meters you showed are specifically tuned for the CB band while the Palstar is designed to be accurate across all the amateur bands which is much more complicated and expensive to design. Again the primary difference between the Palstar and the Radio Shack and Dosy meter is the Palstar will be very accurate across all the ham bands and not just the CB band. The bottom line is you only operate CB then the Palstar doesn't really offer you anything more than the other meters do.
cbradiomagazine Well then the only thing I can think of is that it must have been either miss box or an early prototype becouse the 2000a that I reviewed had two settings 30 watts and 3000 Watts, it had silk screen labels which indicated function of the buttons in both the in and out positions. The front panel buttons were all black with one red power button. The Palstar 2000a in my opinion is an exceptionally good power / SWR meter. Just a bit of background on myself, I hold a first class radiotelephone license with radar endorsement. I've also held an extra class ham radio ticket for over 30 years. I have a fully stocked electronics repair lab complete with service monitors, Spectrum analyzers, Vector Network analyzer as well as a Rhoades and Schwartz laboratory-grade power meter. over the years I have reviewed just about every SWR power meter I could lay my hands on and I have to say that the Palstar 2000a is among one of the best and most accurate analog meters I have ever seen. it's not only accurate in the CB band it's accurate across the entire HF Spectrum. I'm utterly amazed that they are able to produce this item and take it to market for under $200 it's one thing to design and produce an SWR power meter that's accurate across a limited frequency range such as the CB band and it's a completely different beast to design and produce a wide band SWR power meter which is accurate across the entire HF Spectrum. With that said I don't see how this meter really benefits your average CB operator, in my opinion it's massive Overkill. There are plenty of less-expensive meters on the market which are accurate enough for CB operators and which have more appropriate and useful Power Ranges. With that said, if I had one complaint about the Palstar it would be its overall kit like appearance, while I like the powder coated finish its overall appearance makes it look like a kit that was built in someone's garage rather than the accurate professional grade equipment it is, I've seen cheap Chinese pieces of junk which looked more professional. the palstar is accurate enough that I find myself using it in the field more often than I find myself using my bird
cbradiomagazine I wish there was a happy medium price wise for a relatively accurate watt swr meter for consumers. You'd think in the 21st century and with advances in cad cam technology with cheaper manufacturing costs they'd be some fairly accurate( and semi reliable) meters priced in the sub $200 range. but alas not. It appears its either a Bird meter or LP100A, else all the mediocrity below them.
Just ordered one of these. Palstar makes quality products, I have on of their external speakers for my Icom radio and it's awesome.
Thanks for the review. I am looking for a cross reading meter for my Ham rig after recently having an RF problem in the shack. I am looking for a Palstar cross needle meter, and this review was very helpful. I own a Plastar DL2k dummy load which has served me well for several years, and they build a an affordable quality product here in the USA.
I watched the video on the WM-150, I've never seen one, but probably had the same problem as the 2000A. Which is the reflected power measurement. The reflected power measurement is AVERAGE only, it has no active circuitry to display "PEP" reflected power. Meaning, the only way to get the most accurate SWR reading is to set the meter to "AVE" so both meters are reading average. The active circuitry for PEP and peak hold is ONLY on the forward scale.
several comments, the meter you are using is a Palstar PM2000 not the 2000a
The 2000a correct several problems and add several features.
Keep in mind that the other meters you showed are specifically tuned for the CB band while the Palstar is designed to be accurate across all the amateur bands which is much more complicated and expensive to design.
Again the primary difference between the Palstar and the Radio Shack and Dosy meter is the Palstar will be very accurate across all the ham bands and not just the CB band. The bottom line is you only operate CB then the Palstar doesn't really offer you anything more than the other meters do.
Dan Nelson meter is PM2000A.
cbradiomagazine
Well then the only thing I can think of is that it must have been either miss box or an early prototype becouse the 2000a that I reviewed had two settings 30 watts and 3000 Watts, it had silk screen labels which indicated function of the buttons in both the in and out positions. The front panel buttons were all black with one red power button.
The Palstar 2000a in my opinion is an exceptionally good power / SWR meter.
Just a bit of background on myself, I hold a first class radiotelephone license with radar endorsement. I've also held an extra class ham radio ticket for over 30 years.
I have a fully stocked electronics repair lab complete with service monitors, Spectrum analyzers, Vector Network analyzer as well as a Rhoades and Schwartz laboratory-grade power meter.
over the years I have reviewed just about every SWR power meter I could lay my hands on and I have to say that the Palstar 2000a is among one of the best and most accurate analog meters I have ever seen. it's not only accurate in the CB band it's accurate across the entire HF Spectrum.
I'm utterly amazed that they are able to produce this item and take it to market for under $200
it's one thing to design and produce an SWR power meter that's accurate across a limited frequency range such as the CB band and it's a completely different beast to design and produce a wide band SWR power meter which is accurate across the entire HF Spectrum.
With that said I don't see how this meter really benefits your average CB operator, in my opinion it's massive Overkill.
There are plenty of less-expensive meters on the market which are accurate enough for CB operators and which have more appropriate and useful Power Ranges.
With that said, if I had one complaint about the Palstar it would be its overall kit like appearance, while I like the powder coated finish its overall appearance makes it look like a kit that was built in someone's garage rather than the accurate professional grade equipment it is, I've seen cheap Chinese pieces of junk which looked more professional. the palstar is accurate enough that I find myself using it in the field more often than I find myself using my bird
Nice review thanks!
Very nice meter.
how are you supposed to read the Meter when in the 2k setting ? Bad Meter.
Da
made in in the USA😎
just talk into it, auuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudio renders the test worthless
no it doesn't, hammy ham bone
200 dollars now, and still rubbish.
Lots of people swear by this meter but I never really thought it performed as well as it should for the price.
cbradiomagazine I wish there was a happy medium price wise for a relatively accurate watt swr meter for consumers. You'd think in the 21st century and with advances in cad cam technology with cheaper manufacturing costs they'd be some fairly accurate( and semi reliable) meters priced in the sub $200 range. but alas not. It appears its either a Bird meter or LP100A, else all the mediocrity below them.
Cheers, I took a chance and bought a Swan 2000A meter from ebay, fingers crossed LOL
Rubbish? Come on Freddy. I don’t think so.
forget_your_life yes suppose you are right. Was a little bit of zealous banter on my side those few years ago.