Signal meter

[John A]

I’m getting into shortwave radio after a lifetime of radio ignorance so I have a question. I live in a spot that has a lot of signal blockers around me so I want a meter that I can wander around the property with and check places to put antennas. I’ve been dragging experimental antennas around and it’s hard to estimate the antenna without knowing the signal availability. Any suggestions? I’ve been looking at vintage analog swr meters but they look like they are not for portable use. Edit  I’ve been looking at getting an antenna tuner and an analyzer in which I prefer analog. If you have any advice, good or bad lay it on me.

[bikeridertim]

I have used a simple AM hand held radio in the house. Turn it on, and do not turn in a station. Just listen to the "static" white noise. When you find a cause the sound will change,  TV's, computers, wall warts, microwave,  they all add up. I have never tried it outside though.  Good luck,  it can be annoying.

[StuCorpe]

A SWR (actually VSWR for voltage standing wave ratio) meter is for matching transmitters to antennas (or antennas to transmitters, depending on how you look at it) so that is not what you want.  You would probably want a signal strength meter.

[John A]

I have used a simple AM hand held radio in the house. Turn it on, and do not turn in a station. Just listen to the "static" white noise. When you find a cause the sound will change,  TV's, computers, wall warts, microwave,  they all add up. I have never tried it outside though.  Good luck,  it can be annoying.

That’s a good idea, am reception is terrible right around here. There are places that I can get a signal but it’s tricky to find a signal path. I’ll try it , I have an acre lot and have a 24’ flagpole to put somewhere along with other poles I’ve collected . There is already a flagpole in the front yard that was well mounted by the previous owner. I took it down twenty years ago to paint and I need to do that again so I’m going to rig a vertical antenna for the top of that when I paint it.

[John A]

A SWR (actually VSWR for voltage standing wave ratio) meter is for matching transmitters to antennas (or antennas to transmitters, depending on how you look at it) so that is not what you want.  You would probably want a signal strength meter.

I need a swr meter anyway, I’m accumulating radios and antennas so I should accumulate the tools as well. Then when I croak there will be more stuff for the auction. I’d like to go to that one… yeah, I think a signal strength meter is what I need right now, one that I can stumble around the place with. If I knew more about it, I could maybe find a signal strength meter to do what I need which is to help with antenna placement rather than trial and error which got old fast with taller antennas

[StuCorpe]

You might want to read this article as it explains the use of an SWR meter. 
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-an-SWR-Meter
You also might check something like this https://www.amazon.com/Astatic-302-PDC2-Field-Strength-Meter/dp/B000KEUFME/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=swr+meter&qid=1683746195&sr=8-5
Hope that helps

[mondtster]

SWR meters and antenna analyzers are used for transmitters. Are you talking or listening?

This would also be a good time to start researching antenna design and what environmental conditions affect whether or not you'll hear someone's transmission and from where you might expect to receive them. Things aren't as cut and dried as I suspect you're hoping for.

[StuCorpe]

mondtster    What I was trying to say but seemed to be tongue tied.

[normzone]

My brother is in Lake Havasu AZ, and his locale has a bunch of repeaters to facilitate things. I wonder how your neighborhood is set up.

[John A]

I set a hand held sw radio to the repeater frequency in Redwing, within ten miles from here, and went around checking for a signal by keying the mike to see if it would pick it up. No luck at all so the next step is to verify the equipment for this place has always been troublesome to get a radio signal. It’s a good reason to ride to the top of the river bluffs with the handheld radio. Sometimes I can get a signal with a directional antenna northwest from here up the river channel , the repeater I was after today is to the south. There is large factory to the north a half mile where they do a lot of very heavy arc welding building power transmission towers so there are some obstacles. I plan on ending up with some directional antennas on masts and I built some portable pole mounts but I have more work to do on the bases. Being portable with a twenty plus foot mast is not as easy as sinking a shaft . Maybe I can figure out a way to find the best reception spot without dragging them things all over, it’s all new to me.

[LaMojo]

Hi John. If you are just getting into shortwave radios or have been before note that the traditional shortwave band that lies between the upper broadcast frequency (160 meters) to the CB band (11 Meters) is all but devoid of activity except for the ham bands. Almost all of the international broadcasters have moved to the internet. Radio Cuba, religious broadcasters and pirate stations.are still around though.
The shortwave segment is particularly sensitive to static discharges, electrical interference in and outside the house and pole mounted transformers can cause some grief.
As mentioned use a AM radio and make a survey by walking around your yard to track electrical noise before erecting an antenna. Area with the minimum noise will be your deciding factor for reception.
You may want to explore using a SDR (software Defined Radio, receive only) dongle that plugs in your Windows computer's USB port rather than buying a shortwave radio. Lots of free software available. I got mine at Amazon..RTL2882U.(Abt $35). Check RTL-SDR.COM for info and instructions to install and use. You can use a random length wire for an antenna to start with.
Jack K5TJG

[Wayne Orwig]

I got a SDR stick that I plug into a USB port on my tablet. There are a number of different programs that would easily show you the signal strength of about anything that you would want to receive as you move it around. Including a spectrum analyzer type function.
Pretty cool device.
They are relatively cheap. But setting up the software is a bit complex.

[mondtster]

I set a hand held sw radio to the repeater frequency in Redwing, within ten miles from here, and went around checking for a signal by keying the mike to see if it would pick it up. No luck at all so the next step is to verify the equipment for this place has always been troublesome to get a radio signal. It’s a good reason to ride to the top of the river bluffs with the handheld radio. Sometimes I can get a signal with a directional antenna northwest from here up the river channel , the repeater I was after today is to the south. There is large factory to the north a half mile where they do a lot of very heavy arc welding building power transmission towers so there are some obstacles. I plan on ending up with some directional antennas on masts and I built some portable pole mounts but I have more work to do on the bases. Being portable with a twenty plus foot mast is not as easy as sinking a shaft . Maybe I can figure out a way to find the best reception spot without dragging them things all over, it’s all new to me.

What frequency/repeater were you trying to transmit and receive on? I'm guessing it wasn't what is commonly known as shortwave, which may be why you're getting left handed responses.

Assuming you have a typical VHF/UHF handheld radio, these are devices that operate via line of sight and trees/obstacles will affect their performance.

Give more detail and someone might be able to help more. I know there are at least a few amateur radio operators that post on this board.

[FarmallA]

The Redwing MN UHF and VHF repeaters (AA0RW) have an offset between their transmit and receive frequencies, so unless your handheld (FM) is programed to accommodate, you won't know if you successfully picked up the repeater.

Also, when attempting to pick up a repeater, you should state your call sign.

FarmallA
N1UES
Steve

[John A]

I’m experimenting with different antennas, I prefer to build my own. I am hoping to find some instruments that will help me with antenna placement and performance besides the radio itself. I bought a short wave receiver and was gifted a 2 meter portable for a vehicle. I’ve not been able to pick anything up and need to find out if it’s the antenna or the radio. I bought another just like it for spare parts but have been unable to get that one to receive as well. They both scan and will stop on a signal but it’s just noise so I’ve been trying different noise reduction methods and antenna types and placement. Maybe when I can raise a mast maybe that will change. I was gifted a hand held vhf that I thought would help me find good places to put an antenna but have had no luck there. The receiver radio is just on a random long wire and does well on FM and some shortwave broadcasts. I’ll probably build an am antenna next for that seems to be the simplest. I want to have something to listen to as I study. I plan on getting some tools to help, like a signal meter and antenna tuner so I’ve been looking at them , learning what they do, how to use them etc. There are so many and I don’t want to start buying them without some advise. I’m looking for someone to test and repair the two meter radios so at least I will know if it’s a radio or an antenna problem. I joined the local ham club so I’ll be asking them as I am studying for the license test. I just thought it would be good to ask here but I should have waited until I knew enough to ask intelligent, specific questions. Thanks, everyone

[John A]

The Redwing MN UHF and VHF repeaters (AA0RW) have an offset between their transmit and receive frequencies, so unless your handheld (FM) is programed to accommodate, you won't know if you successfully picked up the repeater.

Also, when attempting to pick up a repeater, you should state your call sign.

FarmallA
N1UES
Steve



Thanks, I just keyed the mike ,since I’m not ready to transmit yet ,to see if it would register at all . I’ll be checking the offset.

[FarmallA]

JohnA
Between your local ham club and studying for your license, you'll learn everything you need to know in short order.
Good luck and Have Fun
FarmallA
N1UES
Steve

[mondtster]

The Redwing MN UHF and VHF repeaters (AA0RW) have an offset between their transmit and receive frequencies, so unless your handheld (FM) is programed to accommodate, you won't know if you successfully picked up the repeater.

Also, when attempting to pick up a repeater, you should state your call sign.

FarmallA
N1UES
Steve

Not only do they have a transmit/receive offset, they have a sub audible tone that needs to be set to be able to transmit to the repeater. I’m guessing that one or both things may have been a problem.

It is also worth noting that the repeater may be silent for hours or days depending on how active the local club is. I rarely hear anything on my local ones except for Sunday night when they do the net.

[LaMojo]

...
It is also worth noting that the repeater may be silent for hours or days depending on how active the local club is. I rarely hear anything on my local ones except for Sunday night when they do the net.

TRUE here too in NE Louisiana. In addition to my other 2 meter rig, I have a Yaesu FT-7900R Dual Band transceiver I won at our local Ham fest years ago. Took it out of the box to look see then put it back. Never used or hooked up. Forgot that I had it. I will donate it back to the ham club for a door prize.