In addition to the trusty old Bird 43, I love my MFJ-259B HF/VHF SWR
Analyzer. It allow me to check an antenna without transmitting. Those
expensive Shakespeare antennas with the cell phone, VHF high band filters,
etc., are frequently mistuned right out of the box. Checking them at the
shop by sweeping through the marine band for good SWR has saved me a lot of
time and frustration of installing a brand new antenna on a boat and then
finding out it is bad out of box. Another use of the MFJ is trying
different positions of an antenna to find a location where adjacent metal is
not causing problem. I used it to find the best compromise location on my
van motorhome for a 2 meter bumper mounted colinear antenna that the close
proximity of the van metal sides interfered with.
Doug K7ABX
"Bruce in Alaska" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Doug Dotson" wrote:

I prefer a reflected power meter. Much more inruitive than
an SWR meter. Converting from RP to SWR is a simple formula
as well.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

Nothing like a good Bird Wattmeter, fresh out of the Cal Shop,
to see what's going on in an Antenna System.

Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @