If your ham friend has an MFJ-259B or similar antenna analyzer, use it
first, before the Bird 43 meter. The MFJ will measure impedance, show the
frequency response, and the SWR, all without requiring your radio to
transmit. I use it whenever someone asks me to check an installation, as
many new boat owners have no idea how to put an antenna connector on the
cable properly. IF the MFJ shows a short, it is shorted at RF. Once I have a
good reading on the MFJ, I remove it, insert the Bird 43 inline with the
radio and measure the actual power output and reflected power from the
antenna.
Doug K7ABX
"Ron Patterson" wrote in message
om...
"garry crothers" wrote in message
Ron

If you are worried about damaging the vhf, then contact a local ham
radio
guy who has a vhf swr meter, e.g a bird43, and ask him to measure the
swr
of the aerial. shud be less than 1.5.

regards
garry

Garry, I am going to do exactly that. A guy I work with is a ham and
happens to have one. I am going to test it next week.

Thanks
Ron