"Bruce in Alaska" wrote:
For SOLAS Inspected vessels an RF Indicator is part of the Required
Equipment for each Transmitter. This is a device that indicates that RF
Energy is present at the Antenna Port of the transmitter. I learned
very early in my career that an NE2 Neon Light taped to the antenna
just above the antenna tuner, would light up, when the transmitter was
in operation. These cost $.20 each, and the FCC Inspectors would accept
them, as fullfilling that requirement. For VHF's however, we always
used the Radio Shack FS1 Field Strength Meter/SWR Bridge, which used to
be $9.95, back in the day. I understand that these are now very hard to
find, and I am not sure what folks are using on SOLAS Inspected vessels
these days. Maybe Lynn knows.....


Bruce in alaska

RF indicators: Yes, we've put on a few Radio Shack SWR bridges as well
as some Vanco's, which came in a handy vertical case configuration. I've got
a Vanco in my 10 meter coax now.... it was put there to tune my attic
dipole. (before I got my snazzy MFJ-259)
I've never done this newly authorized contract SOLAS inspection by
myself. When I was still in the business, the FCC's field engineer did the
inspecting, and I was hired to tag along and keep discrepancies from
becoming open warfare. Of course if I was the regular servicing tech, there
weren't and discrepancies. Yoou Betcha! Wasn't Zinns, or something like
that, the nice guy that liked to go to a nice place for lunch and tell
inspection humor stories? He was my favorite inspector.
Old Chief Lynn