TRANSMITTER AND ANTENNA TESTING

[trevor]

I am considering offering a service (on board) to test VHF transmitter output and VSWR (antenna/feeder efficiency).
This would be a test and report service only not a repair service.
I am a retired professional engineer and feel that it would be useful for VHF users to know if their radios are in fact transmitting the expected outputs.

What do you all think about this idea?

Trevor

 

[Guest]

If you did that and you were successful in dealling with the huge hoards of individuals who need the "radio check please" where would this board gets is weekly discussion on these plonkers?

Seriously its a good idea and as an elderly RF engineer myself I know the value of a VSWR and power o/p review periodically. Go for it but be prepared to be dissapointed as your lilely clients will not understand the value of your offering.

Barry (G8PK)

-b-

 

[Gordonmc]

I would certainly have used you, had you been available when I had a suspect rig. I had to use a meter from a UHF set to get forward and reflected power, so I am still not satisfied.

The service you propose would put a lot of people's minds at rest.

 

[Guest]

I personally would rather buy (or borrow) a decent SWR meter and check myself unless you are going to offer advice on the findings of your testing.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[Joe_Cole]

Great idea.

I looked at the possibility of buying an SWR meter, but the only readily available one's where for the wrong frequency. The correct ones were too expensive.

I'ld use the service.

Joe Cole

 

[oldgit]

think you will find that prospective customers will not only want problem analysed they will want you to fix it as well,how are you at shinning up masts and crawling in bilges?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Apart from the fact that Solent Coastguard perform this service about 500 times a weekend for free...

...I can see limited value in being told "your rig not's working to spec". I think at least you'd have to offer diagnostics on what elements of the installation were underperforming, so that customers would know what they had to do to upgrade their radio system.