radio shack meter

[Hayseed]

Anyone have any experience with a Radio Shack meter? How about it's accuracy? They have them for $35 and will do everything I need it for.

[Hawkeye]

I have one I bought thru Radio Shack about 10 years ago. Still works fine for me. Although I`m sure their not made to have mucho watts going thru them. I havent seen the current ones they sell now, but I`m sure they do pretty much the same things still.
1. Got the power function with 3 ranges. 20 w 200 w & 2000 w...(maybe this thing can handle a little power?)
2.Shows SWR & can calibrate.
3. Avg & Pep modes.
About the accuracy? Couldnt tell ya. Never used any other meters to compare it to.

[MR. 450]

the meter is pretty accurate and the avg watts is about the same as the bird meter and the pep is a Little exaggerate

[Hayseed]

Got it, appreciate the help!

[Sly Dog]

Anyone have any experience with a Radio Shack meter? How about it's accuracy? They have them for $35 and will do everything I need it for.

The peak reading function is more realistic than a Dosy and the average reading function is quite generous. Not a good meter to use if you plan on running 800 watts peak or more because they will overheat and fail.
If you could possibly become serious about the CB radio hobby in the future a few dollars more can buy you a much better meter.

[MR. 450]

ask Jesse James he did the study for radio shack back when they came out and he could tell you best yes there are better meters but for the money they are great for swrs and you can leave them in line too yes the do have a little give in them but compared to a expensive bird meter which buy the way the radio shack meter is almost as accurate as the bird it is a great meter for under 40$ if you are not putting 500 watts or more of power thru them

[Apollo]

I bought one and couldn't figure out how to read it. There are no numbers on the scales to read. I know that my radio puts out around 35 watts peak so I put the switch on the meter in the 200 range setting. I keyed up the radio and said AUDIO. The needle would swing up to about half way between the 200 and the 500 marks on the scale. What was this telling me ? How do you read that ?

[MR. 450]

depends if its on peak or avg on the 200 scale read where the lines below are at that are connected to the 2000 scale and that will give you the reading

[Rex_foxhound]

When you have the switch set on 200, take off a zero on whatever the number showing on the meter is.

So in your case Apollo, with it set on 200, and the needle swing 1/2 way between 200 and 500, take a zero off of those numbers and you would have 1/2 way between 20 and 50, so about 35.

[jessejamesdallas]

It is a very good little meter. Made by Micronta. You will not find a better meter under $50...For as that go's, very few under $200 are any better, if at all!

Only draw-backs, is it does have a small meter, and no back-light. Meter also tends to read "Peak Watt's" a little on the High-Side, over 1500w's.

On my Suburban, the meter was showing I was peaking over the 2000w scale. (this is using a 8-pill box @ 14.5v's) When really, I'm closer to 1800w's...

But in the Radio Shacks meter's defense, allot of meters are not very accurate over 1000w's....