Power, modulation & SWR meters play a key role in good station
performance. By monitoring your signal, a problem can be corrected before it
becomes very costly. A poor SWR between the radio and antenna can severely reduce the life of
the final transistors of a transceiver. The damage can be almost immediate or
can be gradual. Keeping tabs on the SWR will alert you to performance issues
before any damage is done.
Monitoring your modulation will keep your signal loud and clear without over
modulation.
Power meters show the transmitter output power. This will tell you if the
transmitter is putting out the proper power. An average reading power meter is
good for monitoring AM & FM carrier power. With a whistle on sideband you will
get a fairly accurate reading. A peak reading power meter will give you an
accurate peak output swing on both AM and sideband as well as carrier on AM and
FM.
