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Reviews For: Vanco 144/430 Model SWR 9

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

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Review Summary For : Vanco 144/430 Model SWR 9
Reviews: 6MSRP:
Description:
Dual band, mobile 2m/440 MHz SWR/power meter
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0061.8
KPAX1 Rating: 2006-04-04
Great Multi-purpose Meter! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
For a cheap meter this guy has multiple purposes. It is so small you can mount it on your HT and check your drawer full of Rubber Ducks. I used it in the vehicle to tune my antenna and it worked great. The lettering is no smaller than other meters. (for older HAM's, please wear glasses.) It will basically tell you if VSWR is high or low with a fair amount of accuracy. Picked one up on Ebay for $10. Go out and buy a $70 meter if you like. Some of these posters must be looking for a ratio of 1:5.9999999995 accuracy. Good luck! Save some bucks.
KC4UEB Rating: 2005-04-07
Rip Off - Even when free Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Someone gave me this piece of junk and it's just horrible. It was brand new in the package when given to me and it is highly inaccurate in all measurements. This meter doesn't actually measure anything. The needle simply moves when power is applied through it, but actually measures nothing!

This is a total waste of money and materials. However, the meter is good for one thing: Target Practice.
KD5LDW Rating: 2005-04-06
SORRY very SORRY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I must have had a Brain fart, or I was off my medication when I bought this one from Radio Shack! Stay away from this so called meter buy a Diamond, Bird or anything but this ball park meter!
K4SGT Rating: 2005-04-06
You get what you pay for Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a cheap meter. That being said you will not get the most accurate (or ease of) reading. However, you will get a fair idea of your SWR/ Power. It is an okay tool to perform a quick check to make sure you are not going to destroy your radio. I would not bank on it's reading, though. Bottom line: This is a good unit to tell if your SWR is either Low, MED, or High. You will not know the exact reading.
AD5IK Rating: 2004-07-04
Junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I must have been retarded to buy this one. This piece of junk is a poor excuse for a meter of any kind. I bought from Radio Schlock a few years back for something to quickly check antennas and power output. That was a mistake. The unit is innacurate, lossy, and cheaply made. I now own a Bird 43. While quite a bit more expensive, they can be had on the used market for a good price. My advice to anyone considering one of these Vanco things would be to save up and buy a Bird or a Telewave. Don't waste money on cheapie junk.
W8KQE Rating: 2003-07-25
Hard on the eyes, cheaply made Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I obtained this dual band SWR/power meter at Radio Shack a few years ago. In retrospect, it was a bad choice. The lettering/numbering is tiny and placed too close together, and there is not enough 'resolution' while reading corresponding SWR scales to get an accurate reading.