Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Workman SX-144/430 SWR-Wattmeter

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Workman SX-144/430 SWR-Wattmeter
Reviews: 19MSRP: 50
Description:
Cross needle VHF/UHF SWR/POWER meter. Model #SX144-430. Frequency range 120MHz~500MHz, power range 0~500W, includes 12VDC meter illumination.
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00193.2
KG6YTZ Rating: 2005-10-08
One defect, fixed Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine from an eBay seller and keep it inline in the shack. I did have one problem with it right out of the box - when I connected it to my supply, the lights did not work. A little bit of continuity testing found the culprit - one of the solder blobs which hold the bulbs in place was not making contact. Needless to say, it was an easy fix, and I have not had a single problem with it since. It seems to be accurate as far as I can tell, the cross-needles show forward and reflected power simultaneously, so what more could I want? Well, aside from maybe a little quality control...
WA2FAA Rating: 2005-07-15
Mine was JUNK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Yes I joined the croud and spent very little money for this jewel. It lasted about 2 weeks tops, then put out nothing but false readings. After looking it over, I decided to pitch it against the wall. Not worth my time and effort to repair it.
KB9YKN Rating: 2005-03-21
Good for the price! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got mine the first one the one needle didnt move. plad with it for a few and found that the knob contacs were off. I see another review that had same porb. Looks like they need to work on that part of the swr/power meter. I sent it back got another. It work fine 0 the neddles and put it to work. Very accurate for a $40 dual needle swr/power meter. worth the money if you dont get a bad one!!
KQ6EA Rating: 2004-05-26
They're "OK" Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these, one of which I replaced the SO-239's with Type-N connectors. They work fine, and agree pretty closely with my Bird, after I adjusted them. The funny thing is that they're reasonably accurate on 2M and 70cm, but way off (>30%) on 220.
N4YFX Rating: 2004-05-25
Great service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My meter works great. I understand from the folks at Antenna Warehouse where I bought mine that the fellow that said he received a defective one was offered a replacement or refund of cost plus shipping both way. He wrote back saying he was sorry and that another more experienced Ham had shown him what he was doing wrong. To bad there isn't a way to make people correct the erroneous post they make to this forum.
KC2GCR Rating: 2004-02-28
great meter Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My SX-144/430 works perfectly after I adjusted the needles to 0
KG6QPS Rating: 2004-02-28
Does not work! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my Workman SX-144/430 today. It took four days (priority mail) to get here and it does not work. One of the needles (Reflected) does not move at all. It is not the radio or antenna, it is the brand new SWR meter that does not work. I have been ripped off by several hams on radio and other equipment I purchased on ebay and on eham.net and QRZ's classifieds so I decided it would be better to buy something new. So I purchase a new SWR meter from the Antenna Warehouse and get junk again. I am about to just throw all my ham equipment in the trash. It is bad enough when fellow hams are ripping off other hams but when you buy something new and it does not work right either than something is very wrong. I am a disabled Vet and I can't afford to waste my money on garbage.

Bob
N4MJG Rating: 2004-01-16
works nice Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
mine works good untill the ligtning got the meter


73's
kg4orx
jackie
KC0PAN Rating: 2004-01-15
Seems a fine meter to me. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am pretty new to the Ham radio thing. One of the things I wanted to do was to build some of my own equipment. I decided to start with antennas, but I knew I needed a good SWR meter so that I didn't burn up my fancy new radios. I searched around a bit and found the Workman SX-144/430, which fit the bill and didn't break the bank.

I have used it a few times to test new antenna designs and it has worked flawlessly. A friend of mine has an expensive Bird meter and the Workman delivers comparable results at less than half the price.

The only drawback is that it is a little too big for the go bag. Otherwise it seems a fine meter.