DC5ZM UHF SWR & power meter



UHF SWR meter


March 2020 Reinhard Weber DC5ZM published a nice design for a UHF SWR meter based on surplus directional couplers [1].
The unit shows forward and reflected power and calculates the return loss and SWR.

The surplus directional couplers range between 800 - 2500 MHz and should be purchased in pairs.
The unit uses two very sensitive AD8313 modules so only very low RF power (ca. 1mW) is needed to get
readings making it a very safe way to experiment close up with antennas at these frequencies.

I made my own version of the device and it works very well.
I mounted mine on a surplus monitor stand which makes it easy to use while making tests (see photo above).

As only low power needs to be used you can use RF generators such as the ADF4351 PLL.
Alain Fort F1CJN has described an easy to make Arduino based ADF4351 RF generator [2].




[1] Measuring power, return loss and SWR at GHz frequencies, Reinhardt Weber (DC5ZM),
Radio Communication (RadCom), RSGB, March 2020. p30-32

[2] Alain Fort F1CJN - Arduino AD4351 RF Generator
(Note: the English version is further down the page on the link below)
F1CJN AD4351 RF Generator





1296 MHz mitre dipole dipole dipole jj
3D printed
templates for
folded dipoles 		semi-rigid coax
3D printed mitre
(bottom of page) 		back to
1296 MHz page 		1mW 1296 MHz
transmitter 		dipole
with balun 		back to G1EXG
radio page


THE CREATIVE SCIENCE CENTRE
Dr Jonathan Hare, The University of Sussex
Brighton, East Sussex. BN1 9QJ

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