Surecom SW-28HF VSWR & Power Meter

One of my recent purchases is the Surecom SW28 VSWR Meter. I bought the meter mainly because I need to tune a Moonraker AMpro-40 Ham Stick Antenna. Which didn’t go well. I should have replaced my missing Nano VNA. Which I believe was better suited for that task. That being said I didn’t waste my money. I am glad I purchased the SW-28 meter. I just tried to use it for a task that was better handled by a VNA. Though meters like the Surecom SW-28HF would have been the primary go to device for antenna tuning years ago. As Vector Network Analyzers (VNA) would have been way out of the price range of most hams. But now they actually cost the same. Both devices go for about $50. I also recommend that all hams have both for their shack. They serve different uses.

We are here to discuss the Surecom SW-28. The Surecom provides real time SWR monitoring and should always be used with your rig. It will tell you Your SWR and the forward power being radiated from your antenna. While also telling you what is being reflected back to your rig as wasted power. which is possibly damaging to your rig if too high.

In addition to the basic required functionality of an SWR meter. The Surecom also has a few nice features. That you will only find built into really high-end rigs.

• Larger easily readable display. No looking at needles swinging back and forth.
• Peak and average display of SWR
• SWR display hold for seconds 1 – 30 or hold until next transmit. Called Auto Reset.
• SWR over alert. which can be set to 3 – 9 and will only beep when it goes over the setting.
• 3 display modes Normal / Peak / and Peak-O (not sure what the O means)

Benefits of using this meter over the radios built in SWR meter:

• ability to see the SWR as a numerical reading and not needle
• More advanced display functions that are not present on some radios
  • SWR peak and hold till next transmit.
• Auditory alert that only sounds if it is over the alert setting.
• Self-powered the unit has an internal battery and can also be powered by USB. Using a modern USB-C connector which can be powered by older standards.

I was able to use this meter to attempt to tune both a 20- and 40-meter ham-stick. In both cases I was able to determine that the antennas were way out of spec. Though I have to say doing the antenna adjustments using this was tedious. A VNA would have made the task much quicker. But you use what you got. I later did purchase a Nano VNA, and it confirmed my suspicions about the antennas. Both units produced the same results.

Considering the cost and how well this meter functioned it’s worth the $50. It will help you better understand how your antenna is performing in real time. It’s also small enough to put in a go kit.

The only thing I wish it had is a built in was tuner. Many tuners I see on the market have horrible displays. So Surecom should try making a version of this with an autotuner.

Surecom also has a VHF/UHF version the SW-28VU in the same form factor. As well as the SW-102VU-S in a smaller form factor. Designed for Handheld radios. it also has a optional ground plane. And many more interesting equipment.

So, it’s worth checking out the Surecom Website. They do seem to have quite a few products that might be worth checking out.

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