Where should an RF power meter be installed?

Installing an RF power meter in the feed line, between the transmitter and the antenna, is crucial for accurately measuring the output power of the transmitter just before it is delivered to the antenna. This location allows the meter to assess how much power is being transmitted into the antenna system, which is essential for understanding the efficiency and performance of the entire radio system.

By placing the meter in this position, you can monitor the RF power, ensuring it meets the desired output level and helping diagnose any issues like signal loss, impedance mismatch, or excessive SWR (Standing Wave Ratio), which can indicate problems with the antenna or the feed line itself.

Other locations for the RF power meter wouldn't provide accurate readings of the power being radiated by the antenna. For instance, placing it at the power supply output would measure the input power rather than the output power, which doesn’t account for losses that occur in the transmitter and feed line. Similarly, installing the meter in parallel with the push-to-talk line does not provide any meaningful measurement of output RF power, as this configuration fails to capture the RF signals. Lastly, placing the meter in the power supply cable does not give information about the power being sent to the antenna and overlooks important variables in the antenna performance.