Do It Yourself AF Meter For CB and Ham Radio Alignment ( AF VM ) CIGAR BOX METER (4K)
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- CB Radio Service manuals call for a way to monitor audio output during alignment, most I have seen call for a "AF VTM" An AF VTM, AF Wattmeter is hard to find nowadays and costs $bucks so I decided to make a Relative AF Meter. You can do this measurement with the radios own S-Meter, o-Scope, analog Volt Meter etc, but I want a specialized instrument that can be set right next to the radio and give me a better visual as to what is going on. You can use a DVM however while turning you have to deal with latency as to how the digits change, a analog meter gives you a smoother reading. IMHO
DON"T USE YOUR EARS:)
Plus this is a fun project that can be done in little time.
I used parts on hand, but if you don't have them all I put some Amazon links for you to look at. Also when you use any of my Amazon links it helps out this channel. (And my drinking habit:) J.K.....?
Ideas for parts......
Ammeter DH-670 DC 0-1 mA Rectangular Ampere Needle Panel Meter amzn.to/3P5w0BC
1N4001 Rectifier Diode amzn.to/3P2qyzO
Wirewound Aluminum Shell Resistor 8 Ω ohm amzn.to/3BozYCv
2K Ohm Variable Resistor amzn.to/4iJRPV1
100UF 25V Electrolytic Capacitor amzn.to/3ZZG6dR
3.5mm Mono Plug amzn.to/3Dnx6q4
Looking good 👍👍
Awesome....totally awesome!!
LYLT
Love the cigar box. I have a cigar store near me and they sell the empty wooden cigar boxes. Some are really good looking boxes. I like to get them to store stuff in. Like extra zip ties, and shrink tube. As I find coins that are different or old I toss them into an old box also. I have seen others use them like you have as well as make musical instruments out of them. Awesome to see them being reused.
Another part to add to the list if someone wants that exact meter: Blue Sea 8022 DC Analog Ammeter and they are proud of them!
I so love our group, I've learned more in the three years I've been a member, of UDX. I think we had like 30 members back then. 😅😅 I don't even remember how I found Mike
I have a box of random meters, meters pulled from old cassette decks and other components. The Blue Sea was left over from a install I did years ago. I just looked them up.... YIKES!!! They sure did get spendy! I used this meter for two reasons, 1) the size and scale. 2) I do not have the shunt that goes to the meter.
A simple CB S-Meter, or any Stereo VU would work. It just blows me away how much more things are after the PLANDEMIC!
I just subbed to your channel... Love that hat.
@@390WagonMaster Thanks! My fishing buddy hat keeps my head from getting pumped full of sun and cancer since I've no hair. :)
Way to make use of what you had laying around! Very interesting project and pretty simple to build. 🤠👍
I agree i love VU meters better than the modern digital readouts and the Big meter Looks way better and easier to See. Great Job.👍
Heck, I still love my old Radio Shack analog volt/ohm meter
Very interesting.
Good to know.
Hello Levon.
Very cool 👍🏻
When I was a youngster, I built many projects in old cigar boxes. Used anything I coukd find because I lived out in the dticks on a farm. A trip to toen ALWAYS included a stop at radio shack...like going to disney for me.
Check out my bleedover meter I built into a Kotex box. My ole lady doesn't smoke. 73s good job , nothing preserves electronics like tobacco smoke !
You are hilarious 😅😂😅😂
Hell yes Mister.
Great idea 390. I have a few cedar cigar boxes sitting around, maybe I'll deploy one for a similar project.
Go for it dude!
I got your small nuts right here---
Is this CornBread?
@@390WagonMaster I am having things rubbed off on me from him.He has authorized me to fill in for him when he is unable to comment.
Pretty cool.
Wow,If I had a brain I could actually learn something here
Stick around bub.... I'm full of misinformation.
I'm the MSNBC of CB Radio.
Cheers
@@390WagonMaster LOL 🤣
Very cool.
Thank you.
Pretty slick 👍 I listened to a good part of it. Did you put a drawing up on the screen for wiring? Eh... lazy me, I'll just watch it again. Merry Christmas dude!
I did not put up a schematic, I will draw one up and post in the community section when I get some time.
One of the Meters that was listed on Ali Express already has a Center Zero Point with Positive and Negative Reading.
If your radio speaker is 8 Ohms you can get a switch and an 8 Ohm Resistor to change from audible to quiet.
Wonder what that meter would look like on a beer keg !!!
Pretty GD good my friend:)
Very cool, but above my truck driver edgimecation 😅
Cody, if I can do it..... Anybody can.
👋
Is that a 50 or 75 millivolt Amp Meter?
50 if I'm not mistaken, I think that standard for meters used with a shunt. I could be wrong. You would not want to blow $50 for one like this anyway. A simple VU meter from a stereo, tape deck works just fine.
@@390WagonMaster I was just curious most of the meters specify AC or DC use and usually are marked 50mv or 75mv on the Meter Face. I usually shop E-Bay that way you can spot the good sellers and products from their Feedback Ratings and the Product Reviews. Lots of people New to Electronics do not realize that a Shunt usually has to be purchased with the meter otherwise it will not be accurate and probably burn up their meter. Most of the meters and shunts that I see are 75 millivolt sometimes I will see a 50 millivolt but not often.
@@390WagonMaster Nice Meter like you said the Larger the Better makes it a lots easier to find your Peak Reading.