Gery,

Lots of hams check everything by whistling, but in my opinion you're far 
better off using a steady carrier, which you can get by putting the radio 
into CW and keying the transmitter.  A low SWR means only that your 
transmitter is matched to the antenna feed, but it doesn't guarantee that 
your antenna is radiating properly.  That said, though, you're more likely 
to be transmitting if your SWR is low than if it's too high because a high 
enough SWR causes the radio to stop transmitting.  A high SWR also means 
that most of the RF is being dissipated before it ever reaches the antenna.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gery Gaubert" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 16:30
Subject: swrs and testing


> Another quick question, I know my dad used to check swr's on cb radios
> by whistling while transmitting.  I never heard that on the ham bands
> and I am kind of embarrassed to say that I on't whistle.  So my question
> is how do I check swr's?  Also, if the swr's or ok does that then mean
> that I am transmitting ok?
>
>
>