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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-swr-definition

What does standing wave ratio measure?

SWR measures how well a load matches a transmission line.

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  1. Amplifier output divided by input
  2. Transmitter efficiency
  3. Load matching to a transmission line ✔

Why: SWR indicates the quality of the impedance match between a feed line and its load. A poorer match produces more reflected energy and a higher SWR.

Huh, didn't know that: An SWR of 1 to 1 represents a perfect match.

The dad joke
SWR checked the match because the line had standards.
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References

Answer: Load matching to a transmission line. SWR indicates the quality of the impedance match between a feed line and its load. A poorer match produces more reflected energy and a higher SWR.

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool www.ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf
    A measure of how well a load is matched to a transmission line
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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