Standing Wave Ratio

Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) is a measurement that indicates how efficiently radio frequency energy is transferred between a transmitter and an antenna. When the antenna is perfectly matched to the transmitter’s output, the SWR is 1:1, meaning all the energy is radiated successfully. If there's a mismatch, some energy reflects back toward the transmitter, creating a pattern of waves that interfere and form standing waves. The SWR number shows how much reflection occurs; a higher SWR indicates more reflected energy and less efficient transmission, which can potentially damage equipment or reduce signal quality.