Definition
An indicator on certain radio receivers that displays the relative strength of the incoming radio signal. It allows the operator to judge how strong a station's transmission is being received, which can be useful for tuning, identifying the closest or strongest station, and confirming that a usable signal is being captured.
Plain English
A small gauge on a radio that shows how strong the signal coming in is. The higher the reading, the stronger the signal being received.
Context Anchor
Seen on some aircraft radios, navigation receivers, and radio test equipment when checking reception or troubleshooting weak radio signals.
Why Pilots Care
A weak or fluctuating reading warns that the navigation signal may be unreliable due to distance, terrain, or interference.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a quality or accuracy meter. It shows how strong the received signal is, not whether the message or navigation information is correct.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot tuned the ADF and watched the signal-strength meter rise as the aircraft moved closer to the station.
Example Sentence 2
When the signal-strength meter dropped sharply, the crew switched to an alternate navigation aid.