Are there cheap VHF signal strength meters?

The GY560 frequency counter works down to 50MHZ. By measuring at a distance you can get a rough signal strength value.

By measuring at a distance from what? I'm after seeing how much signal is coming down from an aerial.

Have you any attenuators? Resistor network? Alternatively construct an LC aerial to radiate? Just a couple of thoughts.

If you're looking at something for about £10, it will be something like an untuned high-gain wideband RF amplifier (with a bit of bandpass filtering in front), driving a rectifier and a meter (which is essentially what the terrestrial TV and satellite finder meters are).

I don't know of anything, but I suggest that you ask in uk.tech.digital-tv.

Never used one and not under a tenner, but:

Make a "Worldwide VHF/UHF TV Signal Finder" that they claim works from

I have the UHF only one and it is excellent.

Ah but they don't make any mention of FM radio just TV and it does look very wideband as they themselves say;

Because of the wide band nature of this signal finder, erroneous readings may occur if used in close proximity of transmitter towers (cell phone, tetra etc) and wireless equipment

If the OP just wants to line up an FM aerial he might be better off getting a second-hand tuner thats got a meter type signal strength meter on it...

Agreed.

Thanks for the various ideas, I think the above is probably the way to go.