Your swr readings are a little high for an amp to be run, should be 1.3 max. Something is wrong with the radio if it keys 1 watt and only swings to 2 watts. And the connector issue may not show with no amp, less power. It's when you add power that these connectors go bad, been there done that. Get your swr reading as low as possible, it may be the radio like said above. If it's been tweaked by a golden screwdriver then who knows what the issue could be , can you post some photos of the inside of the radio as this may help with trouble shooing the issue. There are some very knowledgable guys here, but we need all the info you can give, photos of the inside of radio and a photo of the amp as well. Again, check all your coax jumper connections with an ohm meter to make sure that none are shorting. And check around on eBay, might find a good scope to use or even a good watt meter that has modulation setting, and not a dosy meter either!! If you are serious about the hobby, then spend the money and get the right equipment, I am in the same boat as you, I am now in the process of gathering the proper equipment to test my radios and make sure they are working correctly. The radio you have can be had for relativity cheap on eBay or Craigslist. Just have to look around. May be your cheapest soliton like booty monster has stated. I have picked those radios up for 15-30 dollars. Find an old side mic one and you will have a good one. Personally I would look into a uniden 980 for that amp, it's not a power house, but will push that amp just fine, to turn the dead key down on the 980 you can simply turn the power down some. Like I said it's not a power house, but has clean audio. Also I have the same type amp and it doesn't like much over 15 watts pep. It gets hot and starts to pinch the audio as well. That amp shouldn't need much to push it. Again these are all JMO. But I would look around for a good used one that hasn't been molested!! God bless.