SWR\Power meter

[BJ radionut]

Good Deal! Only one issue on my part...It's too small. I had to have the HP3

 

[Riverman]

Good Deal! Only one issue on my part...It's too small. I had to have the HP3

After fiddling with it some more am kinda bummed out.

On 75 watts (SSB) it shows 25 on PEP and 50 on PEP Hold.
I have my compression and mic gain adjusted exactly as the manual says.

SWR readings match my RigExpert 54 exactly.

 

[Unit 75]

It sure is a nice looking meter.

 

[BJ radionut]

Did you hook 12 VDC to it? without the power cord, it will not read PEP correctly.
What does it show with a carrier?

 

[Riverman]

Did you hook 12 VDC to it? without the power cord, it will not read PEP correctly.
What does it show with a carrier?

Yes. Hooked to 13.8V power supply.
Carrier shows 62.

All readings are into antenna with 1:2 SWR.
No dummy load.

 

[Riverman]

Never mind. Silly me.

Taking into account line loss associated with 75' of RG8X, the 62 watts carrier is about right. A slight adjustment in compression (was a little shy of the recommended 10 dB) now results in a PEP (Hold) reading right at 60.

All is well now. Love this meter!

 

[Low_Boy]

I made a call to the people that handle Diawa in usa they say it could 20% off at half scale and 10% off at full scale. I do not consider that acceptable.

 

[Riverman]

I made a call to the people that handle Diawa in usa they say it could 20% off at half scale and 10% off at full scale. I do not consider that acceptable.

Based on my readings, mine seems to be doing pretty good once I remembered I was using an antenna rather than a dummy load.

 

[Low_Boy]

I am not totally happy. I am using a dummy load. More testing this weekend. Then it may go back.

 

[Riverman]

I am not totally happy. I am using a dummy load. More testing this weekend. Then it may go back.

Sorry yours isn't performing up to par, Low_Boy.
I know the feeling. It's one we all are familiar with.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[999]

If you would like to know more on the matter you can look at ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994. That is the spec that calibration labs have to follow. You can use a NIST STANDARD or transfer standard for your instrument calibrations...either way there is a 4:1 test accuracy ratio simply meaning whatever instrument you are calibrating has to be done by another instrument that is 4 times more accurate. And talk about compounding percentages that spec also says that the collective uncertainty of the measuring standards shall not exceed 25% of acceptable tolerance for each characteristic. lol.

Thanks guys. This is good information. I read that about the Bird meters probably 10 years ago, and it was probably someone posting on a forum somewhere that knew about as much about meter calibrations as I did.

 

[500kpot]

Oh gosh, I feel so "yesterday" because I just use my oscilloscope to make RF output power measurements.

I wish I had the extra funds to buy a nice meter.

 

[Low_Boy]

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.
As posted earlier. Talked to the service rep. about this meter. Accuracy is 10% full scale and 20% at half scale.

All comparisons were done using AM only.
I feel peak readings are only accurate while using peak hold. With out peak hold readings are really a joke. Daiwa meter most accurate at full scale.
Average readings are good with no questions.
100 watt test peak hold on.
Bird 100W
LP 100A 90W
Daiwa 85W a bit worse than 10%
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175 watt test peak hold on.
Bird 175W
LP 100A 194W
Daiwa 200W
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50 watt test peak hold on.
Bird 45W
LP 100A 40W
Daiwa 35W
All opinions welcome. I am a bit disappointed.