[Elecraft] Cantenna vs. Oak Hills Research RFL-100

[Larry Benko]

Jeff,

If you want a quality dummy load for 100W I would look at the surplus ones
used in the cell phone industry.  I see them all the time at hamfests for
$15 to $25.  They look like a heatsink that is about 3"x3"x8" and always
have an N connector on the end.  I bought several a year or so ago and
made some measurements on them.  I don't know what the ratings are but they
will take 100W forever and get barely warm.  Better yet they actually look
like 50.0 ohms. Measurements made on a $40K Agilent network anaylzer shows
SWR less than 1.02 thru 200MHz and 1.1 at 1 GHz.  They have absolutely no
liquid inside them so spillage is no problem.  Any dummy load kit which
actually may measure 50.0 ohms is very likely to be slightly reactive.  Not
really a big deal but these other dummy loads are definitely superior.  You
will need to buy a N to UHF adapter.

73,
Larry, W0QE

Jeff Burns wrote:
> I have a Heath Cantenna HM-31-A RF load resistor I purchased when I built my
> K2. To do the K2 alignment I ended up using a network-terminating resistor
> instead because the Cantenna measured 52 ohms at DC.
> 
> Now I am thinking of getting a KPA100. To use the Cantenna at 100W I suppose
> I need to put some oil in it. The thought of keeping an oil filled can for
> just a 100w rig does not excite me much. Especially with a two year old in
> the house. I am thinking of selling the Cantenna and getting a the Oak Hills
> Research RFL-100.
> 
> Any comments on the Oak Hills RF load? Am I being short sited moving down in
> power handling capability?
> 
> Jeff Burns
> AD9T
> 
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