[Elecraft] Power Readout Discrepency

[Parker Buckley]

Don,

I guess I'm doing exactly what you describe.  I've read, and
heard from others that the powered displayed, or requested
power, should be accurate within maybe 10%.  Given that my
wattmeters could be off a similar amount, and even in an
additive manner, it seems that I'm still wide of the mark,
especially since all the external meters agree fairly well.
Ron AC7AC referred me to an interesting application note
that sheds some additional light on the subject.  I'm not
expecting miracles, but I would like a little better
agreement between indicated and actual power levels.  Maybe
it's a waste of time, other than as a learning experience
( I have plenty), but I may still try a different diode.
Thanks very much for the reply.

Parker WD8JOL


----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr@peoplepc.com>
To: "Parker Buckley" <pbuckley@woh.rr.com>;
<elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Power Readout Discrepency


> Parker and all,
>
> I trust you are not confusing the "power requested"
indication that is
> displayed when you turn the POWER knob with the actual
power output.  The
> actual power output may fall quite short of the requested
power because of a
> number of things - including the actual load impedance -
the RF detector
> arrangement in the base K2 is quite unsophisticated and
great accuracy
> should not be expected from it.
>
> If you have installed one of the Elecraft automatic
tuners, the story is
> quite different again because the tuners include a real
wattmeter (which you
> can calibrate) rather than the simple RF detector included
in the base K2.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > My K2, #2636 has always had a large discrepancy in the
> > displayed power vs what I see on other, external
wattmeters,
> > including units from Oak Hills and Diamond.  I know
these
> > are not lab quality devices, but I still think things
should
> > agree a little better.
>
>