[Elecraft] SSB low output

[G3VVT at aol.com]

Brian,
 
Before you get too disillusioned with the performance of the K2/KSB2 on SSB  
output with the Heil microphone, what are you using to measure the TX  output 
on SSB?
 
It is essential to use an RF wattmeter that is capable of measuring  true 
PEP, not just one of the joke instruments on the market that add a large  
capacitor across the meter movement when switched to so called PEP. A normal RF  
wattmeter will read very low on unprocessed SSB audio. You can go into the  K2 
menu to maximise the microphone gain and if necessary add a degree of audio  
compression which may help.
 
Normally for HF SSB I use a PM-2000 peak reading wattmeter to get sensible  
results. MFJ have a dedicated PEP meter in their arsenal of equipment and it is 
 also possible to adapt a normal wattmeter with an add on circuit to provide 
PEP  measurement with an active peak hold circuit. There was a simple circuit 
using a  single LM358 IC published in the RADCOM magazine in January 1989 that 
I  have used to convert several of my wattmeters. E-mail me if you want to 
check  that circuit out.
 
Bob, G3VVT
K2 #4168