[Elecraft] What should the power output of the K2 be?

[Don Wilhelm]

Sam,

There is no one single answer to your question because it depends on the
particular meter's response and will differ from one meter to another.

The K2 bargraph peaks will usually indicate the peak power more readily than
a 'peak reading' analog power meter.  The reason is that the bargraph
responds rapidly while the analog meter has mechanical mass to move and will
respond more slowly - 'damping factor' is the technical term.  Most meters
simply add an RC network to provide conversion from average to peak, but
there are many dependencies on the accuracy of that conversion.

To really determine the PEP level, the best instrument is a 'scope.  Connect
the 'scope (with a compensated 10X probe) across the load.  Then transmit CW
at the power level you wish to set the SSB PEP value at and note how far it
deflects on the 'scope.  Now transmit with SSB and make the peaks equal to
the deflection level you observed with the CW signal.  Once you have
determined the real PEP value for a certain power level, you can connect
your external power meter and see how far your voice deflects the meter with
that power level.

With CW, the Average Power and the Peak Envelope Power are equal, but with
SSB, the average power will be considerably less than the PEP - how much
less depends on the voice, the amount of copression, etc.  In any case, a 5
watt CW signal will contain considerably more power than a 5 watt SSB
signal.

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----
.
> >
> This has always been a confusion factor for me.
> So with an external meter,
> running CW you should have it's scale set to peak or average?
>
> And if you use the same meter on SSB
> and do the long 'hello' thing,
> which setting gives you the more accurate
> (in relation to setting the output to say 10w) reading for a contest?
>
> TIA
> --
> GB & 73's
> KA5OAI
> Sam Morgan
>