[Elecraft] Measuring power output of an SSB transmitter

[G4ILO]

Stewart G3RXQ wrote:
> 
> My PEAK  power is down by about 50% as measured on an 200MHz
> oscilloscope when the COMP is set to 0. This can't be right..
> 
I don't have your measuring equipment, Stewart, but something doesn't seem
right to me either.

The power output doesn't seem consistent even when you don't change the
settings. With MIC=60 CMP=0 and PWR=12.0 if I "aaalo" into the mic, my
average reading power meter normally shows about 1W. But sometimes it holds
at 2W or even 3W and sometimes a bit less. I have also observed the meter
steady at say 2W then after about a second drop back to 1W, even though I
haven't changed the pitch or tone of my "aaaa...". I realize this is not a
scientific test, but I don't believe that there is that much difference
between my consecutive repetitions of "aaalo."

I need CMP=20 to get a reasonable average level on speech. Without any
compression the talk power is too low. Even my FT-817 with 5W pep output can
manage an average of 1W on speech and it doesn't have a speech compressor.

After doing these tests I connected the antenna again and the power meter on
the MFJ tuner was showing a low reading. I put the PM20 back and sure
enough, the power was low. No control on the radio was changed. I twiddled
the power control down and then back up to 12.0 and full power was restored.
Go figure.

-----
Julian, G4ILO  K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf
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