[Elecraft] OT: the value of "accurate measures" for ham radio

[Ian White GM3SEK]

DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote:
>I don't have a Bird watt meter or 'scope.  I have an off-the-shelf 
>Diamond SX200 watt meter that is probably 25 years old.  Here is what I 
>found:
>
>0.5 watts on the K3 = 0.7 watts on the SX200 (5 watt scale, with 0.1 
>"ticks" below 1 watts)
>5.0 watts on the K3 = 4.9 watts on the SX200 (5 watt scale)
>20 watts on the K3 = 19.5 watts on the SX200 (20 watt scale)
>50 watts on the K3 = 50 watts on the SX200 (200 watt scale)
>100 watts on the K3 = "just over" 90 watts on the SX200 (200 watt 
>scale).
>
>This looks "good enough" for me.  Of what value is more accuracy?  I 
>honestly can't see any for ham radio operations.  I don't know which of 
>my two devices is more accurate, but I don't care.  If want to run QRP 
>at 1 watt or 5 watts, I'm right in there.  If I am driving an external 
>amp, do I care what the driving power really is?  I don't think so.  As 
>for 100 watts vs 90 watts, I don't know which one is right (probably 
>neither), but so what.  The guy on the other end of the QSO will never 
>tell (or even measure) the difference between 90 and 100 watts.  Does 
>any of this actually matter?

Yes. If you decide that you want to see 100W on the lowest-reading 
meter, that can lead you into overdriving your transmitter. In that case 
the rest of us *will* be able to tell the difference - in IMD.

(I know that you personally wouldn't fall into that trap, Doug... but 
some people definitely do. It's called Fully Clockwise Syndrome.)


-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK