[Elecraft] K3: LPA power level accuracy?

[James Sarte]

Hi Ken,

You're probably right; my analog Bird meter and my digital MFJ-828 were
calibrated to "lab standard" or so I believe. I had a buddy of mine who
happens to be a communications officer for UNICEF take my meters and
calibrate them against their lab-grade equipment a couple of years ago.
They used some fancy signal generators and what-not to do the
work.  According to him if memory serves me right is that the margin of
error should be around 5-7%.  Not being a complete techo-geek, I took what
he said at face value.  So, with all things being equal, my two outboard
meters should be quite accurate.

Anyway, if my K3's LPA output falls withing both meter's margins of error,
then I guess I really shouldn't be concerned.

73 de James K2QI

On Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 8:16 PM, Ken Kopp <k0pp at rfwave.net> wrote:

>
>
>
> Hi James,
>
> You're chasing your tail, me thinks ...
>
> I'm a retired career two-way radio tech and a
> fan of Bird meters, thought by many to be the
> best in their price class, and they're rated at
> +/- 5% of full scale ... if they're calibrated to a
> lab standard ... which in itself isn't likely to be
> much better. Even two "identical" elements will
> differ in the readings they produce.
>
> Accurate RF power measurement is difficult
> under the best of circumstances.
>
> I have several Birds, a Bird dummy load, a W1
> and a W2 and I'm satisfied that the W1 and W2
> are pretty good.  "Pretty good" is about as good
> as it gets for us ordinary folks. (:-)
>
>  73!
>
> Ken Kopp - K0PP
> ElecraftCovers at rfwave.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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-- 
73 de James K2QI
President UNARC/4U1UN