[Elecraft] K3 + LP100A + Dummy Load

[n5ge at n5ge.com]

Naturally you can't test the flatness over a range without test equipment, but
you CAN tell it's a 50 ohm load instead of a 75 ohm load.

If the precision is not what you expected you can sell it for what you put into
it.  I test the quality over range with an AIM 4170 antenna analyzer.

HNY

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

"If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at 
night as they go to bed and it will monitor their heart 
throughout the night. And the next morning, when they wake up 
dead, there'll be a record."

--Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman,
  1981 - 1987


On Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:59:26 -0500, "Tommy Alderman" <aldermant at windstream.net>
wrote:

>BUT just because you bought it direct from Palstar does not mean it is a
>good dummy load! The ONLY way you KNOW it is a good dummy load is for YOU to
>measure it with known good test equipment and an ohm-meter is not how it is
>done!
>
>73 and Merry Christmas,
>
>Tom - W4BQF
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad
>Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 3:40 PM
>To: n5ge at n5ge.com
>Cc: Elecraft List
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 + LP100A + Dummy Load
>
>The dummy load is the Palstar DL2K, full legal limit handling and I bought
>it new from Palstar several years ago.  None of my operating equipment was
>purchased at hamfests -- I prefer to be the original owner and pass over any
>potential difficulties.
>
>peh
>
>
>On Dec 22, 2011, at 12:20 PM, n5ge at n5ge.com wrote:
>
>> 
>> Phil,
>> 
>> You don't say what type of dummy load you are using, but all of the
>cantenna
>> type have about the same SWR curve you witnessed.  You will need a
>precision DL
>> to get a flat response across a large range.  I have two DECIBEL DB4304B
>100
>> watt loads here that are flat up through 2m.  I don't think they are made
>any
>> more and if they were they would be very expensive.  The two I have were
>bought
>> at a ham hamfest for $50 each.  They are bout 6" x 4" x 4" Most of which
>is
>> cooling fins.
>> 
>> Be careful when you buy dummy loads like this at a Hamfest. Take a good
>> ohm-meter with you.  I bought a couple of really well made heavy duty DL's
>that
>> were rated at 300w for $100 once and when I measured them at home they
>were 75
>> ohm loads, so watch out!
>> 
>> Happy holidays,
>> 
>> 73,
>> Tom
>> Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
>> ARRL Lifetime Member
>> QCWA Lifetime Member
>> 
>> "If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at 
>> night as they go to bed and it will monitor their heart 
>> throughout the night. And the next morning, when they wake up 
>> dead, there'll be a record."
>> 
>> --Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman,
>>  1981 - 1987
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:37:37 -0800, Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Is this normal or can someone explain?  I was looking at the R+iX values
>reported by the LP100A with my K3 feeding a dummy load.  The SWR reported
>was always small but never super close to 1:1.  Most of the SWR in this
>setup was 1.1:1 up to 1.5:1.  The R values ranged from 34 ohms to up to 59
>ohms and X was ranging over a number of smallish values < 20 for all the
>bands.
>>> 
>>> Is this what most of you would call normal?
>>> 
>>> Does the K3 output R+iX vary from band to band (I assume so) and is that
>what I am seeing?
>>> 
>>> I had thought my dummy load was mostly frequency independent so I am not
>sure if I am seeing mostly the K3 here or maybe the K3 plus the 6 feet of
>coax (RG8X) + dummy load.
>>> 
>>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>> 
>> 
>> 
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