[Elecraft] P3 transmit monitor

[Luis V. Romero]

Barry:

 

It is the first Elecraft product I have ever been personally disappointed
by.

 

If you already have a good wattmeter, you don't need it.  If you don't, the
positive thing is that the wattmeter works just fine, and saves you from yet
another box to put on your bench.  So it does have value in a compact K-Line
station.

 

The waveform display can be replicated simply by using your bench O'Scope
and an 18 inch long piece of wire.

 

I expected  more functionality from the P3 TX MON within the P3 hardware
which Is, in essence, an SDR.  What I thought I was getting was a pseudo
Spectrum Analysis tool with a waveform similar to what you get if you unplug
the P3 from the Serial Cable and use IF bleed through to see your
transmitter spectrum and a RTTY cross pulse ellipsoid display, like my old
Heath SB620 had. 

 

But after a three year wait to purchase and a two and a half month wait for
delivery after ordering one last Dayton, all I got for my money was yet
another wattmeter.  And I already had plenty of those.  

 

The waveforms are cute and non-ham visitors to the shack think they are
keen, especially an 8 year old that was amazed to watch his voice become
green squiggly lines on the P3 screen during Kid's Day. As far as daily
functionality, not so much.  For  signal testing for station maintenance? My
O'Scope is infinitely more adjustable and can even compare audio in to RF
out waveforms (dual trace).

 

If this board had included the keyboard USB input for those of us who don't
need the external VGA functionality, I would be less inclined to complain.
As it is, for me, it was a useless expenditure as it does nothing at my
station that I could not already do with existing equipment.  

 

Lu Romero - W4LT

Tampa, FL - K-Line   

 

 

>I'd like to hear from folks who've owned the P3 transmit monitor for a
while. ?Can you please comment on why you do (or don't) find it useful in
day-to-day >operating? ?Is it a tool you use often, just a cool toy, etc ???


> 

>Thanks & 73,

>Barry N1EU