[Elecraft] OT: Bird Wattmeter "meter failures"

[Edward R Cole]

My old 1976 Bird is that way... like an unruly child ... needs a slap 
now an then to keep it on track!  Actually, I don't condone physical 
punishment of children.  A word or a look can do much more...my Dad 
was a master at that and I guess  I picked up some from him.  But 
back to electronics:

I recently had a transverter customer call that it wasn't showing 
anything on his Bird meter.  The internal LED bar meter was showing 
RF output which is driven by a simple diode.  So there was RF at the 
output of the unit but none at the meter.  First thing I suggested 
was trying a different coax jumper, then I suggested a different element.

Interestingly he said received a beacon 60 miles away just fine - 
hmm.  That told me the internal coax and LO were working.  Had him 
check some other connections.  Finally, I told him to connect the 
antenna and try making contact with a nearby ham.  He called me later 
to say that he made the contact and got S7 report.

He then confessed that the Bird was unused for a couple years and 
stored in his garage.  I asked if he had a 2m FM radio that he could 
use to test the meter and he said, yes.  Haven't heard back but I'm 
guessing he discovered the meter was not working.  He had another 
Bird meter to try, but it was also stored in the garage.  He lives in 
a humid climate on the Gulf of Mexico.

As Don put it know your test equipment and don't jump to conclusion 
the radio has failed.  I look at wires first.  Oh and make sure the 
PS is turned on! ;-)  I drove two hours to a customer's house to 
determine why his satellite TV quit...wife knocked the ac cord out of 
the wall socket with vacuum behind the book shelf entertainment 
center.  Embarrassing!
I could only charge them my gas money even though I spent half a day traveling.



73, Ed - KL7UW
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