[Lowfer] Looking for input on measuring changes to the beacon

[N8OOU]

I have been trying to develop a way to measure gains or losses in the 
changes I make over time, to the Wm Beacon.  Being a genuine cheapskate 
I am trying to use just the equipment I have at hand. I have come up 
with this idea.

My equipment includes the Kenwood TS-480 interfaced to the computer with 
argo and other common software. I also have a Kay model 432d attenuator 
which I believe to be accurate.  I can use either a multiband trap 
vertical (80m - 10m) or a pa0rdt mini whip, both mounted about 100 ft. 
away from the beacon antenna.

The Kenwood has a digital rf gain control which steps from 100, down to 
0.  As the numbers go down the s-meter bars go up.  I assume the 
incoming signal must be stronger than the indicated bars to be heard. 
At 36 the s-meter is full scale at 60dB over 9. As you go lower in 
numbers the sensitivity continues to be reduced with no change on the 
s-meter. I am currently measuring in the 22 range, and have not yet 
needed to put the attenuator in-line.

With argo set to display the beacon in the band mode screen it indicates 
the peak signal frequency and strength in dB at the top of the screen. 
As I drop the rf gain, I hit a point where argo loses the beacon lock 
and seems to hunt for a signal to lock onto. If I raise the gain back up 
argo seems to lock back on to the beacon again. That rf gain setting / 
argo reaction, seems to be reliable and consistent.

What is the opinion to logging the gain setting / argo signal strength 
reading to benchmark changes to the beacon system?  Any thoughts about 
consistency over the long term?  Is there a flaw I am missing?
-- 
73   de   N8OOU - Mike Meek