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How Accurate of 50-Ohm Dummy Load for 50 Watt TX Gain Calibration?

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Phil Hystad-3

How Accurate of 50-Ohm Dummy Load for 50 Watt TX Gain Calibration?

I have two dummy loads that might be useful for the 50-watt TX-gain calibration but neither of them are dead on with a 1:1 SWR and 50 ohms resistive load. Actually, my smaller 150 watt dummy load is closest with a range of 42 ohms on the load to about 55 ohms on the high end as I step through the frequency ranges of my Antenna analyzer. My 1500-watt dummy load is worse as the resistance goes up to 87 ohms Z (resistive plus reactive) with 54 MHz test signal (using MFJ 259 analyzer).

My little Elecraft DL-1 20-watt dummy load (mini-module kit) is best as it is flat 50-ohms resistive across the entire HF spectrum. I am thinking of using and following the advice of Wayne to let it cool down between bands. But…

If I want to let the dummy load cool down between bands then can this be done using the automated procedure with the K3 utility or do I have to run the manual procedure. In other words, does the automated procedure allow me to automate the process on a band by band basis. I have not tried it yet because I didn’t want to start something until I was ready to finish it (and I have not installed the latest firmware yet).

Question: How accurate should the dummy load be — is an SWR of 1.2:1 and under good enough?

Question: Does the K3 Utility allow me to perform the TX gain calibration on a band by band basis?

Thanks.

73, phil, K7PEH

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: How Accurate of 50-Ohm Dummy Load for 50 Watt TX Gain Calibration?

Phil and all,

There are two types of dummy loads - one is simply to provide a load to
your transceiver or amplifier for a quick sanity check that the
transceiver or amp is providing output and is capable of transmitting a
signal.

The other type of dummy load is one used for calibration and/or
measurement of the output power.

The first type does not have to be exactly 50 ohms non-reactive - it is
only to protect the transceiver or amplifier, but the 2nd type needs to
have a real 50 ohm non-reactive impedance if the results of the
calibration or measurement is to be valid.

So it all depends on what you are using it for and the accuracy of the
results you expect. In other words, the dummy load that I switch my
transceiver to when the antennas are not in use does not need to be
accurate, but the dummy load that I use for the K3 TX gain calibration
does need to the 50 ohms non-reactive over the frequency range that is
to be calibrated (1.8kHz to 54MHz).

In the past, I have mentioned several ways of obtaining good and
accurate 50 ohm non-reactive dummy loads. Those range from the 75 watt
dummy load available from Ridge Equipment, to those VHF/UHF dummy loads
available at hamfests. Add to that good dummy loads that can be
homebrewed - Caddock 50 ohm thick film resistors mounted on an adequate
heatsink, or several other sources for homebrew dummy loads in a quart
can filled with mineral oil.

Yes, the accuracy of the 50 ohm non-reactive load will affect your
results - get a good one if you want good results.

The K3Utility is an automated process which proceeds from band to band
automatically. There is no way to pause it to allow the dummy load to
cool down. If you want to use a dummy load of lesser wattage than the
required transmitter output (50 watts), then you will have to do the TX
gain Calibration manually from the K3 menu.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/27/2015 8:27 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:

> I have two dummy loads that might be useful for the 50-watt TX-gain calibration but neither of them are dead on with a 1:1 SWR and 50 ohms resistive load. Actually, my smaller 150 watt dummy load is closest with a range of 42 ohms on the load to about 55 ohms on the high end as I step through the frequency ranges of my Antenna analyzer. My 1500-watt dummy load is worse as the resistance goes up to 87 ohms Z (resistive plus reactive) with 54 MHz test signal (using MFJ 259 analyzer).
>
> My little Elecraft DL-1 20-watt dummy load (mini-module kit) is best as it is flat 50-ohms resistive across the entire HF spectrum. I am thinking of using and following the advice of Wayne to let it cool down between bands. But…
>
> If I want to let the dummy load cool down between bands then can this be done using the automated procedure with the K3 utility or do I have to run the manual procedure. In other words, does the automated procedure allow me to automate the process on a band by band basis. I have not tried it yet because I didn’t want to start something until I was ready to finish it (and I have not installed the latest firmware yet).
>
> Question: How accurate should the dummy load be — is an SWR of 1.2:1 and under good enough?
>
> Question: Does the K3 Utility allow me to perform the TX gain calibration on a band by band basis?
>
>

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Tony Estep

Re: How Accurate of 50-Ohm Dummy Load for 50 Watt TX Gain Calibration?

Phil,

Your 20-watt dummy load will work with the automated procedure, and it is
the best one because if the SWR is over some threshold you'll get a "SWR
too high, calibration failed" message.

The 20-watt load is very unlikely to overheat; my 10-watt load did not
overheat, because the 50-watt transmissions are short. However, the sure
way to make it work is to cool it with a sandwich bag filled with crushed
ice.

The automated version only takes a minute or so to do and it only has to be
done once.

If you are unsure, you can follow Wayne's advice and do it manually,
allowing some time to cool in between each band.

73,
Tony KT0NY
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wayne burdick

Re: How Accurate of 50-Ohm Dummy Load for 50 Watt TX Gain Calibration?

Administrator

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3

Anything under 2:1 will allow the TX GAIN calibration to work, but I'd shot for < 1.5:1.

Wayne
N6KR

On Mar 27, 2015, at 5:27 PM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote:

Phil Hystad-3

Re: How Accurate of 50-Ohm Dummy Load for 50 Watt TX Gain Calibration?

Thanks to Wayne, Tony, and Don for their answers to my question.

I am going to use my DL-1 20-watt load and do the calibration manually and monitor the heating of the resistors (actually, I have a nice Fluke temperature measurement tool to do job if needed).

73, phil, K7PEH

> On Mar 28, 2015, at 5:37 PM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Anything under 2:1 will allow the TX GAIN calibration to work, but I'd shot for < 1.5:1.
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> On Mar 27, 2015, at 5:27 PM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I have two dummy loads that might be useful for the 50-watt TX-gain calibration but neither of them are dead on with a 1:1 SWR and 50 ohms resistive load. Actually, my smaller 150 watt dummy load is closest with a range of 42 ohms on the load to about 55 ohms on the high end as I step through the frequency ranges of my Antenna analyzer. My 1500-watt dummy load is worse as the resistance goes up to 87 ohms Z (resistive plus reactive) with 54 MHz test signal (using MFJ 259 analyzer).
>>
>> My little Elecraft DL-1 20-watt dummy load (mini-module kit) is best as it is flat 50-ohms resistive across the entire HF spectrum. I am thinking of using and following the advice of Wayne to let it cool down between bands. But…
>>
>> If I want to let the dummy load cool down between bands then can this be done using the automated procedure with the K3 utility or do I have to run the manual procedure. In other words, does the automated procedure allow me to automate the process on a band by band basis. I have not tried it yet because I didn’t want to start something until I was ready to finish it (and I have not installed the latest firmware yet).
>>
>> Question: How accurate should the dummy load be — is an SWR of 1.2:1 and under good enough?
>>
>> Question: Does the K3 Utility allow me to perform the TX gain calibration on a band by band basis?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>