Slightly off topic directional coupler question

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Slightly off topic directional coupler question

Rich McCabe
I have a question :)

I only ask it here because its the best place for all my technical questions. OK, enough sucking up.

I just built a new Elecraft directional coupler with the intent of using it for a station monitor.

I have a Tektronix 475a that seems to work OK for what I play with.

I want to get a smaller (physical size) digital scope to use with my K2 and this new coupler and use it for misc troubleshooting with HF gear.

How far can I safely drop from my current 200mhz scope and get by?

Thanks and 73,

Rich
kd0zv

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Re: Slightly off topic directional coupler question

Don Brown-4
Hi

Many scopes will indicate quite a bit above the bandwidth. They just will
not be usable for accurate measurement. The usual spec on the vertical
amplifier is, the scope will measure 3 db down at the specified bandwidth.
The rise time relates to bandwidth as BW/.35 for example a 100 MHz scope
will have about a 3.5 nanosecond rise time. If you want to make accurate
measurements of Pk to Pk amplitudes then you should have about twice the
bandwidth of the measured signal. So assuming the HF bands of up to a little
below 30 MHz a 60 MHz scope would work for you. If you just want an
indicator for looking a modulation envelops and the exact vertical is just a
relative measurement then a scope of 30 MHz would work.

One other thing to consider the lower bandwidth scopes may not have a fast
enough time base to display individual cycles or the trigger circuits may
not work much above the bandwidth. Low cost scopes also have CRT that work
with acceleration voltages of 4 to 8 Kv. This causes them to get very dim at
high sweep speeds. Most of the Tek scopes have 20-24+ Kv CRT's

One more thing you can bandwidth limit the 475 at 100 and 50 MHz. So you
could test your setup at 50 MHz to see if a low cost 50-60 MHz scope would
work for you

Don Brown

KD5NDB






----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich McCabe" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 7:49 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Slightly off topic directional coupler question


I have a question :)

I only ask it here because its the best place for all my technical
questions. OK, enough sucking up.

I just built a new Elecraft directional coupler with the intent of using it
for a station monitor.

I have a Tektronix 475a that seems to work OK for what I play with.

I want to get a smaller (physical size) digital scope to use with my K2 and
this new coupler and use it for misc troubleshooting with HF gear.

How far can I safely drop from my current 200mhz scope and get by?

Thanks and 73,

Rich
kd0zv

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Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com 
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Re: Slightly off topic directional coupler question

Rich McCabe
Thanks Don

"One other thing to consider the lower bandwidth scopes may not have a fast
enough time base to display individual cycles or the trigger circuits may
not work much above the bandwidth."

Uuuh, I think I know what you mean. I bought a Velleman PC scope thinking
the shack computer would be a great place for a scope. Nope !


73,

Rich
kd0zv



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