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Station Monitor

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KD8RQE

Station Monitor

HNY all:
Apropo of the recent discussions on "dirty" RF I have been considering
putting together a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output. I have a K3
(7588) but also an ICOM 7200, Drake TR7A, Drake C-line & a couple of amps. I
have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp & feed
line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB output is clean
without clicks or splatter, especially at higher output. This would allow me
to see if there is any effect on waveform from the amp compared to the
transmitter output as well. Some sort of attenuator is needed to protect the
'scope but also to make sure it doesn't change the impedance the amp or
tuner sees. I understand the Bird wattmeters have such a "sniffer" circuit. I
also understand the 'scope alone may not be sufficient for such a "station
monitor". Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If this is not
appropiate for this reflector, I apologize, and would be happy to take
replies off list. Tnx & hny to all.

73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Station Monitor

The 40 dB Power Tap detailed in June 2001 QST article called "Simple RF
Power Measurement" by Wes Hayward should do that job nicely. ARRL
members can find that article at the ARRL website.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/1/2014 9:31 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

>
> HNY all:
> Apropo of the recent discussions on "dirty" RF I have been considering
> putting together a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output. I have a K3
> (7588) but also an ICOM 7200, Drake TR7A, Drake C-line & a couple of amps. I
> have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp & feed
> line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB output is clean
> without clicks or splatter, especially at higher output. This would allow me
> to see if there is any effect on waveform from the amp compared to the
> transmitter output as well. Some sort of attenuator is needed to protect the
> 'scope but also to make sure it doesn't change the impedance the amp or
> tuner sees. I understand the Bird wattmeters have such a "sniffer" circuit. I
> also understand the 'scope alone may not be sufficient for such a "station
> monitor". Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If this is not
> appropiate for this reflector, I apologize, and would be happy to take
> replies off list. Tnx & hny to all.
>
> 73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

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Dave-5

Re: Station Monitor

In reply to this post by KD8RQE

There's an article in this months QST that might do what you are looking
for, it's in Technical Correspondence on pages 58 and 59 headed "Use a
Signal Sampler to Monitor Your Transmitted Signals" written by Larry D.
Wolfgang (WR1B). The designer is given, at the end of the article, as being
Bud Colclough (K1LC). There's an address and an email address for K1LC
given at the end of the article as well.

Basically, it looks like a VSWR meter but with an output to a 50 ohm BNC
connector in place of the more usual meter. 50 ohm microstripline joins an
input and an output socket, half way down the stripline is a tap off via a
capacitor to a resistive divider circuit (with decoupling capacitor) to an
output socket giving a -60dB output on the frequency being monitored.

The designer says that he's tesed his circuit up to 600W and believes that
it could handle full legal (in the USA) power from 1.8MHz to 30MHz.

Might be worth a look.

Dave (G0DJA)

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2014 2:31 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Station Monitor

>
> HNY all:
> Apropo of the recent discussions on "dirty" RF I have been considering
> putting together a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output. I have a K3
> (7588) but also an ICOM 7200, Drake TR7A, Drake C-line & a couple of
> amps. I
> have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp & feed
> line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB output is
> clean
> without clicks or splatter, especially at higher output. This would
> allow me
> to see if there is any effect on waveform from the amp compared to the
> transmitter output as well. Some sort of attenuator is needed to protect
> the
> 'scope but also to make sure it doesn't change the impedance the amp or
> tuner sees. I understand the Bird wattmeters have such a "sniffer"
> circuit. I
> also understand the 'scope alone may not be sufficient for such a
> "station
> monitor". Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If this is not
> appropiate for this reflector, I apologize, and would be happy to take
> replies off list. Tnx & hny to all.
>
> 73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE

Jeffrey Otterson

Re: Station Monitor

In reply to this post by KD8RQE

This looks like it could be what you want:

http://preciserf.com/shop/station-monitor-trapezoid-qrp/

I've not tried one, it was just something I found on the web and saved the
bookmark, because it looked like it might be useful.

jeff n1kdo
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EricJ-2

Re: Station Monitor

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

It's also detailed in his book (W7ZOI, KK7B, W7PUA), Experimental
Methods in RF Design, and ARRL publication and the only electronic book
I've ever seen rate an active Yahoo group all on its own.

My 10 year old copy gets so much use, it looks like it served two tours
in the Middle East.

Eric
KE6US

On 1/1/2014 6:57 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> The 40 dB Power Tap detailed in June 2001 QST article called "Simple
> RF Power Measurement" by Wes Hayward should do that job nicely. ARRL
> members can find that article at the ARRL website.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 1/1/2014 9:31 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>> HNY all:
>> Apropo of the recent discussions on "dirty" RF I have been considering
>> putting together a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output. I have
>> a K3
>> (7588) but also an ICOM 7200, Drake TR7A, Drake C-line & a couple of
>> amps. I
>> have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp & feed
>> line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB output is
>> clean
>> without clicks or splatter, especially at higher output. This would
>> allow me
>> to see if there is any effect on waveform from the amp compared to the
>> transmitter output as well. Some sort of attenuator is needed to
>> protect the
>> 'scope but also to make sure it doesn't change the impedance the amp or
>> tuner sees. I understand the Bird wattmeters have such a "sniffer"
>> circuit. I
>> also understand the 'scope alone may not be sufficient for such a
>> "station
>> monitor". Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If this is not
>> appropiate for this reflector, I apologize, and would be happy to take
>> replies off list. Tnx & hny to all.
>> 73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

alorona

Re: Station Monitor

In reply to this post by KD8RQE

Wouldn't it be cool if the P3 could display the K3's transmitted signal in the time domain, like an oscilloscope? If this were possible then it might be used to obtain the classic two-tone display in the ARRL Handbook or maybe even the classic trapezoid pattern if somehow the necessary synchronization could be achieved.

Al Bloom is going, "Oh, no," right now.

Al W6LX

>> I have been considering a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output.
>> I have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp &
>> feed line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB
>> output is clean without clicks or splatter, especially at higher output.

>> 73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE
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kc2vmp

Re: Station Monitor

I've been hoping to see the port on the back of the P3 labeled sensor used for something like this.

73,
kc2vmp

On Jan 17, 2014, at 2:18 PM, Al Lorona <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Wouldn't it be cool if the P3 could display the K3's transmitted signal in the time domain, like an oscilloscope? If this were possible then it might be used to obtain the classic two-tone display in the ARRL Handbook or maybe even the classic trapezoid pattern if somehow the necessary synchronization could be achieved.
>
> Al Bloom is going, "Oh, no," right now.
>
> Al W6LX
>
>
>>> I have been considering a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output.
>>> I have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp &
>>> feed line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB
>>> output is clean without clicks or splatter, especially at higher output.
>
>>> 73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Gary Gregory-2

Re: Station Monitor

Two years and still counting....
Gary
On 18/01/2014 9:02 AM, "kc2vmp" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've been hoping to see the port on the back of the P3 labeled sensor used
> for something like this.
>
> 73,
> kc2vmp
>
> On Jan 17, 2014, at 2:18 PM, Al Lorona <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > Wouldn't it be cool if the P3 could display the K3's transmitted signal
> in the time domain, like an oscilloscope? If this were possible then it
> might be used to obtain the classic two-tone display in the ARRL Handbook
> or maybe even the classic trapezoid pattern if somehow the necessary
> synchronization could be achieved.
> >
> > Al Bloom is going, "Oh, no," right now.
> >
> > Al W6LX
> >
> >
> >>> I have been considering a "station monitor" to monitor my RF output.
> >>> I have a 70MHz occilliscope that I would like to place between amp &
> >>> feed line to various antennas. I want to make sure my CW & SSB
> >>> output is clean without clicks or splatter, especially at higher
> output.
> >
> >>> 73 Mike DeLong KD8RQE
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Station Monitor

In reply to this post by kc2vmp

I don't have anything official on that, but I would believe it is in the
plan.
It may not provide a time domain display, but a frequency domain display
would be more valuable - one can see any spurs rather than trying to
judge if the 'sine wave' display has any flattopping distortion - that
is difficult to detect except by the most experienced eye.

Take a look at the spectrum analysis of a 2-tone test compared to the
oscilloscope display and tell me which has the better indication - IMHO,
the spectrum display gets top honors.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/17/2014 6:02 PM, kc2vmp wrote:
> I've been hoping to see the port on the back of the P3 labeled sensor used for something like this.
>
> 73,
> kc2vmp
>
> On Jan 17, 2014, at 2:18 PM, Al Lorona <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Wouldn't it be cool if the P3 could display the K3's transmitted signal in the time domain, like an oscilloscope? If this were possible then it might be used to obtain the classic two-tone display in the ARRL Handbook or maybe even the classic trapezoid pattern if somehow the necessary synchronization could be achieved.
>>

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