W1 Questions

[Mark, KJ7BS]

I’m getting ready to build my W1 SWR/Watt meter.  Before I start, are things I should consider.  Enclosure?  Mounting BNC off-board?  External power?  COM port mounting?

 

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Mark, KJ7BS
Glendale, AZ
Editor, The SKCC Centurion
Elecraft K2 S/N 0539
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[jperelst]

>>I'm getting ready to build my W1 SWR/Watt meter.  Before I start, are things
I should consider.  Enclosure?  Mounting BNC off-board?  External power?
COM port mounting?

 

I have mine sitting out on my desk without an enclosure.  I use it with a K1, with an IC-746Pro, and a buddy's K2.  Indoors, sitting on the desk seems to work fine.  I had it with me at Field Day and it worked fine sitting on bench table in a park feeding off my K1.

 

You certainly can put the W1 in an enclosure.  However, it probably needs to be a clear enclosure since there are display lights at the top of the board and also on the left edge below the middle of the board (which is also where the on-off switch is located, which means that you'll need access to the switch).

 

Obviously, if you put it in an enclosure, you have to worry about whether or not any conducting surfaces of the enclosure might touch any of the components (especially the BNC connectors).  The feet on the W1 will keep anything from touching the bottom, but it might be tricky to isolate the BNC connectors.

 

If you're going to mount the BNC's off the board, your connection between the BNCs and the board would have to be of a type that prevents adding loss and SWR.  If you're going to do something like that, you might consider mounting the BNCs on the board as per the instructions, and then short coax jumpers out of those BNCs terminating in BNC females.  You would then connect your rig and antenna to the external ends of the jumpers.

 

My impression from others I've talked with is that most people have some sort of a carrying case, but then use the W1 without an enclosure when they need to use it.

 

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[Craig Smith]

I like the W1, and it works just fine here.  Do not have it in any kind of
enclosure.  It is mounted on the rear of my operating desk such that it is
at the correct angle for a good view of the display LEDs.  This is
accomplished with a couple pieces of clear packaging tape around the input
and output coax connections.  I power it from the external 12V line from my
K3 so that it powers up with the K3.

One hint that VASTLY improves the usability.  When you build it, replace the
first 6 LEDs on the row of SWR indicators with different colors.  I use
green LEDs for 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3;  yellow LEDs for 1.5 and 1.7;  and an
orange LED for 2.0.  This way you can instantly see the status of your SWR
at a distance without needing to read the very fine print on the PCB.  With
all red LEDs as supplied by Elecraft the display isn't very user-friendly.
The replacement LEDs are readily and inexpensively available from Mouser or
other vendors.

                  ... Craig AC0DS


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[AC7AC]

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[Mike Markowski]

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> The mini-kits were designed for low cost and ease of use on the bench,
> hence no enclosures. The W1 works just fine sitting on the little feet
> supplied.

When you really want an enclosure, though, I haven't seen any that match what
Heinz HB9BCB has done.  He sent me some photos that I put at the bottom of this
page:

   http://udel.edu/~mm/ham/elecraft/w1/

73,
Mike ab3ap
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