W2 wattmeter
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Greetings,
Thinking of picking up the W2 wattmeter to go in the shack with the rest of my gear (and future K3 and KPA500....some day). I was reading the reviews on eham, but still had a few questions I didn't see there. I was curious about the accuracy of the meter and how well the peak hold function works. I've played with other meters where the peak hold didn't play well. Any input would be great. Thanks and 73, Steve KS6PD KX3 #3604 ______________________________________________________________ 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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My W2 seems to read about as well as my Bird wattmeter from QRP to QRO is it
as good as a Oak Hills Research's QRP WM-2 no but few are. Is it an Alpha 4510 no but reads close to mine at a fraction of the cost. I have mine from 1/2w -1500w without a problem for the money IMHO hard to beat and I have 7-8 around here. It's a keeper for sure right now it's monitoring my K2 and KX3 I have 2 sensors. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100--KAT100 P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Selberg Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 11:49 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Greetings, Thinking of picking up the W2 wattmeter to go in the shack with the rest of my gear (and future K3 and KPA500....some day). I was reading the reviews on eham, but still had a few questions I didn't see there. I was curious about the accuracy of the meter and how well the peak hold function works. I've played with other meters where the peak hold didn't play well. Any input would be great. Thanks and 73, Steve KS6PD KX3 #3604 ______________________________________________________________ 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 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6412 - Release Date: 06/14/13 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Stephen Selberg
Mine works great and comparing readings to my other equipment it appears
spot on. From barefoot low power on the k3 to my amp on. I use the peak function all the time as I do a lot of SSB and it just makes me feel good. I have the 2kw sensor. It also helped me on 6m as I was running the k3 at 80 watts and only reading 50w peak on the w2. After removing all the stuff between the k3 and the w2 (amp & anc) I got my whole 80w at the w2 sensor. So it showed me a 30w loss in the system on 6m so that to me is pretty accurate. Cheers & Beers ~73 Don KD8NNU -.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..- -----Original Message----- From: Stephen Selberg Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 12:48 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Greetings, Thinking of picking up the W2 wattmeter to go in the shack with the rest of my gear (and future K3 and KPA500....some day). I was reading the reviews on eham, but still had a few questions I didn't see there. I was curious about the accuracy of the meter and how well the peak hold function works. I've played with other meters where the peak hold didn't play well. Any input would be great. Thanks and 73, Steve KS6PD KX3 #3604 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Stephen Selberg
Very happy with my W2. I have the 2KW coupler. Seems pretty accurate and the LED display is great for casual use. I don't always keep the display up on the computer but it's very useful when greater resolution than the LED display is desired.
73 Bill NZ0T |
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Bill is 100% right on about the W2,it is most useful on screen for extreme
QRP if you don't have a WM-2 QRP meter. But like I said earlier it is very close for all ranges both of my couplers are 2k's but still not bad for QRP. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ0T Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 7:16 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Very happy with my W2. I have the 2KW coupler. Seems pretty accurate and the LED display is great for casual use. I don't always keep the display up on the computer but it's very useful when greater resolution than the LED display is desired. 73 Bill NZ0T -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/W2-wattmeter-tp7575272p7575286.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ 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 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6413 - Release Date: 06/15/13 ______________________________________________________________ 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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I have two W2 meters and I like them .. But I do not rely upon them for
accurate power readings.. My more practical use is to use my peripheral vision to keep tabs on what's going on while I'm on the air and be alert for unexpected changes. I think the Bird 43, when fully calibrated, claims plus or minus 5% accuracy at full scale on their analog dial. The W2 is probably close to that, but not quite (maybe 6% at best) ... there are 17 leds on the 0-20 watt meter scale .. Doing the math, on the 2KW scale, that's about 118 watts per LED ... so the power has to increase about 118 watts before the next LED will light up, etc., etc. Yes, you can get a reading of presumed accuracy to the nearest watt if you us the W2 software and keep a window running on your computer . but the LED display itself is only capable of reading plus or minus 118 of actual wattage on the 2 KW scale.. And I've never bothered to calibrate to see what it takes for the next LED to light up .. Does it change when you (1) just cross the new threshold, (2) hit the midrange area of the next step, or (3) go the full distance. Bottom line, it really doesn't matter, but I do not use a W2 to obtain accurate power readings just from the LED display. Don, N5LZ -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Smith Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 8:28 AM To: 'NZ0T'; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Bill is 100% right on about the W2,it is most useful on screen for extreme QRP if you don't have a WM-2 QRP meter. But like I said earlier it is very close for all ranges both of my couplers are 2k's but still not bad for QRP. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ0T Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 7:16 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Very happy with my W2. I have the 2KW coupler. Seems pretty accurate and the LED display is great for casual use. I don't always keep the display up on the computer but it's very useful when greater resolution than the LED display is desired. 73 Bill NZ0T -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/W2-wattmeter-tp7575272p7575286.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ 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 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6413 - Release Date: 06/15/13 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Thanks for all the feed back! Looks like I'll be taking the 30 minute drive
to Watsonville this week. Steve KS6PD On Saturday, June 15, 2013, Donald Butler wrote: > I have two W2 meters and I like them .. But I do not rely upon them for > accurate power readings.. My more practical use is to use my peripheral > vision to keep tabs on what's going on while I'm on the air and be alert > for > unexpected changes. > > I think the Bird 43, when fully calibrated, claims plus or minus 5% > accuracy > at full scale on their analog dial. > > The W2 is probably close to that, but not quite (maybe 6% at best) ... > there > are 17 leds on the 0-20 watt meter scale .. Doing the math, on the 2KW > scale, that's about 118 watts per LED ... so the power has to increase > about > 118 watts before the next LED will light up, etc., etc. Yes, you can get > a reading of presumed accuracy to the nearest watt if you us the W2 > software > and keep a window running on your computer . but the LED display itself is > only capable of reading plus or minus 118 of actual wattage on the 2 KW > scale.. And I've never bothered to calibrate to see what it takes for the > next LED to light up .. Does it change when you (1) just cross the new > threshold, (2) hit the midrange area of the next step, or (3) go the full > distance. Bottom line, it really doesn't matter, but I do not use a W2 > to > obtain accurate power readings just from the LED display. > > Don, N5LZ > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] <javascript:;> > [mailto:[hidden email] <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of > Fred Smith > Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 8:28 AM > To: 'NZ0T'; [hidden email] <javascript:;> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter > > Bill is 100% right on about the W2,it is most useful on screen for extreme > QRP if you don't have a WM-2 QRP meter. But like I said earlier it is very > close for all ranges both of my couplers are 2k's but still not bad for > QRP. > > > 73, > Fred/N0AZZ > K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 > P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] <javascript:;> > [mailto:[hidden email] <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of NZ0T > Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 7:16 AM > To: [hidden email] <javascript:;> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter > > Very happy with my W2. I have the 2KW coupler. Seems pretty accurate and > the LED display is great for casual use. I don't always keep the display > up > on the computer but it's very useful when greater resolution than the LED > display is desired. > > 73 Bill NZ0T > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/W2-wattmeter-tp7575272p7575286.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] <javascript:;> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6413 - Release Date: 06/15/13 > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] <javascript:;> > > 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] <javascript:;> > > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Don Butler
As you mentioned, the W2 utility shows greater accuracy, although just
because it shows values in fractions of a watt, it doesn't mean that it is that accurate. However, the nice thing about the W2 is that it has a fairly nice calibration facility. So if you have or can borrow a higher accuracy meter then you can use that to improve the accuracy of the W2. Also, I really like the fact that the SWR bridge sensor is remote from the unit. This allows a lot more flexibility for setup. In my case the cable was just a little too short, but I wondered if a CAT 5e patch cable would work. I did a little googling and saw an Elecraft employee recommending that option. I don't know how long you can go before it doesn't work or gives bad readings, but the patch cable I used was only 2-3 feet longer than the cable supplied by Elecraft, and it didn't appear to affect the readings based on a simple before/after test. Anyway, I think the W2 is a great product. However, Elecraft recommends that it go between the amp and the ATU (Elecraft says that the accuracy really starts to suffer with high SWR). That means that it might not be very useful if I purchase a KXPA100 with the built in ATU. John AC0ZG On 6/15/2013 9:34 AM, Donald Butler wrote: > I have two W2 meters and I like them .. But I do not rely upon them for > accurate power readings.. My more practical use is to use my peripheral > vision to keep tabs on what's going on while I'm on the air and be alert for > unexpected changes. > > I think the Bird 43, when fully calibrated, claims plus or minus 5% accuracy > at full scale on their analog dial. > > The W2 is probably close to that, but not quite (maybe 6% at best) ... there > are 17 leds on the 0-20 watt meter scale .. Doing the math, on the 2KW > scale, that's about 118 watts per LED ... so the power has to increase about > 118 watts before the next LED will light up, etc., etc. Yes, you can get > a reading of presumed accuracy to the nearest watt if you us the W2 software > and keep a window running on your computer . but the LED display itself is > only capable of reading plus or minus 118 of actual wattage on the 2 KW > scale.. And I've never bothered to calibrate to see what it takes for the > next LED to light up .. Does it change when you (1) just cross the new > threshold, (2) hit the midrange area of the next step, or (3) go the full > distance. Bottom line, it really doesn't matter, but I do not use a W2 to > obtain accurate power readings just from the LED display. > > Don, N5LZ > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Smith > Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 8:28 AM > To: 'NZ0T'; [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter > > Bill is 100% right on about the W2,it is most useful on screen for extreme > QRP if you don't have a WM-2 QRP meter. But like I said earlier it is very > close for all ranges both of my couplers are 2k's but still not bad for QRP. > > > 73, > Fred/N0AZZ > K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 > P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of NZ0T > Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 7:16 AM > To: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter > > Very happy with my W2. I have the 2KW coupler. Seems pretty accurate and > the LED display is great for casual use. I don't always keep the display up > on the computer but it's very useful when greater resolution than the LED > display is desired. > > 73 Bill NZ0T > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/W2-wattmeter-tp7575272p7575286.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6413 - Release Date: 06/15/13 > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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