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W2 with K3 internal tuner

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NZ0T

W2 with K3 internal tuner

Thanks again for the manual. It states that a tuner should be connected to the load side of the sensor so that power/SWR reflects what the transmitter is seeing and to lessen any RF feedback problems. I plan to use mine with my K3 that has the internal tuner and of course I can't connect the internal tuner in that manner. Will this be a problem in any way? I don't use the internal tuner a lot but I do want to be able to use it without damaging the W2 or having to come up with a way to switch the W2 in and out of the feedline.

Thanks and 73 Bill nz0t

Don Ehrlich

W2 Resolution

The photos of the W2 appear to show 20 LEDs in a row which will provide a
power display resolution of only 100 watts in the 2 KW scale, 10 watts with
the 200 watt scale. That means if I see the 300 watt LED lit up I will know
only that my power output is somewhere between 250 and 350 watts. Is that
right?

Don K7FJ

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NZ0T

Re: W2 Resolution

What sold me on the W2 is the ability to display in high resolution on my computer.

Don Ehrlich wrote

The photos of the W2 appear to show 20 LEDs in a row which will provide a
power display resolution of only 100 watts in the 2 KW scale, 10 watts with
the 200 watt scale. That means if I see the 300 watt LED lit up I will know
only that my power output is somewhere between 250 and 350 watts. Is that
right?

Don K7FJ

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N5GE

Re: W2 Resolution

In reply to this post by Don Ehrlich

On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:34:40 -0700, "Don Ehrlich"
<[hidden email]> wrote:

>The photos of the W2 appear to show 20 LEDs in a row which will provide a
>power display resolution of only 100 watts in the 2 KW scale, 10 watts with
>the 200 watt scale. That means if I see the 300 watt LED lit up I will know
>only that my power output is somewhere between 250 and 350 watts. Is that
>right?
>
>Don K7FJ
>
[snip]

The Product sheet on the web site says there is software to use for
higher accuracy readings. I imagine I will use the software if I want
a higher resolution reading. That's what I do with the W1.

73,

Tom, N5GE

[hidden email]
K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6,
XV144, XV432, KRC2,
W1 and other small kits.

2 W2's on order
1 K144XV on order

http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.swotrc.net

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Amateur Radio Operator N5GE

hf4me

Re: W2 Resolution

IMHO from RTFM = From the Manual on the W2 Copies below, you will see that
the W2 will range the sensors. The 2KW sensor for instance can show only
0-20 watts so with 20 lights, the lowest light lit would be 1 watt. and for
the 200 w sensor it will be 1/10 watt.

73. de Jim KG0KP
Directional Couplers (Sensors)1

Size (H x W x D) 2.5" x 2.3" x 5.0" (6.4 cm x 5.8 cm x 12.7 cm), not
including connectors.

Weight 7.5 oz. (0.21 kg) typical

Power Range: (200W Sensor) 0-2W, 0-20W, 0-200W, Auto

(2 KW sensor) 0-20W, 0-200W, 0-2000W, Auto

Accuracy: +/- 0.5 dB typical

Frequency Range: (HF Sensors) 1.8 - 54 MHz

(VHF Sensors) 150 - 450 MHz

Sensor Cable: 5'6" (168 cm) 8-conductor Ethernet (CAT 5) with RJ45
connectors.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Radio Amateur N5GE" <[hidden email]>
To: "Don Ehrlich" <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 Resolution

> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:34:40 -0700, "Don Ehrlich"
> <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>>The photos of the W2 appear to show 20 LEDs in a row which will provide a
>>power display resolution of only 100 watts in the 2 KW scale, 10 watts
>>with
>>the 200 watt scale. That means if I see the 300 watt LED lit up I will
>>know
>>only that my power output is somewhere between 250 and 350 watts. Is that
>>right?
>>
>>Don K7FJ
>>
> [snip]
>
> The Product sheet on the web site says there is software to use for
> higher accuracy readings. I imagine I will use the software if I want
> a higher resolution reading. That's what I do with the W1.
>
> 73,
>
> Tom, N5GE
>
> [hidden email]
> K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6,
> XV144, XV432, KRC2,
> W1 and other small kits.
>
> 2 W2's on order
> 1 K144XV on order
>
> http://www.n5ge.com
> http://www.swotrc.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Grant Youngman

Re: W2 Resolution

In reply to this post by N5GE

You won't get higher accuracy by using the PC interface -- only higher
precision. It's also kind of important to note that the spec is +/-
0.5dB. Doesn't say if that's of indicated power or of scale maximum.
Nonetheless, you can get all the digits of precision through a PC
readout you want, you still are only going to be +/- 100 watts
accurate or so in the middle of the 2K range. This is consistent with
the accuracy of other similar good quality RF Power meters.

It wouldn't seem to matter all that terribly much that the LEDs only
give you 20 intervals, or that you could possibly get readings to the
watt on the 2KW (or even the 200W) range. Once you throw in
measurement error, you still only know your output power within some
range of a few percent.

Grant/NQ5T

On Oct 21, 2009, at 12:49 PM, Radio Amateur N5GE wrote:

> On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:34:40 -0700, "Don Ehrlich"
> <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> The photos of the W2 appear to show 20 LEDs in a row which will
>> provide a
>> power display resolution of only 100 watts in the 2 KW scale, 10
>> watts with
>> the 200 watt scale. That means if I see the 300 watt LED lit up I
>> will know
>> only that my power output is somewhere between 250 and 350 watts.
>> Is that
>> right?
>>
>> Don K7FJ
>>
> [snip]
>
> The Product sheet on the web site says there is software to use for
> higher accuracy readings. I imagine I will use the software if I want
> a higher resolution reading. That's what I do with the W1.
>
> 73,
>
> Tom, N5GE
>

N5GE

Re: W2 Resolution

On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:41:09 -0500, Grant Youngman <[hidden email]>
wrote:

>You won't get higher accuracy by using the PC interface -- only higher
>precision. It's also kind of important to note that the spec is +/-
>0.5dB. Doesn't say if that's of indicated power or of scale maximum.
>Nonetheless, you can get all the digits of precision through a PC
>readout you want, you still are only going to be +/- 100 watts
>accurate or so in the middle of the 2K range. This is consistent with
>the accuracy of other similar good quality RF Power meters.
>
>It wouldn't seem to matter all that terribly much that the LEDs only
>give you 20 intervals, or that you could possibly get readings to the
>watt on the 2KW (or even the 200W) range. Once you throw in
>measurement error, you still only know your output power within some
>range of a few percent.
>
>Grant/NQ5T
>

Those of you who didn't understand my previous post please substitute
PRECISION for ACCURACY.

Thanks, Grant

Tom, N5GE

[hidden email]
K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6,
XV144, XV432, KRC2,
W1 and other small kits.

2 W2's on order
1 K144XV on order

http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.swotrc.net

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Amateur Radio Operator N5GE

Brett Howard

Re: W2 Resolution

In reply to this post by Grant Youngman

Yes and this is where the LP100A shines.

~BTH

On Wed, 2009-10-21 at 13:41 -0500, Grant Youngman wrote:

> You won't get higher accuracy by using the PC interface -- only
> higher
> precision. It's also kind of important to note that the spec is +/-
> 0.5dB. Doesn't say if that's of indicated power or of scale
> maximum.
> Nonetheless, you can get all the digits of precision through a PC
> readout you want, you still are only going to be +/- 100 watts
> accurate or so in the middle of the 2K range. This is consistent
> with
> the accuracy of other similar good quality RF Power meters.
>
> It wouldn't seem to matter all that terribly much that the LEDs only
> give you 20 intervals, or that you could possibly get readings to
> the
> watt on the 2KW (or even the 200W) range. Once you throw in
> measurement error, you still only know your output power within some
> range of a few percent.
>
> Grant/NQ5T

Grant Youngman

Re: W2 Resolution

The LP-100A (I have one) is spec'd at "5% or better", without saying what
"or better" means, and < 2% relative, which isn't a spec Elecraft provides
for the W2, but which one could reasonably assume is in the same range.

I don't see any practical difference. True, the LP-100 is a also a good
meter, and will give you a couple of digits of precision to the right of the
decimal in the display in low power ranges, but given the absolute accuracy,
they aren't exactly meaningful.

Truth is, I wish I had never sold my Nye-Viking 3KW, old fashioned, analog
metered, no PC interface, 'eyeball the power' power meter, thinking the new
fangled thingy would somehow be better. The Nye did everything one needs
unless you're running a lab instead of a ham radio station. But no, I drank
the Coolaid :-)

Grant/NQ5T

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brett Howard
> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 8:42 PM
> Cc: Elecraft List
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 Resolution
>
> Yes and this is where the LP100A shines.
>
> ~BTH
>
> On Wed, 2009-10-21 at 13:41 -0500, Grant Youngman wrote:
> > You won't get higher accuracy by using the PC interface -- only
> > higher
> > precision. It's also kind of important to note that the
> spec is +/-
> > 0.5dB. Doesn't say if that's of indicated power or of scale
> > maximum.

Brett Howard

Re: W2 Resolution

The LP100A claims typical 3% absolute w/ NIST calibration (and Larry
does that for you for free when you're done building the kit). I
really dig that you get to build the kit including the coupler. I
also like that you can use it as a field strength meter. Not to
mention that in field strength meter mode it goes to MUCH higher than
just HF frequencies. I've used it to take antenna patterns for YAGI's
at VHF frequencies. It also can give you a lot of the similar
information that people buy the MFJ analyzers for too. I also like
being able to get the information in several formats. You can get FWD
power and REV power, or you can get FWD power and SWR, or FWD power
and return loss in dB (my personal favorite).

Anyway I'm pretty pleased with mine and find it to be VERY accurate
and I compared it to an actual Agilent lab watt meter from work.

~BTH

On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 7:58 PM, Grant Youngman <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The LP-100A (I have one) is spec'd at "5% or better", without saying what
> "or better" means, and < 2% relative, which isn't a spec Elecraft provides
> for the W2, but which one could reasonably assume is in the same range.
>
> I don't see any practical difference. True, the LP-100 is a also a good
> meter, and will give you a couple of digits of precision to the right of the
> decimal in the display in low power ranges, but given the absolute accuracy,
> they aren't exactly meaningful.
>
> Truth is, I wish I had never sold my Nye-Viking 3KW, old fashioned, analog
> metered, no PC interface, 'eyeball the power' power meter, thinking the new
> fangled thingy would somehow be better. The Nye did everything one needs
> unless you're running a lab instead of a ham radio station. But no, I drank
> the Coolaid :-)
>
> Grant/NQ5T
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email]
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brett Howard
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 8:42 PM
>> Cc: Elecraft List
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 Resolution
>>
>> Yes and this is where the LP100A shines.
>>
>> ~BTH
>>
>> On Wed, 2009-10-21 at 13:41 -0500, Grant Youngman wrote:
>> > You won't get higher accuracy by using the PC interface -- only
>> > higher
>> > precision. It's also kind of important to note that the
>> spec is +/-
>> > 0.5dB. Doesn't say if that's of indicated power or of scale
>> > maximum.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>