Accurate PEP Meter?

[ExitThirteen]

What's a good meter to have that measures PEP output? I have my Bird 43, but it doesn't have a peak kit in it, so it only measures average.

I also have one of those "feel good" meters (Dosy) that is calibrated on AM (calibrated to deadkey wattage).

With just the radio, both the Dosy and my Bird meter read almost exactly on the money to each other, but when I switch the amp on, the Bird meter reads 300W on SSB, and the Dosy reads 500W.

Sooo... hence the question for a good, accurate PEP meter. I hear the Daiwa CN-801HP meters are pretty good, is that something I should buy? Is there another meter that does well? Any info would be most appreciated. Thanks!


~Cheers~

 

[Justme]

Using the Daiwa HP 801 HP ( 2 of them).
Modification for SWR when measuring PEP is on the board, as well modification to get the hold time in PEP a bit longer for more easy read out too.

Done on both of mine.
Quite accurate as well.

 

[wavrider]

A Simple PEP Measuring Procedure

You may have all the parts you need in the junk box to build this circuit to measure PEP on your scope.

 

[binrat]

I use a Tentec 1225 meter, works well.

 

[Shockwave]

Why not add the peak reading kit to your existing Bird and turn it into a 43P? If you buy an aftermarket peak kit, avoid the one with 5 ranges for each slug. That junk came with instructions explaining how it would not work well with aftermarket Chinese meter movements. That was OK with me but then I found out it really doesn't work accurately with any meter movement including the $100 Bird / Simpson.

 

[Robb]

lp100

 

[Beetle]

Why not add the peak reading kit to your existing Bird and turn it into a 43P? If you buy an aftermarket peak kit, avoid the one with 5 ranges for each slug. That junk came with instructions explaining how it would not work well with aftermarket Chinese meter movements. That was OK with me but then I found out it really doesn't work accurately with any meter movement including the $100 Bird / Simpson.

If you choose to go with converting the 43 to the 43P, don't forget that the accuracy will be ±8% of full scale for PEP measurements. It will still be ±5% FS for average readings. And this assumes the meter and slugs are calibrated about once a year.

 

[ExitThirteen]

I think I may go with a Daiwa CN-801HP, good reviews on eham and such.


~Cheers~

 

[Shockwave]

If you choose to go with converting the 43 to the 43P, don't forget that the accuracy will be ±8% of full scale for PEP measurements. It will still be ±5% FS for average readings. And this assumes the meter and slugs are calibrated about once a year.

Most other meters that list a tolerance are off by twice as much at +/- 10% for PEP and average. You don't even want to know how bad the others are that don't list the spec.

 

[222DBFL]

That lp100 that Robb posted is a nice one!!

 

[ExitThirteen]

Now as I understand it (and was told) that average SSB output is 60% or so of the PeP output. If that's the case, my meters match. 60% of 500W is 300, so my meters agree in that aspect. I would like to get an LP-100 meter but those are big money. I think I'll still go with the Daiwa.



~Cheers~

 

[GnG8d]

Average SSB power won't even be half of that 60% figure. Where did you find that number?

 

[JoeDirt]

Bump for Daiwa I have a 801, they are great meters really well built!

 

[222DBFL]

I thought SSB pep was about 25-30% less on a non pep meter? So 600 watts is roughly 700-800 watts pep on SSB? Does that sound about right? That's about what my rat shack meter shows anyway. I am still drooling over the LP100 myself. My mind says yes, my wallet says NO!

 

[binrat]

I am still drooling over the LP100 myself. My mind says yes, my wallet says NO!

Im in the same boat.



Sent from my GT-S5690M using Tapatalk 2