BIRD WATTS. LOL

[Sonar]

eBay seller offering a like new Maco 200 (4 tubes.)
Descibes it as doing 500 "bird" with 4 watts DK.
I look at the pictures, and he's using an old dosey to show the 500 watts ("bird.")
I'm so tired of hearing people say bird watts. But if you're going to refrance output as bird watts shouldn't one be using a bird meter?
Is it just me?

 

[jon666]

i hate bird meters. there ugly and cost a small fortune then you have to buy the overpriced slugs.and most people buy the pep kit
you could bu a very nice pep meter for half what a bird cost. im sure ill get a lot of flack for my honest option

 

[543_Dallas]

Does the dosy come with the amp? That might make it worth the price of shipping.

 

[Tallman]

If you are certifying your output as bird watts then it should be on a bird meter.
I find a calibrated CN-801 more believable.

 

[dozerman]

Aren't Bird meters just for cw? And a pep kit or the multipliers, does that not make it just like any other pep meter?

 

[StrangeBrew]

Bird meters measure average power not peak, some believe that for AM use average is the number that matters. Of course a Bird meter can have a peak kit installed but then it doesn't really read bird watts anymore.

 

[Chevboy0167]

Hmmmm. I guess my meter only reads MFJ watts.... that count? Hahahha

 

[StrangeBrew]

At the end of the day the radio puts out what the radio puts out, knowing what the number is ain't going to make it get out better.

 

[Tallman]

The CN-801 reads peak and rms. Just flip a switch.

 

[357]

I bought another LP100a last week, I was lucky to get one used that was like new.

This time I'm hanging onto it.

 

[psycho]

i hate bird meters. there ugly and cost a small fortune then you have to buy the overpriced slugs.and most people buy the pep kit
you could bu a very nice pep meter for half what a bird cost. im sure ill get a lot of flack for my honest option

The Bird 43 tells it like it is........add a Bird peak reading kit to it and you have a meter that is more generous than a Dosy. I have a Bird 43P and the peak function is great for selling amps. Save yourself some money and buy a Coaxial Dynamics 81000A.

 

[Sonar]

If you are certifying your output as bird watts then it should be on a bird meter.
I find a calibrated CN-801 more believable.

The Dawia 801 is an excellent true pep reading meter but I don't like cross needle meters. My eyesight has gone down hill since I hit the 50 mark 3 years ago, and I find them (cross needle meters) very rough on my eyes. I wish a company would begin producing an Autek wm1 knock off. I have 2 WM1's. My illuminated one is having a problem with a loose so239. I'm going to send it out with another piece of equipment I need repaired. I like the two separate large meters. Like 801 there's no SWR calibration needed. And the meters are super large. Before the one developed an issue both wm1's gave me the exact same readings. That leads me to believe that they're both working perfectly or both are off to the same exact extent and need to be calibrated. I would think that unlikely. They're probably both working exactly the way they should. 73's

 

[Tallman]

I know what you mean about the cross meters. I have to take a minute before I walk since my eyeballs are crossed after a long session with the meter.

For true PEP you have to have the power supply connected.

 

[Sonar]

I know what you mean about the cross meters. I have to take a minute before I walk since my eyeballs are crossed after a long session with the meter.

For true PEP you have to have the power supply connected.

I'm assuming it's the same with my Autek wm1's.
I've never used or even tried the meters without having their wallwart (power supply) plugged in?
Is it likely that the wm1 will work without it being plugged in? And if so without reading true pep what type of readings should be expected? I assumed the meter wouldn't work at all except for possibly showing SWR without the power supply plugged in. Do you believe like the 801 the wm1 would still work without the power supply?
I can't think of a reason and can't think why someone would want to use the meters without them showing true pep readings.
Is there a reason for a not wanting a true pep reading? Might there be a certain output test in which pep is not only discouraged, but not wanted?

 

[JoeDirt]

Bird has its place. I have Bird and Diawia. If you have a mismatch on your antenna the numbers cannot be trusted with the Diawia or any SWR meter really. Dont believe me, raise your reflect and watch your wattage output change. The worse the match the less accurate the meter is. Bird is more accurate with anything other than a perfect 50 ohms.

My only complaint with the Diawia style meters is you can have a high SWR but your not going to see it accurately unless your wattage is close to full scale.

With that said I run Diawia %99 of the time its all relative.