On 2/21/2012 11:51 AM, W2XJ wrote:
> The Potomac Analog FIM is no longer available, nor are the parts to
> repair them and calibration service is no longer available. The new
> meters are expensive digital units. But in broadcast we do not use them
> to determine power but rather coverage usually when directional systems
> are tuned.
>
> On 2/21/12 1:05 PM, Jack/W6NF wrote:
>> On 2/21/2012 8:26 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>>> > On Mon, 2012-02-20 at 19:04 -0700, Tod - ID wrote:
>>> >
>>> > The important thing is to have a way to assure that when someone
>>> > measured the same field at the same point with the same type of
>>> > measurement device they would get the same measurement result.
>>> > That would allow us to compare measurements between different
>>> > people even if we did not know the absolute field strength value.
>>>
>>> I think simple, repeatable and accurate are a difficult triad. What
>>> you are talking about is an accurate Field Intensity Meter (FIM) and
>>> getting stable calibrations with home constructed equipment is not
>>> going to be easy - let along easy to duplicate. The closest solution
>>> is to use standard antennas (not simple whips) and calibrate them
>>> against broadcast signals at known locations and known field strengths.
>>>
>>> This will still require separate antennas for 160 and 630 meters and
>>> separate calibration sources on the appropriate ends of the standard
>>> broadcast band (due to the antennas).
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> ... Joe, W4TV
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>>>
>> It's been many years since I have had to make any AM broadcast field
>> measurements. I don't recall if the Potomac Instruments, or other, FIMs
>> go much below 550kHz.
>>
>> 73,
>>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>
Yes, I am aware of that, having been CE at several DAs, including one
critical night-time array. I was thinking that, if the FIMs covered the
necessary frequencies, EIRP could be inferred by measuring field strength.
I'd still be curious if any of the new FIMs have extended coverage that
would make them useful.
Oops, I guess this is now OT, right? ;>)
--
Jack, W6NF
Silver Springs, NV
DM09ji
_______________________________________________
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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