I would actually PREFER TO MEASURE THE INPUT DC POWER since I prefer operate a
vintage home brew "1KW input" Class C AM transmitter. If I get 75% efficiency,
I get 750 watts forward power. On positive modulation peaks (X4 since the
voltage is doubled) I would read 750 X 4 or 3000 watts peak. This was the way
it was before the 1500 watt rule change, so now the AM transmitter must be -3dB
foward power since the old days. On the other hand, the SSB operators use to be
under the 2KW input rule, giving an output power of about 1KW for a typical
lower efficiency linear amplifier at about 50%. With the forward power
permitted now at 1500 watts... a SSB operator gets an increase in power of +3dB
from the old rules. If we want to be "qute", we could put the power sensor at
the antenna feed to give ourselved the loss of the feedline, maybe 1dB? not
much to worry about. Whats 1to 3 dB among friends anyway?
Georgwe AB2KC 1KW AM
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