[Amps] Measuring RF Power

[Gary Schafer]

When adding PEP to the mix it is vital that average power be understood 
properly. Best to put RMS power out of mind as it is good for nothing 
but confusion.

Reading the FCC definition of PEP it goes something like:
Peak envelope power is the AVERAGE power in one RF cycle at the crest of 
the modulation envelope.

That means if you transmit a 1500 watt average power cw signal, your PEP 
is also 1500 watts. If your peaks hit 1500 watts on voice your pep is 
1500 watts.

Imagine the confusion trying to figure that out if you called the 1500 
watt cw signal RMS power!

73
Gary  K4FMX


> 
> 
> 
> My old ARRL Handbook calls RMS power a mathematical curiosity. If one were  
> measuring RMS power I assume it would equal .7071 times peak power? Or. 1.414  
> times average power?
>  
> We can really make this interesting by adding pep to the mix!
>  
> 73/k5gw