[Amps] Elecraft W2, nope

[Jim Barber]

I do some QSY'ing up and down the band going from this group to that 
one, and rather than switch off to the dummy load I'll sometimes tweak 
for the freq change on SSB or AM voice peaks as I transmit.

There... I admitted it. ;-)

73,
Jim N7CXI

On 3/2/2012 8:03 PM, Al Kozakiewicz wrote:
> I don't understand why you would want to use the peak reading function to tune an amplifier.  The time delay before decay just makes tuning harder and doesn't really add any value.
>
> I also have an LP-100A and an antenna tuner that is rarely used.  The tuner has a wattmeter in it that I leave on instantaneous mode and use that to tune the amp.
>
> If you're using a pecker or some other pulsing device (completely unnecessary, IMO) an instantaneous reading meter will indicate a bit low, but since you're tuning for a peak, it doesn't matter.
>
> Al
> AB2ZY
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 19:07:57 -0800
>> From: audioguy at q.com
>> To: Amps at contesting.com
>> Subject: [Amps] Elecraft W2, or other"best" meter for tweaking the beast(s)?
>>
>> Has anyone tried the Elecraft W2 bar-graph wattmeter for tweaking
>> their legal-limit amp? I read somewhere that the peak-hold is
>> something like a second. If so, probably too long to be useful for my purposes.
>>
>> I have a calibrated LP-100A, and while it's plenty "accurate" enough
>> for most amateur use, the display doesn't update quickly enough for
>> easy tuning in normal peak mode, and the peak hold is something like
>> 10 seconds - again not useful for tuning an amp.
>>
>> So... I also have a Bird 43 with a peak-reading board, which actually
>> works fine for bench use, but isn't great as a fixed-station device.
>> The one I keep going back to is the old Heathkit HM-2140 with the
>> op-amp peak circuit. The timing of the peak-hold circuit just seems to
>> work for me for tuning amps, but the meter faces are relatively small
>> and it's quite old now.
>>
>> Again - I'm not looking to start another accuracy debate. Ultimate
>> accuracy really isn't the point - I can use the LP-100A at the end of
>> the circuit for absolute readings. Ease of use, timing of the
>> peak-reading circuit and other amenities for tuning amps are the
>> criteria I'm using here.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jim N7CXI
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