Topband: EIRP Measurement

[Tod - ID]

In thinking about the measurement of EIRP for the new band it occurred to me that this might be the time for a few folks to think about how we could fabricate a "commonly calibrated" field strength meter. Such a device might well be used on both 160m and the 600 kHz band. By commonly calibrated in mean a device that has an agreed upon standard way to calibrate it that can be done with simple methods. One thing that always intrigued me about the HeathKit products was the fact that they used very simple methods to allow the builder to adjust the device without expensive equipment. Sometimes that meant a special circuit built into the product which was only used for adjusting the device. 

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.

An interesting idea might be to make such a field strength meter have an interface to Wi-Fi so that it could be positioned at a remote point and send its readings to one's local network. There are a lot of ways to do that of course, but planning to have it part the device initially would simplify taking measurements. I am sure that there are others who could contribute ideas that eventually could be used to formulate design objectives for such a device. If there was enough interest I can imagine that a single PCB could created and a lot of such devices built to allow us to add to our collection of measurement devices that help us fabricate better antennas and stations. 

I wonder if I am the only one who thinks this might be a useful TopBand subject.

Tod, K0TO

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