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Wattmeter ideas?

 

Hi folks, really enjoying my QMX. I was just wondering if there are any decent and decently priced wattmeters available. I see a few on Amazon and eBay, mostly Chinese in origin. Can anyone speak to these?

I think I’m spoiled from my days as a commercial two-way engineer. I had some really nice Bird meters, but they’re not in my personal price range lol.

Just wondering if there’s a reliable/accurate wattmeter for QRP folks that’s less than $100 *crosses fingers*


Links appreciated.
 

I'm considering the Sandford Wattmeter kit by KANGA UK.? It's a terminated wattmeter, FYI.
I wish OHR was still around, I wanted one of their QRP wattmeters, but too late.?
I have an Elecraft W-2 wattmeter, but it is an LED bar display and has inconvenient 2, 20 and 200 watt maximums.... and pricey.
Avoid chinajunk
73
W6CJ


On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 7:34?PM <caleb@...> wrote:

Hi folks, really enjoying my QMX. I was just wondering if there are any decent and decently priced wattmeters available. I see a few on Amazon and eBay, mostly Chinese in origin. Can anyone speak to these?

I think I’m spoiled from my days as a commercial two-way engineer. I had some really nice Bird meters, but they’re not in my personal price range lol.

Just wondering if there’s a reliable/accurate wattmeter for QRP folks that’s less than $100 *crosses fingers*


Links appreciated.
 

Checkout?

If want to build one your self.
--

73 Lex PH2LB?
 

That design and his mods looks excellent Lex, I will file that and build it one in the summer.
73s Ted
2E0THH
 

You won’t have a reliable watt meter unless you are transmitting into a reliable dummy load

if you are, then a diode probe (like the QRP labs design) and multimeter /chart is fine. ?A scope across the load is better W=VxV /50

Every through-meter will be wrong and frequency sensitive once the load isn’t 50 ohms and many are wrong even when it is?
 

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?W6CJ,

Get the Sandford Watt Meter. I have one and it is a handy tool, up to 20 watts. ?Also keep looking. ?The OHR watt meters show up occasionally. I bought one from them years ago and treasure it.?

Heckits now sells an approved copy:


It just needs the black paint as it comes in bare aluminum. ??

Dave K8WPE since 1960

David J. Wilcox’s iPad
Traverse City, Michigan

On Jan 19, 2024, at 10:45?PM, W6CJ <lastradioman@...> wrote:

?
I'm considering the Sandford Wattmeter kit by KANGA UK.? It's a terminated wattmeter, FYI.
I wish OHR was still around, I wanted one of their QRP wattmeters, but too late.?
I have an Elecraft W-2 wattmeter, but it is an LED bar display and has inconvenient 2, 20 and 200 watt maximums.... and pricey.
Avoid chinajunk
73
W6CJ


On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 7:34?PM <caleb@...> wrote:

Hi folks, really enjoying my QMX. I was just wondering if there are any decent and decently priced wattmeters available. I see a few on Amazon and eBay, mostly Chinese in origin. Can anyone speak to these?

I think I’m spoiled from my days as a commercial two-way engineer. I had some really nice Bird meters, but they’re not in my personal price range lol.

Just wondering if there’s a reliable/accurate wattmeter for QRP folks that’s less than $100 *crosses fingers*


Links appreciated.

 

This is the one I use:

It's a nice kit to build and only $40. They also have the STL files for 3D printing a case.

 

I support Joey's recommendation.? I have found the kit I built accurate, up to 10 watts.? You can always verify the power reading by putting it in dummy load mode and measuring the power on the exposed resistors with a calibrated oscilloscope.

I find it a very handy tool.

73
Evan
AC9TU

 

I second Joey's recommendation.? I use this for my POTA activities.? It is pretty accurate as I validate the readings with a MFJ QRP watt meter.? I also build the housing.

 

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Hi folks,

Before I built my QMX I bought a CQV-SWR120.? It's about $50 on eBay and of course comes from China.? I got it for my IC-7300 initially and when compared against another wattmeter it's not linear at all.? You can set the reading at say 100Watts and at 75 or 50 watts it's off by 10 percent or more.? However, with the QMX at low power it seems very accurate.? I don't have a lab type meter to measure it against but using the average between all, this one is close.? It has an alarm feature that you can tighten up so it will alarm on elevated SWR before the QMX shuts down.? It also has the ability to adjust the reading so if you have a good quality meter you can bring this in very close at 5 watts.? It has an internal battery that will last for several POTA outings.? Charges via a USB-C connector.? And it's small.

--

Daniel H. Pressler, KF2HP

 

I was in contact with the new Oak Hills Research owner (sorry I don't recall his name and call).and he is planning to reopen the business as soon as possible.
I was saving for the wattmeter also.? Apparently it is an excellent product.
Jim WB4ILP?

 

Heckits.com sells a clone of the OHR power meter. It has a few upgrades and works very well.?
--
73, Dan? NM3A
There are moments when everything turns out right .... Don't let them alarm you; they pass.?

-Jules Renard

N0VA
 

I can easily endorse the Oak Hills Research QRP watt meter if you can find one used. I built mine years ago and it compares accurately with my Bird.

Ken
N0VA

 

I just emailed Dennis N1IMW, the new owner at Oak Hills Research.? The WM-2 Wattmeter will be available in February.
Great news !? I'm saving my allowance.
Jim WB4ILP?

 

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I wonder if it will be revised. I say this, because the previous owner was unloading all the build parts for the WM-2.


On 1/20/24 2:00 PM, Jim Burns wrote:

I just emailed Dennis N1IMW, the new owner at Oak Hills Research.? The WM-2 Wattmeter will be available in February.
Great news !? I'm saving my allowance.
Jim WB4ILP?

 

Dennis said he has received new PCBs for the WM-2 but no mention of revisions.
Jim WB4ILP?

 

Dave,
Thanks for the Heckits info.? I ordered the milliwattmeter kit and the pic keyer kit.
Mark K9TR

 

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Mark...some stick-on vinyl, and a sharp exacto for that cabinet might look nice before starting the kit!

....Dave

On 1/20/24 6:00 PM, Mark wrote:

Dave,
Thanks for the Heckits info.? I ordered the milliwattmeter kit and the pic keyer kit.
Mark K9TR

 

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Hi I have a Bird 4391M(really big iron, 25W min/10kw+ with expensive slugs) but I like this one as QRP swr/wattmeter:


Size is comparable to the Bird slugs, LOL.

Beware:
It says 80W but it should be 10W max(look around this is just the first link I came across)
It is really tiny, see SMA connectors. Smaller than a cigarette box. It comes with SMA to BNC adapters.

Display is *really* tiny as well.

You can also have readings thru the USB cable (see below).

It has also an internal battery, difficult to have something more handy for portable operations.

Giuseppe Marullo

IW2JWW - JN45RQ


PS: here it is with my QCX mini portable setup(compare to the QCX mini!):

Terminal output:

 

Agree with Giuseppe about SWR/PWR meter. This is very tine and cute power meter. Here is short videos about QSO where you can take a look a this powermeter and QCX:

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