Thanks for advising us to go through the Manual and set up the rig per their recommendations. On my FT-891 there are many of menus. This will really help me become more familiar with the new rig and in the end have better performance as well as, I'm sure, a more pleasurable experience.
Got a new Palstar PM2000A AVG/Peak 1.8-60MHz Wattmeter . Very accurate. Ordered right from the manufacture Palstar. Great service. The power supply is sold separately from them. it's a good one not the switching kind that can cause noise in your radio. I bought a MFJ giant wattmeter first and sent it back. It was completely inaccurate.
Thanks for the explanation Dave. One thing I’d like to point out though is that your Palstar meter is showing between 130 and 150 w pep when you switched to Peak reading. That should in no way occur for a 100w radio. Not sure how much it cost but Palstar is known to be good quality and pricey. So something is wrong somewhere there, either at the meter or at the radio. I would further investigate. 73s
While on the subject it should be mentioned that these pep meters use a circuit which requires a power source. There are meters that say pep but don’t use a power source and they always read low. I get on a average meter 25-40w. As long as I see a good swing I don’t worry about it provided fm,rtty,cw are 90-100w.
David, thank you so much for answering my question. I’m wondering if in the future you could do another RU-vid video where you’re talking to an operator on SSB while not connected to a dummy load. This way we could all see the real-time meter movements of an actual SSB conversation. I think that would calm a lot of operators down because at 100 watts, for instance, we'd be able to see the needle of the Palstar peak reading meter hovering below the 100-watt mark and not fully reaching and going higher than that mark during the conversation, as yours did while being connected to the dummy load. Thanks again. David and have a very happy and healthy holiday.
I am as guilty as anyone but this did highlight why a dummy load is a good idea. A peak reading meter is pretty well essential for those of us using SSB so a good recommendation. 73
A meter of the type you showed SHOULD read PEP on SSB telephony or A1 Morse code correctly (but many do not), but the AVG switch setting is usually a hoax. Try 100W 50% duty cycle Morse (continuous DITs) and compare it to key down 100% duty cycle... do your AVG power readings reconcile?
I recently bought a grandmaster SWR meter that offers PEP, but apparently it was a scam because you can only measure PEP with a powered electrical circuit… Now I gotta get a refund from HRO.
The first time I was on HF SSB, and went into panic mode. No full power on meters. OK on every other mode. Ham next to me explained what is the vid to me.
If one really wants to measure maximum output power in SSB, a proper SWR meter with PEAK HOLD like the ones from Palstar are great. Even the PEAK power measurement at most meters (without PEAK “HOLD” function) is most often too slow and hence inaccurate. Anyway, better measure max output switching the radio to digital mode, AM or FM and then measure the output power. 73 de Chris DL1GKC
David, great video. I have a question. I have a 100 watt Kenwood TS590SG and only run 100 watts on SSB. While set to Peak Hold and Peak, my Palstar meter briefly hits the 100-watt number but then holds and peaks at 90 watts while I'm speaking, unlike yours, which hovers around 110 watts. Is this normal? Also, should my AGC always be on?
AGC is a receive thing. The ALC is on the transmit audio side. Adjust it per the manual; same with mike gain and compression. 90w vs 100w is not that big a difference.
Many cheaper meters will simply place a capacitor across the meter to "hold" the reading. This is wrong ! If your meter has no separate source of power. AC adapter, batteries etc. Then it is NOT a peak reading meter..
