+++++++++++++++++++ "QRO" means higher power than QRP +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 14:41:15 -0500 (EST) From: kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET To: "Ron D' Eau Claire" Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] QRP (maybe QRO?) wattmetters Ron, I've compared it side by side with my Bird. It's dead on and MUCH easier to use. Not that the Bird is hard. The VFD gives you everything you need in one display that is easy to read, day or night. Beyond that, it has a built in SWR alarm that can be user selected to 1.5:1, 2.0:1, 2.5:1 or 3.0:1. If SWR reaches or exceeds the level you have indicated, it will display a SWR alarm *and* if you have it wired the way I have mine wired, it will shut down your AMP. (I have mine in line with my AMP keying circuit.) Since I run wire antennas and have 170...er...169....er...168 (you get the picture) mature trees on my property, and my shack is in my basement, if I have an antenna damaged while I'm in the middle of a QSO running the AMP, the VFD will save the AMP, instantly. If you want more numbers, contact some of "big gun" contesters who use VFDs. It's accurate, it's easy, it's cheap insurance against cooking your equipment in the event of catastrophic failure on the antenna or feedline system. 73 de John - KC4KGU K2 #2490 VFD #2010002 +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2002 14:44:05 -0800 From: Vic Rosenthal Organization: Transparent Software To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] QRP (maybe QRO?) wattmetters kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET wrote: > If you want more numbers, contact some of "big gun" contesters who use > VFDs. It's accurate, it's easy, it's cheap insurance against cooking your > equipment in the event of catastrophic failure on the antenna or feedline > system. I'm not a big gun, but I do have a VFD. This audience should keep in mind that although it is great for QRO, SWR readings are quite inaccurate below about 20 watts. This isn't surprising in an instrument whose full-scale forward power readin is 3KW! I find it quite useful when using my amplifier, but the built-in indicator in the K2 is better when barefoot. 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA ++++++++++++++++++++