Re: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station
Jim, I have used my W2 just as you suggest. Also others' comments reflect my use. I have the Vhf module for 2 meters, and the QRO for low bands. I bought the kit. The W2 also gives you some shut down features to protect your equipment when in the key line that I use as well. Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Bennett Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 5:17 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station Currently my station includes a K3/100, P3, Ameritron AL-811 amplifier, and the LDG AT-600 ProII auto tuner with the M-600 analog display. I have the 10-watt 2 meter module installed in the K3. Further, I am in the process of building the 80-watt linear amplifier for 2 meters that was presented by W6PQL in the May 2013 issue of QST. The above equipment does not have the ability to display SWR or power output on 2 meters with the amplifier online. So, I've been looking at something to fill this gap. One option was the $80 MFJ-873 V/U meter. A second, much more expensive option is the Elecraft W2. I'm not a big fan of a string of LED's for measurement of anything, as it simply does not give the resolution one would like to have. I dealt with that when I had the Elecraft KPA500 last year. Nice to look at, but not overly big on resolution. What I DO like about the W2 is the software that is available from the web site - the W2 Interface Program. In addition to bar graphs for SWR and Power Fwd/Ref, there is a numeric display with a LOT more resolution than one normally would see with any analog meter. Since I nearly always have my MacBook Air turned on when I operate, needing to have a computer for higher resolution than LED's isn't an issue for me. Out of 15 reviews on eHam.net, only two folks were displeased with the W2 - one got a factory-assembled unit that was DOA and another fellow didn't care for the LED operation. Discounting those two, the reviews were very positive. HOWEVER, I've seen several W2 units up for sale here on the reflector, and am wondering what's up with this product? Are there problems that haven't been noted on eHam.net, or are folks simply unloading unneeded equipment? I had thought that if I went for a W2, I'd initially get it with the VHF/UHF coupler, connecting it between my K3's 2M module and the 80-watt amp. If I liked the way it worked, I could opt for the second coupler (QRO 1.8-54MHz), sell the LDG M-600 meter, and put that coupler between the K3 and the LDG auto tuner. The few pennies I'd get for the M-600 would help offset the price of the W2. Kinda :-) Thoughts on the W2, folks? Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station
OK - looks like maybe I jumped the gun, so to speak. I just went back into the archives and found several discussions on the W2; it appears that no one is ready to head off to the Elecraft HQ with pitchforks and burning torches. In fact, I didn't see any negative comments at all - only good stuff, so if I can talk the XYL into my dropping some moola on yet more radio equipment, I'll probably be ordering a W2 in a few days. Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station
Jim, Under normal operation, the resolution between an SWR of 1.3 and 1.5 is not of impo0rtance (pardon those who always strive for an SWR of 1.0). At HF that amount of resolution is unimportant unless you are doing measurements on your antenna system (that is different from normal operating) - and in that case, you would likely be using the computer connection to provide you with the greater resolution values. I sense that several hams are offering their W2 wattmeters for sale because they have purchased the KPA500 and/or the KAT500 and find that the SWR display on those devices renders the use of the W2 redundant. The W2 *is* an accurate wattmeter. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the MFJ unit. In general, wattmeters are getting more accurate, but some are still rated at 20% of the full scale readings - that is typical for analog meter readouts. So bottom line, do you want accuracy or do you want precision indication of power and SWR. If your concern is for SWR only, keep in mind that almost all wattmeters are accurate when they read an SWR of 1.0. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/2/2013 6:17 PM, Jim Bennett wrote: Currently my station includes a K3/100, P3, Ameritron AL-811 amplifier, and the LDG AT-600 ProII auto tuner with the M-600 analog display. I have the 10-watt 2 meter module installed in the K3. Further, I am in the process of building the 80-watt linear amplifier for 2 meters that was presented by W6PQL in the May 2013 issue of QST. The above equipment does not have the ability to display SWR or power output on 2 meters with the amplifier online. So, I've been looking at something to fill this gap. One option was the $80 MFJ-873 V/U meter. A second, much more expensive option is the Elecraft W2. I'm not a big fan of a string of LED's for measurement of anything, as it simply does not give the resolution one would like to have. I dealt with that when I had the Elecraft KPA500 last year. Nice to look at, but not overly big on resolution. What I DO like about the W2 is the software that is available from the web site - the W2 Interface Program. In addition to bar graphs for SWR and Power Fwd/Ref, there is a numeric display with a LOT more resolution than one normally would see with any analog meter. Since I nearly always have my MacBook Air turned on when I operate, needing to have a computer for higher resolution than LED's isn't an issue for me. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station
I use both the W2 and the KAT500. The W2 is closest to the antenna and tells me what the SWR really is. The KAT500 tells me what the transmitter is seeing. You really need both. Buck k4ia K3 # 101 KX3 #715 On 9/2/2013 6:44 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Jim, Under normal operation, the resolution between an SWR of 1.3 and 1.5 is not of impo0rtance (pardon those who always strive for an SWR of 1.0). At HF that amount of resolution is unimportant unless you are doing measurements on your antenna system (that is different from normal operating) - and in that case, you would likely be using the computer connection to provide you with the greater resolution values. I sense that several hams are offering their W2 wattmeters for sale because they have purchased the KPA500 and/or the KAT500 and find that the SWR display on those devices renders the use of the W2 redundant. The W2 *is* an accurate wattmeter. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the MFJ unit. In general, wattmeters are getting more accurate, but some are still rated at 20% of the full scale readings - that is typical for analog meter readouts. So bottom line, do you want accuracy or do you want precision indication of power and SWR. If your concern is for SWR only, keep in mind that almost all wattmeters are accurate when they read an SWR of 1.0. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/2/2013 6:17 PM, Jim Bennett wrote: Currently my station includes a K3/100, P3, Ameritron AL-811 amplifier, and the LDG AT-600 ProII auto tuner with the M-600 analog display. I have the 10-watt 2 meter module installed in the K3. Further, I am in the process of building the 80-watt linear amplifier for 2 meters that was presented by W6PQL in the May 2013 issue of QST. The above equipment does not have the ability to display SWR or power output on 2 meters with the amplifier online. So, I've been looking at something to fill this gap. One option was the $80 MFJ-873 V/U meter. A second, much more expensive option is the Elecraft W2. I'm not a big fan of a string of LED's for measurement of anything, as it simply does not give the resolution one would like to have. I dealt with that when I had the Elecraft KPA500 last year. Nice to look at, but not overly big on resolution. What I DO like about the W2 is the software that is available from the web site - the W2 Interface Program. In addition to bar graphs for SWR and Power Fwd/Ref, there is a numeric display with a LOT more resolution than one normally would see with any analog meter. Since I nearly always have my MacBook Air turned on when I operate, needing to have a computer for higher resolution than LED's isn't an issue for me. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station
Buck, I agree *if* one is interested in the SWR at the antenna side, but most are only concerned about the SWR that the transceiver or amplifier sees, and that is at the input to the tuner. Both the KPA500 and the KAT500 indicate the SWR between the PA and the tuner. Without the KPA500 and the KAT500, the K3/100 also indicates the SWR between the PA and the tuner (unless the tuner is in Bypass)/ A low SWR indication at those points indicate that the tuner has done its job, and the PA transistors are happy with a load that is within their design parameters. So the answer is that it all depends on what the operator wants to see. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/2/2013 6:54 PM, Buck k4ia wrote: I use both the W2 and the KAT500. The W2 is closest to the antenna and tells me what the SWR really is. The KAT500 tells me what the transmitter is seeing. You really need both. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 - Possible Addition to Station
Well, as I mentioned, I'm building the 80 watt amp from that QST article, and need a way to do the initial tuning procedure. Got to have some sort of watt meter, and the combination of SWR and Power (as most units provide) is desirable. I agree that the difference between a 1.2:1 and 1.4:1 SWR is pretty much irrelevant, but seeing an accurate change in output power can make a difference in how the amplifier has been adjusted for peak output power. The LED bars, with the VHF sensor, are only going to show me a change of 10 watts per segment, while the computer display has a tad more resolution. The W2 appears to be a very nice piece of equipment, although it does hurt the pocketbook. :-) Jim / W6JHB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
