| Author |
Message |
    
Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 226
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 6:37 pm: | 
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I posted this earlier but it went to the wrong place.
I was just wondering which meter would be more accurate a new Dosy 4002 or an old but taken care of PDC 600?
Thanks in advance
Bob |
Tech548
Moderator
Username: Tech548
Post Number: 255
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 3:51 am: |
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Personally speaking, I'd take the PDC.
Jeff |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1498
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 7:17 am: |
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NA.... Jeff A BIRD with slugs |
Tech548
Moderator
Username: Tech548
Post Number: 258
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 5:00 pm: |
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Bruce, he talking about an everyday affordable meter. If he had listed the Bird in his choices, then yes, I definately agree with you. My choice would have been the Bird also but only for serious bench work.
But just for watching SWR and average power and modulation, personally I'd take a PDC over any Dosy model.
Jeff |
Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 241
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 6:59 pm: |
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Jeff I was wondering why you prefer the PDC?
Your right I just want to keep an eye on the SWR and I know the wattmeter will not show pep, but as you said an everyday CB type meter.
I had problems with a Dosy I bought, and had to send it in for repair. It had a short and was sending power back into the radio and it caused my RCI to over heat, and killed a Cobra 148 GTL. Remember all of the problems I was having? It turned out to be the meter. Well they sent another but it has SWR issues. SO I have to decide if I want them to replace it again or ask for the refund on my purchase price and buy something else. By the way Dosy was who offered the refund as an option.
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1500
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 7:18 pm: |
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I know that .......HE HE
Both the meters are fine for what he needs .... would i realy tell him get a bird ??? NA!
BESIDE my bird i have a drake ..... |
Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 244
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 8:30 pm: |
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Wish I could afford a Bird I would love to see what that Copper tuned RCI 2970DX really does. All I know it talks and it talks well. |
Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 245
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 8:33 pm: |
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Oh and by the way I have an very old PDC 600. I just thought while I was getting a new radio and a new antenna, I would get a nice shiny new meter too.
Kinda backfired. |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 108
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 7:45 pm: |
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Does copper sell PDC 600 meters, I`m interrested in getting a lighted one? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 3403
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 8:23 pm: |
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Click on the Link below and you will see all of the Meters that Copper has to offer.
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/product_display.cgi?categories=METERS |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 112
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 9:22 am: |
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Tech808,
I was looking at the Astatic 600 on the copper link you posted.
It kinda looks like the PDC 600. Can you tell me if its a good meter? Any experience with them?
Thanks, Roger |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 3416
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 9:39 am: |
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Roger,
Sorry but I have not owned or used one as yet.
I am sure there are many Copper Forum Members out there who own and use them and can offer comments of the performance of the Astatic 600 for you.
Lon
Tech808 |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 596
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 2:33 pm: |
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I have one. It is an OK meter, a little on the stingy side power-wise, the modulation needle sticks sometimes. For the 100 bucks roughly that they cost, I think they are a little over-priced, to be honest. |
Tech548
Moderator
Username: Tech548
Post Number: 266
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 3:37 pm: |
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Airplane1
The PDC-600 and the Astatic-600 are one in the same. Astatic bought out the PDC line a couple of years ago. And yes, they are VERY, VERY good meters.
Personally, I prefer the large faced model 700 over the 3-meter 600 mostly because of the larger and easier to read numbers.
----------------------
Highlander
If you pull the plastic lense off, you should be able to see a very small rubber coated stopper. This is probably out of adjustment. Its purpose is to prevent the needle from sticking in "full scale" position.
Jeff
Tech548 |
Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 263
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 4:08 pm: |
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The PDC 600 I have is pretty old, but seems to be fairly accurate on power. The modulation feature doesn't seem to work very well. But it's not like the new Astatic 600 that has more features including a backlit face. I've heard the Astatic 600's are good meters, but there are differences between the older PDC 600 and the Astatic 600 versions. |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 117
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 7:30 pm: |
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I was also looking at the workman 5000,
it has a jack to plug earphones in to hear your modulation.
Now I like the three face meters just cause of the look of them,but out of the Workman 5000,Astatic 600 and the PDC 600 which would be the best?
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Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 271
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 27, 2004 - 9:35 pm: |
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Airplane1 I would take Tech548's word on the meter's When I said they are different, I only meant that the new Astatic version has more bells and whistles. |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 147
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 8:50 pm: |
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Hi,
Just got my astetic 600 from copper today, nice meter!
I dont understand how to use it correctly.after i adjust it, i turn the amp on and every thing changes.
The SWRs go up to 1.5 from 1.0 and sometimes higher like 2-3. Also the modulation meter slams the side when I put the amp on higher power especialy on ssb.
Do I need to re calibrate the meter every time I change settings on the amp or turn the amp on or off?
PLEASE HELP! |
Tech548
Moderator
Username: Tech548
Post Number: 293
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 3:20 pm: |
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Airplane1
It depends on where the meter is mounted. If it's between the radio and linear (which it shouldn't be), the radio will see the linear as if it's an antenna. The meter should be the last thing in line. By doing this, you will be able to read all functions of the meter whether the linear is turned On or Off.
The meter has to be recalibrated every time there is a RF power change. In other words, if you set (calibrated) the meter with 200 watts running through it, then it has to be reset for the radio when the linear is turned Off.
I hope this mess made some kind of sense to you.
Jeff
Tech548 |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 153
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 7:19 pm: |
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Thanks, I think I got it.
I do have it set up with the radio,amp then meter then antenna.
Now when I have the meter set for just radio power and switch my amp on, then I need to reset the meter again. then when I turn the power up a setting on the amp I need to reset the meter again. is that correct?
is it normal for the swr to go up with more power?
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Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 360
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 7:36 pm: |
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Airplane1 you need to recalibrate the SWR with the power turned up. Once there is more power in line the SWR will change unless you recalibrate the meter. You'll see that once you recalibrate the meter with the power on it won't make that much difference in the SWR it should be about the same as it is without the power on.
Just curious how many watts does the PDC 600 say you have on AM dead key with the amp turned on? Also on SSB if you say AHHHH into the mic with the power on how many watts does it show then? And does the meter read the same or does it shift when you have the radio and amp dead keyed on AM?
73
Bob |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 3583
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 7:42 pm: |
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Airplane1,
Yes you are Correct!
Every time you change the Power or the Frequency you are transmitting on Check the SWR.
Lon
Tech808 |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 155
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 9:04 am: |
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It is about 20-25 watts dead key on AM and SSB it goes to about 300.
I`m sorry but I dont understand the last question, When I dead key the radio with no amp on the watts are 2 and when I turn the amp on it dead keys about 20-25 watts. when I go AHHHHHHHHHH
on AM it goes to about 400 watts, I`m getting more power on AM then SSB.
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Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 364
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 11:52 am: |
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Turn the amp on and say AHHHHHHH into the mic while on SSB. If it swings to 300 watts on SSB your probably ok. If you hold the dead key for 1 few seconds and it drops or when you say AHHHHHHHH it drops very low there might be a problem, but from what I understand it sounds like it's doing what it's supposed to right now. If it's not swinging as high on SSB it's probably just that the meter isn't seeing it. As long as it is swinging as you described you should be getting out very well. If not it's just the conditions holding you back you have plenty of power.
73
Bob |
Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 365
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 12:19 pm: |
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Airplane1 make sure the peak average setting is set to peak when you check the SSB too. That might make a difference. |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member
Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 157
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 12:46 pm: |
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Ok I`ll set it for peak, I dont remember setting that swich.
The amp seems to be working again, Is there a place I can send it to get checked or gone over to make sure its Ok?
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Bob_p
Intermediate Member
Username: Bob_p
Post Number: 368
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 1:43 pm: |
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Maybe a Tech can help you wih that one. I don't personally know other than the makers of the amp.
Good luck
Bob |
