On another blog someone mentioned “Ramsey” and I realized I hadn’t been over there in awhile so I paid a visit and noticed an interesting product, a power meter for transmitter output from 1mW up to 50W, on a spectrum 10kHz to 450mHz, all for only $110 complete with a 50Watt dummy load.
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=PM50
Has anyone tried this meter?
PM-50
Yes its the Ramsey PM-50 digital VSWR meter capable of reading these flea power levels, both forward and reverse.
It’s the best thing to have for measuring the low power levels of Part 15 FM transmitters and antennas…next to having a Bird watt meter and a .1 watt element..both of which would exceed the price of that PM-50 by about 7 fold.
Highly recommended every Part 15 FM operating an outdoor antenna such as a dipole or GP, that is if your looking for a precise match and absolute lowest reflected…the PM-50 is well worth the mere 110 bucks.
RFB
Nice Carl! real intriguing…
Nice Carl! real intriguing… It mentions a couple of times it’s for testing transmitters off-air.. Why not for use while on-air? – or would doing that interfere with the modulated signal? (Before anyone answers, I already sense that I’m asking an ignorant question. :~[.
Anyway, nice find there.
must not have been there for
must not have been there for years lol. they have had that meter for about 10 years now.
PM50DC
On the Ebay Ramsey store they have the PM50 which as you described is only a power meter with dummy load. Great for checking transmitter output power but not VSWR.
But, they also mention in the PM50 description a PM50DC. That model has a directional coupler which allows you to insert the meter between the transmitter and antenna. Then you can read forward and reflected power from which you can extrapolate the VSWR of the antenna system.
I checked the Ramsey website and can’t find the PM50DC listed.
That would be a great little meter for Part 15’ers as they claim it can easily measure down into the microwatt range.
Anyone aware of the PM50DC?