Here's the same question posed to all those guys
contemplating an amplifier-build project:
What's your budget?
If you just need to know when maximum smoke
happens and you're interested to see if the needle swings
using the 5KW slug, then a Bird 43 is an excellent
choice.
Since the telecom industry is embracing 4G, with
GSM even now obsolete, Bird 43's are in the same
category as everyone's Simpson 260's: Beautiful Junk.
Bird 43's can be had secondhand for great prices; they
are all over the 'Net, and so are slugs. Knock yourselves
out.
However, if you need to choose components to achieve a certain
RF power, then having a more accurate meter is important.
Please figure on this: An order of magnitude greater
accuracy costs an order of magnitude more money.
There is not much choice. There are super cheap wattmeters
that will give an indication, meters like Bird 43's that will
give a semi-intelligent reading, and others like the Array Solutions
PowerMaster that will narrow the decision on how much power
is being seen by their sensor, and lastly, laboratory calorimeters
you will need a hand truck and a buddy to wheel in.
In bang for buck, the Bird 43 still stands out.
Hal
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