Transmit Drive Power

[MichaelCaditz]

7000 dle Mk11, Thetis v2.9.0 x64

Brand new rig, trying to learn operation. On 6 meters.

Tune:
Set to Power 90. TX meter shows Fwd Pwr 15 W, Ref Pwr 0 W, SWR 1.1:1.

CW transmit:
@ Drive 20 shows Fwd Pwr 9 W, Ref Pwr 0 W, SWR 1.1:1.
Any drive setting >20 there is no power output.

Voltage supplied is 13.8 V.

Certainly I should be getting more forward power. What am I doing wrong?

[NC3Z]

Have you performed a PA Calibration and a Wattmeter cal in Thetis?

[w-u-2-o]

Did you go to Setup > PA Settings > PA Gain and adjust your basic drive settings on each band? Do that first, then you can fine tune things with the offset section. See this video...



eta: LOL! Gary beat me by seconds

[MichaelCaditz]

Did you go to Setup > PA Settings > PA Gain and adjust your basic drive settings on each band? Do that first, then you can fine tune things with the offset section. See this video...



eta: LOL! Gary beat me by seconds

Following the video, the most I can get is about 30 W (according to internal meter) at 6m gain of 42.9. SWR is 1.1:1. Does that seem right?

Also, my PA Gain screen is much simpler than the one in the vide. There are no profiles. I have no "Tune" slider on my main screen. Do I need to update my software or firmware?

[NC3Z]

What does your external wattmeter indicate?

[NC3Z]

Also, my PA Gain screen is much simpler than the one in the vide. There are no profiles. I have no "Tune" slider on my main screen. Do I need to update my software or firmware?

We are assuming you are running the latest software and firmware.

[w-u-2-o]

Yes, you want to be running the latest version of Thetis. You can find it here:

https://github.com/ramdor/Thetis-2.9.0/releases/tag/v2.9.0.6

I recommend the 64 bit version, of course!

[MichaelCaditz]

I'll need to update the firmware. I'm looking for the files and instructions.

I have an external SWR and and power meter on order.

[w-u-2-o]

You don't need to update the firmware. Thetis works with either Protocol 1 or Protocol 2 firmware.

However, if you want to update the firmware...

1. Read this topic and use Bootloader: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2333

2. Go to this sub-forum and acquire the latest version of Protocol 2 firmware from the first post of the topic associated with your hardware (if you have a brand new 7000 you may need to use the MKIII stuff--make sure to read carefully!): viewforum.php?f=32

[MichaelCaditz]

How can I determine which protocol I am running, and the firmware version?

Ah, I found it. Protocol 2. Firmware Ver. 0.0.0 ID: Hermes.

[w-u-2-o]

Ah, I found it. Protocol 2. Firmware Ver. 0.0.0 ID: Hermes.

That can't be correct if you have a 7000.

Update Thetis to 2.9.0.6. Then look at what 2.9.0.6 reports for firmware. Also, the hardware needs to be powered up and Thetis needs to be connected to get the right answer.

[MichaelCaditz]

Ah, I found it. Protocol 2. Firmware Ver. 0.0.0 ID: Hermes.

That can't be correct if you have a 7000.

Update Thetis to 2.9.0.6. Then look at what 2.9.0.6 reports for firmware. Also, the hardware needs to be powered up and Thetis needs to be connected to get the right answer.

You're right.

[NC3Z]

That is Protocol 1 not 2, you really should update to P2.

Screenshot 2022-10-24 074738.jpg (5.13 KiB) Viewed 3927 times

[MichaelCaditz]

My first problem is that when tuning, the power meter is showing a maximum of about 24 watts with 1.1:1 SWR. I can't believe that the internal power meter could be so far off, ouT of the box, that it would be showing 24 watts when I'm actually getting the advertised 100.

Before I start changing firmwares I need to assess whether I have a defective unit out of the box and should return it within the 10 day window.

I think I'll contact support and let them know that I suspect I have a defective unit and let them convince me otherwise.

[w-u-2-o]

So you are getting 100W per an external power meter, then, correct?

[NC3Z]

The internal wattmeter needs to be calibrated, or at least checked against a good external wattmeter and good load. If you cant prove that you are just fumbling in the dark.

[MichaelCaditz]

I don't have an external power meter at this moment. I ordered one but it won't arrive for another week at least. By then my 10 day return window will have closed

I am relying on the internal power meter which suggests my power output is 24 watts and that my load is good because there is 0 watts reflected power.

I understand that using an external meter will give me a more accurate reading. But could the internal meter really be so inaccurate that it's underreporting by 75%?

The instruction manual says calibrate the PA such that I get a reading of 100 watts,, but that is impossible.

[NC3Z]

I am sorry but without a good wattmeter you cant really calibrate the PA level nor Calibrate the internal Wattmeter. Pretty simple.

[w-u-2-o]

Yes, without an external meter there's no way to know if it's the transmitter or the internal meter (or both!) that are messed up, either by simple calibration or actually hard broke. And it's easy to understand that at this point you have absolutely no confidence in the unit because you have no way to test it yourself, you are 100% reliant on what the unit is telling you, and there's no way you can trust it at this point. I can't and won't blame you for returning it!

[MichaelCaditz]

Yes, without an external meter there's no way to know if it's the transmitter or the internal meter (or both!) that are messed up, either by simple calibration or actually hard broke. And it's easy to understand that at this point you have absolutely no confidence in the unit because you have no way to test it yourself, you are 100% reliant on what the unit is telling you, and there's no way you can trust it at this point. I can't and won't blame you for returning it!

You understand my situation exactly. Thank you

I cannot control when my wattmeter arrives, and meanwhile I am reliant on what the unit and instructions are telling me. The 10 day return window imposed by Apache Labs is what is pressuring me to make a quick decision.

[Mike_N1JEZ]

Are you using Thetis or PowerSDR mRX PS?

Are you using the "tune" button to transmit?

If PowerSDR, check the attachment and make sure the "use drive power" check box is selected. Otherwise power could be limited due to the "power" setting. In the attachment it's 10 %.

If Thetis, looks at those settings as well.

Mike

[w-u-2-o]

Excellent point, Mike (N1JEZ)!

[MichaelCaditz]

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forward.png (458.8 KiB) Viewed 3860 times

[Trucker]

Do you know someone local to you that can loan you a watt meter?
It is all but impossible to get accurate readings with the internal watt meter until you follow the steps in the calibration instructions in the video posted earlier.
James
WD5GWY

[MichaelCaditz]

Do you know someone local to you that can loan you a watt meter?
It is all but impossible to get accurate readings with the internal watt meter until you follow the steps in the calibration instructions in the video posted earlier.
James
WD5GWY

Understood, James. I'm working on it. Thanks.

[K1LSB]

Do you have an antenna tuner that has a wattmeter?

Mark

[MichaelCaditz]

Do you have an antenna tuner that has a wattmeter?

Mark

Not yet. To be honest, I thought I could buy a radio, erect an antenna, install software, and it would all work without an array of external test instruments. But I now know better, and they're on the way.

[KK2L]

Hi Everyone,

I just saw this posting by coincidence and I am having a similar issue. I have a 200D running 2.9.0.2 Thetis. This is not my first Anan. I did have a 100D. I have now reloaded the software twice swiping the AppData files to make sure I had a clean re-install. Now the problem...I am getting 0 watts output in TUNE and/or MOX. TUNE is set to 25 watts I have checked the PA settings, and the software is properly configured for this radio, I do hear the relay clicking in the radio when I PTT and I do have two wattmeters (one on the tuner and an external one). The same result after two clean installs...no RF output. I have made no changes to the software except to select the correct radio. I have to be missing simple here.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Mark
KK2L (formerly WA2DIY)

[MichaelCaditz]

Into a dummy load rated 100 w from DC to 50 ghz 50 ohms (using internal meter, I don’t have an external RF power meter yet . . . it’s on the way)

On 6 m I get zero forward power at any PA gain below 48. At 48.3 I get 36 watts and that’s the max. Below that it quickly drops to zero. This behaviour is almost identical to using my outdoor 6m antenna.

Other bands, into the dummy load, things are better:


10 m 100 watts @ 46.3
15 m 100 watts @ 46.0
20 m 100 watts @ 47.5
40 m 100 watts @ 47.8

[w-u-2-o]

I have a 200D running 2.9.0.2 Thetis.

The latest version of Thetis is 2.9.0.6. https://github.com/ramdor/Thetis-2.9.0/ ... g/v2.9.0.6

I am getting 0 watts output in TUNE and/or MOX...I have made no changes to the software except to select the correct radio. I have to be missing simple here.

Is this on every band, or just 6M?

Since you are an experienced user, it seems unlikely you've made any mistakes. Since you are using Thetis "out of the box" it seems unlikely you accidentally clicked the "receive only" option.

Where did the 200D come from? Could it simply be broken?

BREAK

Mike: as you undoubtedly know, it will not be possible to determine if you have a bad PA or simply a poorly calibrated internal power meter until you get your external power meter. Have you communicated with the supplier (I'm assuming it's HRO?) so that they are prepared to take it back if it turns out not to be a calibration issue?