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Reviews For: Bird 8173 50 ohm Dummyload

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

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Review Summary For : Bird 8173 50 ohm Dummyload
Reviews: 1MSRP: $500
Description:
300 watts
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.bird-electronic.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
WA4DOU Rating: 2005-01-07
A Real DummyLoad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Recently I was in the market for another dummyload. I reviewed the amateur oriented dummyloads, inc. "cantenna" style loads, a resistor in a 1 gal. paint bucket of oil. I found loads from $35-$300. Invariably they were light duty devices and typically could handle 100 watts to 1500 watts + but with derating curves for any given power level, sometimes to as little as 10 seconds. The bucket loads do a good job but always develop an oily film on top for dust to collect. You can't prevent this. I decided to purchase a used commercial load. This one is 300 watts continuous and can handle higher power levels if you appropriately derate it. And their vswr curve is very low into the several gigahertz range. There are a number of models and power ranges of these loads and in good used condition they can be obtained at a fraction of their original cost and at a very favorable price compared to amateur loads. I recommend these as serious loads that will perform for a lifetime.