| AB3FL |
Rating:  |
2010-10-10 | |
| Wow! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I recently bought the kit and put it together in two nights. All I Can say is WOW! It works great. I was even able to plot out various graphs for my antennae using the LP-Plot software. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an accurate power meter/Antenna analyzer |
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| W6HSA |
Rating: |
2010-09-24 | |
| Excellent! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I finally got one and it is excellent in every way. One of the best purchases I have made. |
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| KH6DC |
Rating: |
2010-09-16 | |
| Awesome |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Wow, what an awesome wattmeter. Got tired of reading the forward/reflected watts off the Palstar AT-Auto tuner though it's very useful and functional, so I bought this meter due to the display. I get instant readings for both watts out and SWR so I can tell if the tokyo Hy-Power linear with go into protect mode due high SWR. This is a good tool to have along with a multi-meter and antenna analyzer. Though I only had it for 1 day, it's proven to be a very valuable tool as in all posts below. get one, you won't be disappointed. |
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| W9AC |
Rating: |
2010-04-10 | |
| Great Product |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Last weekend, I upgraded my original LP-100 display with a VFD display kit provided by N8LP. This is the same display as used in the LP-100A wattmeter.
My LP-100 wattmeter is from the first batch produced and used a highly efficient PLED display. In time, several horizontal rows became defective and began to fail in succession. It was time to look at display upgrade options.
I had always liked the LP-100 over the Array Solutions PowerMaster for several reasons. First, the LP-100 is truly temperature compensated for maximum accuracy, also allowing user adjustable per-band power calibration in 0.1% steps.
The LP-100 is also the only amateur wattmeter product with a 2-port coupler and logarithmic detectors, allowing measurement of Z, R, X, and Phase display. These measurements require a superior directional coupler/detector system.
The LP-100 will measure power and SWR down to QRPp levels (<100 milliwatts). By contrast, I noticed that the PowerMaster begins to suffer in accuracy below 7-watts. Granted, most of these high-end devices are not intended for use in QRPp operations, but this is attributable to significant differences between circuit designs.
Back to the VFD display upgrade. N8LP's VFD upgrade board and documentation is excellent. I had originally feared that the VFD display would cause high cabinet heating like the PowerMaster. However, N8LP has implemented several novel display power management techniques to: (1) ensure that the cabinet stays cool to the touch; and (2) maximize the VFD display life by turning its display heater off when idle.
The upgrade kit arrived quickly and the installation process proceeded smoothly with a completion time of about one hour. Highly recommended.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W9AC on 2006-08-05
The new LP-100 truly represents a new standard in wattmeter accuracy, performance, and useful features.
The heart of the N8LP wattmeter is in the painstaking design of its directional coupler. N8LP researched the mechanics of couplers in numerous academic publications that spanned a time period of more than sixty years. The result is a coupler with impeccable performance.
The overarching design was to produce a coupler that attains an extremely high degree of directivity and flat frequency response as a function of changing temperature and wide range of power level. Of all the wattmeters I own, only the LP-100 and Alpha 9510 are temperature-stabilized.
The LP-100 interfaces nicely into a computer, particularly with the TRX-Manger radio control program. The LP-100 also works very well with Internet Remote Base applications. With a laptop PC and Wi-Fi connection, I can easily control and monitor the LP-100. The firmware is flash-upgradable with an Internet connection.
The display is easy to read and all conceivable vector and return-loss parameters are available with the push of a button. I especially like the dBm power and return loss display options.
Unlike some other digital wattmeters I own, the LP-100 remains cool to the touch. That's important to me since my current shack contains an extensive amount of equipment and the installation of every new piece adds heat to the room.
The LP-100 is a solid 5.
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| N9LB |
Rating: |
2010-03-20 | |
| Not Your Father's Watt-Meter |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought the LP-100A kit in early 2009. It took me several months of "a few hours here and there" / something to do on a rainy day kit building time. It's not a beginner kit, but not too difficult either.
If you are not an experienced kit-builder I suggest you get the factory built version.
The only problem I encountered with my kit version was that the power switch was defective, TelePost sent a replacement at no cost, had it in two days.
Once completed, the LP-100A powered up without issue. I did send it in for factory calibration.
Once I had the factory calibrated LP-100A back in my shack, I put it in series with my Bird 43. Wow, what an improvement! It showed that my Bird 2-30 MHz range elements were saturating in the upper half of their ranges on the lower frequencies, while the LP-100A continued to show more power as I increased power.
Of course the Peak Power reading capability is excellent.
Now here is where things get really interesting…
Beyond simple power measurement, the LP-100A will also display other very important parameters.
For example, when building / tuning / using antenna systems, the mode I like best is Vector Mode. Vector Mode shows The Z & R parameters of your antenna system ( which includes the effects of your transmission line ) or the input parameters of that home brew amplifier that you are constructing. Why is resistance and reactance information useful?
Example: is your 2:1 SWR due to your antenna system showing 25 ohm or 100 ohms? With a simple SWR meter you won't know - and that lack of information can be very risky when running with solid state finals in your rig or linear amp. With an LP-100A you will know exactly what resistance you are loading into.
Also reactance information is available – that gives you a head start when working to optimize an antenna system or the input stage to an amplifier!
There are other modes that display peak-average ratio, return loss, dbm, and field strength ( field strength does not use the in-line directional coupler )
Finally, it includes a "High VSWR" alarm that you can use as a stand-alone warning, or wire it in series with your PTT line.
There is also a computer interface to put everything onto your computer screen.
The LP-100A is now a permanent part of my operating position. The good old Bird 43 is now used exclusively for VHF/UHF measuring.
I wish they had a version that would work at 144, 222 and 432 MHz. |
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| N8IL |
Rating: |
2010-03-11 | |
| Amazing! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
5+++ I've been using Larry's LP-Pan for a few months. I researched the wattmeters and found over 80 reviews of this amazing device! The software integration came as no suprise either. It's all first-class quality and the LP-100A made a great addition to my shack. I really appreciate instantaneous SWR readout, and the added peace of mind provided by the PTT amplifier protection. Keep up the good work N8LP!!!!
-Neil |
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| N1KDO |
Rating: |
2010-03-09 | |
| This thing is great! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I built the LP-100A from a kit. I was considering the peak-reading kit for my Bird 43, but heard about the battery life, and the Bird is better as test equipment, not a permanently installed shack accessory.
The kit went together well, no problems, worked the first time powered up. Winding the toroids in the coupler was a bit tedious, and the coupler assembly in general might not be good for first time kit builder. For some, the assembled option might be the way to go.
Performance of this instrument is first-rate. The software that works with it definitely increases the value of the LP-100A beyond all competitors. The LP-100 Plot program gave me some useful and valuable new information about my antennas.
In short, I'm very glad I bought it, and I have recommended it to some friends. |
|
| KJ4ADN |
Rating: |
2010-01-27 | |
| Perfect for changing conditions! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
The mistake I made.... I should have ordered the parts to allow monitoring two antenna feeds (both transmit antennas for my K3). I'll be adding the kit soon, and rest a little easier.
As a believer in resonate antennas, and not using "antenna tuners" and cumbersome matching devices that I'd have to keep an eye on... This little bugger squeals like a stuck pig if my SWR goes out of whack (if I want it to, which I set for 2:1 SWR). I don't know if the RAIN is affecting my antennas, if my big verticals fall over, or squirrel downs one of my horizontals... but it gives me instant visual/audible warning something is amiss!
Rather than keep hitting the "TUNE" button on the radio, and assume everything's OK - when the weather's not, I can get a good ACCURATE visual picture of what's going on, without flipping dials, turning knobs and staring at a skinny little moving needle (it also shows PEAKS).
While is looks like a luxury addition to a shack, my LP-100 is right there, giving me really fast feedback on my Linear's performance. Kinda like a computer or cell phone - once you have one, you can't imagine ever being without one.
We bought it as a kit.... my KIDS put it together. I sent it to Larry to calibrate (Monday), and much to my surprise - he had it back to me on Thursday ... the same week..!
WOW! Yeah, it's worth the extra $ for something that works seamless with any radio.
BILL - KJ4ADN |
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| VE9KK |
Rating: |
2010-01-24 | |
| Outstanding product |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I am very pleased with the LP 100A and the fantastic support, with any question I found Larry to get back to me in a very prompt fashion. I ordered the LP 100A as a kit and the manual was very straight forward and easy to understand. The illustrations were very well done I was also pleased to find out that for the final calibration I could send it down to Larry and have him take care of it. I wanted to have a good SWR and watt meter and with the LP 100A I got an outstanding one. This meter does a whole lot more to which I have to learn and take advantage of. Fantastic product Larry and excellent support. |
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| NA6TE |
Rating: |
2009-12-31 | |
| Work of art |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Larry has done a tremendous service to the amateur community by building this product. After researching 3 different similar products all with in $10 of the same price the LP-100a won hands down. Larry is a pleasure to work with and surely doesn't mind answering emails on Christmas eve.
A very fine Watt metter, SWR meter, antenna analyser, etc. Can't wait to what's next. |
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