Bird slugs for 10M

[K6JEK]

Should I be using the 25 - 60 MHz Bird slugs for testing on 10 meters instead of the 2 - 30 MHz versions which I actually have?  I'm measuring right around 29 MHz.

I'm trying to figure out where the power is going and am beginning to wonder if I should spring for some new slugs.

Am I really losing 13% of my power in the Ten-Tec 238 antenna tuner when it's in bypass? Questions like that.

[KA2DZT]

2-30megs should work, otherwise Bird wouldn't label it 2-30megs.

[W7TFO]

Bird spec for 'ordinary' wattmeters is 3% across the passband. 

Your slug ought to do just fine within that accuracy @ 10m, what Fred said.

Take readings incident and reflected, do the math, get your SWR.

Lost power goes the weirdest places you'd never expect....

73DG

[K6JEK]

Thanks.  I'll save the money for the slug and spend it instead on a really big microphone.

[KA2DZT]

Thanks.  I'll save the money for the slug and spend it instead on a really big microphone.

If you get too big of a microphone, you then may need a different slug.

Just thought I would give you a heads-up on that.

Fred

[K5UJ]

Thanks.  I'll save the money for the slug and spend it instead on a really big microphone.

You're probably better off blowing mic money on RF stuff like feedline, antenna, rx preamp...Paul just mentioned in another audio thread that Best Buy has shure SM58s new on sale for $75.  That's all you need.

[flintstone mop]

$75 ?for an SM58??
That's pretty decent mic......

Fred............and believe the losses through the tuner on 10M.

[WD8BIL]

Am I really losing 13% of my power in the Ten-Tec 238 antenna tuner when it's in bypass?

See if the switch is heating up.