Hey Matt, I have the V7 with the pretty colour display. It runs out of steam above about 7 GHz, but you can calibrate it and do relative measurements at a fixed frequency. OK, it's poor compared with using a really simple 16 bit ADC/display from a buffered HP33330B zero bias Schottky detector, which works fine from LF to over 18 GHz. Once it's calibrated at typical frequencies I use, it's surprisingly good, but the input impedance of the attenuator/log amp has lots of bumps. On a resistive splitter compared with various HP diode and bolometer heads, it tracks reasonably well. Best bit is that it has an inbuilt battery that charges from the USB and works standalone. Definitely not a lab instrument but SO convenient when I'm doing antenna range tests. It streams the power level at 115kbaud in fixed length records, so it's a doddle to drive a big analogue display or giant LEDs so I can watch the received power level remotely on the range using a telescope, with no wires to mess up the pattern. I'll try to remember to take it to the Scottish and Midlands round tables, along with the French kits for crystal diodes using the M5STACK display/CPU. Neil G4DBN
Thanks for the excellent video, after watching this I purchased one. The issue with the text on the display is easily solved. I found this on the web about a year ago. Create a short cut to the App. Right click the short cut, click on Properties and then the Compatibility tab. Click on Change high DPI settings then check Override high DPI scaling behaviour. Make sure Application is selected in the dropdown. Click OK and OK. I have only done this for the second App but expect it works for both.
Interesting. Perhaps pairing an AD8317 with a peak detector circuit could be used for measureing PEP type measurements making it useful for other than CW signals. Then a micro with ADC to read the peak detector output. Of course it would be great to have a calibration table to correct the result over the frequency range of interest.
A nice video Matt. It would be interesting to test it against a decent signal generator and power head. Bit pricy though. This is the sort of thing that could be done at a microwave round table if planned in advance.
Cheers Mike, I’m pretty sure Gary said on the WWW net it was fairly accurate, but you’re right, would be good to see it’s accuracy for my own eyes. Will have to try and make the next microwave event! Thanks
I tested one today. It was quite good, at least up to 3 GHz. Not perfect but probably good enough for most uses. It compresses at bit at 0 dBm but seemed fine from -10dBm to -60dBm. Incidentally, it appears to just stream the data on the virtual com port so you may not need the software that comes with it. Node Red or something instead.
Can this be used to as a power meter for measuring the output of UHF transmitters ? 440.000 MHz through 950MHz for our public safety transceivers? (portable handheld / mobile / repeaters). Wattage will be from 0.5 watts to 5.0 watts for portables / 10-50 watts for mobiles / 50-110 watts for our repeaters. We have a spectrum analyzer with TG and a 250 w dummy load. Essentially, we’re looking to have a secondary meter to supplement our Bird 43. Thank you!
As always a very nice and descriptive video. I do own one of those device for a few months and would like to ask you, posdive for a copy of the new software your friend sent you. Looks interesting and would like to try it out. Keep up the good work and 73's.
I've tried both pieces of software, and it appears the software is communicating with the meter, and there is a little movement of the red line (noise at -99dBm). But when i apply a signal (carefully, with attenuators) i get no indication of a signal on the screen. ... The Ali Express page refers me to a Baidu page which requires registering, but then the Baidu page says it is not accepting overseas registrations. ... I would really like to get this unit working. Thanks
I have this power meter and I can say that I am really impressed by it's accuracy. I tested it on the Rigol DSA832 signal generator and I can provide you the values if needed. Can you please send me that software mentioned in the video? Thanks, Vlad YO3IHG
Hey Matt! Could you please upload the Wave software you used here and offered to share? I’m good on QRZed as K4FMH. I have this device but no software, 73 Frank
I found the link and page is still there. Are you able to determine if it is an STMicro Mcu orMpu? I ask because depending on the chip, a GUI might be able to be easily made with a stand alone display. Thanks for the video!!
I found the link and page is still there. Are you able to determine if it is an STMicro Mcu orMpu? I ask because depending on the chip, a GUI might be able to be easily made with a stand alone display. Thanks for the video!!😊
@@thetruthserum2816 I’ve tried some cheap USB over cat cables from Amazon, they didn’t work very well so choose wisely and looks for ones with good reviews.
Hi Matt Gary actually sent me his device to try as I do EME on 6cm and 3cm I would like to test it on those frequencies After battling managed to get the drivers loaded and I can see it under PORT settings Problem is I can only get the one version of Software to work the other Version does not Can't seem to choose any COM ports, they don't show Any ideas please ?? 73 John ZS6JON
The other software, I uploaded some time back, to users with this metal RF v5box as I was I reckon there was a good chance it would also work, it comes from this USB3 RF power meter, that I show below, that got an display and a few buttons.. its quite a few years old, got it from CN.. I tested the PC USB3 modell with my SDR, (HackRF/CL) and it clocked in at 24.5mW at 2.445Ghz (video below) it also goes from like 0 to 9999MHz, and have a bank of 10 presets you can adjust with different Mhz and Dbm offsets both can be adjust on the device display which are a pain in the a'zz or in the software andc you have 3 speed levels.. Its this fellow. th-cam.com/video/bMnOtG7ROmI/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/uDd7vuCyd28/w-d-xo.html Thx for the video Tech minds..
hi matt, heads up on the new wolf- sdr chinese "expert electronics mb1" style, as i know you relish in the stype of transceivers, have a look see, then delete this if you want, cheers fella,
Wow, the presenter misread the frequency range of this device. It is 1 MegaHertz to 10 GigaHertz. Consequently he spent the whole half hour fiddling in the Gig range. He also never showed how to use an attenuator to measure say, a 2 meter ham rig running 25 watts. This video was of no value to me.
Just a chinese toy. You will never trust it, maybe is good for relative indication. Useless without factory calibration. How about measurement errors due to compression?
I have the same exact power meter but the seller never gave me a software link. If you’d share the additional software, that would be very helpful! Good on QRZed. Frank K4FMH
Hey Matt, I have the V7 with the pretty colour display. It runs out of steam above about 7 GHz, but you can calibrate it and do relative measurements at a fixed frequency. OK, it's poor compared with using a really simple 16 bit ADC/display from a buffered HP33330B zero bias Schottky detector, which works fine from LF to over 18 GHz. Once it's calibrated at typical frequencies I use, it's surprisingly good, but the input impedance of the attenuator/log amp has lots of bumps. On a resistive splitter compared with various HP diode and bolometer heads, it tracks reasonably well. Best bit is that it has an inbuilt battery that charges from the USB and works standalone. Definitely not a lab instrument but SO convenient when I'm doing antenna range tests. It streams the power level at 115kbaud in fixed length records, so it's a doddle to drive a big analogue display or giant LEDs so I can watch the received power level remotely on the range using a telescope, with no wires to mess up the pattern. I'll try to remember to take it to the Scottish and Midlands round tables, along with the French kits for crystal diodes using the M5STACK display/CPU. Neil G4DBN
Ciao ma dove trovo il software per farlo girare. Grazie Claudio
Just got one today, will update my finding soon. Update, used it a few times, it’s good. Worth the $ and time.
Thanks for the excellent video, after watching this I purchased one. The issue with the text on the display is easily solved. I found this on the web about a year ago. Create a short cut to the App. Right click the short cut, click on Properties and then the Compatibility tab. Click on Change high DPI settings then check Override high DPI scaling behaviour. Make sure Application is selected in the dropdown. Click OK and OK. I have only done this for the second App but expect it works for both.
Thank you for attached software! ❤
Interesting. Perhaps pairing an AD8317 with a peak detector circuit could be used for measureing PEP type measurements making it useful for other than CW signals. Then a micro with ADC to read the peak detector output. Of course it would be great to have a calibration table to correct the result over the frequency range of interest.
I haven't been this impressed since I stepped out of the shower dripping wet (sorry for the visual). Thank you for the Video!
A nice video Matt. It would be interesting to test it against a decent signal generator and power head. Bit pricy though. This is the sort of thing that could be done at a microwave round table if planned in advance.
Cheers Mike, I’m pretty sure Gary said on the WWW net it was fairly accurate, but you’re right, would be good to see it’s accuracy for my own eyes. Will have to try and make the next microwave event! Thanks
Ewwww…Mike, I just hurled my breakfast.
I tested one today. It was quite good, at least up to 3 GHz. Not perfect but probably good enough for most uses. It compresses at bit at 0 dBm but seemed fine from -10dBm to -60dBm. Incidentally, it appears to just stream the data on the virtual com port so you may not need the software that comes with it. Node Red or something instead.
@mikewillis1592 What modulation type did you use? I think Gary ZS6 mentioned that it was quite inaccurate when using DATV.
Oh darn! I always get my hopes up when I come across a low-priced power meter. Too bad most of my power measurements are of pulsed transmissions.
Can this be used to as a power meter for measuring the output of UHF transmitters ?
440.000 MHz through 950MHz for our public safety transceivers?
(portable handheld / mobile / repeaters).
Wattage will be from 0.5 watts to 5.0 watts for portables / 10-50 watts for mobiles / 50-110 watts for our repeaters.
We have a spectrum analyzer with TG and a 250 w dummy load.
Essentially, we’re looking to have a secondary meter to supplement our Bird 43.
Thank you!
Do you know if there is any linux s/w for the device - or documentation of the interface protocol?
As always a very nice and descriptive video. I do own one of those device for a few months and would like to ask you, posdive for a copy of the new software your friend sent you. Looks interesting and would like to try it out. Keep up the good work and 73's.
Thank you. Can i use it in real time with labview?
I've tried both pieces of software, and it appears the software is communicating with the meter, and there is a little movement of the red line (noise at -99dBm). But when i apply a signal (carefully, with attenuators) i get no indication of a signal on the screen. ... The Ali Express page refers me to a Baidu page which requires registering, but then the Baidu page says it is not accepting overseas registrations. ... I would really like to get this unit working. Thanks
Any chance of source code for the software?
Wonder if there is an android based app yet that would be pretty powerful as a tool
I have this power meter and I can say that I am really impressed by it's accuracy. I tested it on the Rigol DSA832 signal generator and I can provide you the values if needed.
Can you please send me that software mentioned in the video?
Thanks,
Vlad YO3IHG
If you send to values i will be very happy dear YO3IHG Thank you from Turkiye
Hey Matt! Could you please upload the Wave software you used here and offered to share? I’m good on QRZed as K4FMH. I have this device but no software, 73 Frank
I found the link and page is still there. Are you able to determine if it is an STMicro Mcu orMpu? I ask because depending on the chip, a GUI might be able to be easily made with a stand alone display. Thanks for the video!!
I found the link and page is still there. Are you able to determine if it is an STMicro Mcu orMpu? I ask because depending on the chip, a GUI might be able to be easily made with a stand alone display. Thanks for the video!!😊
Just received the power meter. Would you please be so kind to make the SW mentioned in the video available ? Thank you !
73, Wolf - DF7KB
Great with a "cheap" (and accurate) power meter... Now I just need some lossless 100k to 10GHz cables and accurate attenuators :D
That’s the beauty about this being USB and small, you just connect it directly to the device under test, no need for lossy cables.
And attenuators you can measure with a spectrum analyser.
I want to install my SDR adjacent to the antenna with a USB over CAT5 adapter, thus eliminating the coax altogether...
@@thetruthserum2816 I’ve tried some cheap USB over cat cables from Amazon, they didn’t work very well so choose wisely and looks for ones with good reviews.
Did anyone try to use these to measure the output power of a LORA transceiver?
Hi Matt
Gary actually sent me his device to try as I do EME on 6cm and 3cm
I would like to test it on those frequencies
After battling managed to get the drivers loaded and I can see it under PORT settings
Problem is I can only get the one version of Software to work
the other Version does not
Can't seem to choose any COM ports, they don't show
Any ideas please ??
73
John
ZS6JON
Ciao sono Claudio i3gxc posso avere i Software per questo PowerMeter lo ho appena ricevuto ma non so come farlo funzionare, grazie Claudio
Has anyone tested this power meter at 10.368 GHz? That is where the Ham activity is...
Does anyone have a link for the software? Specifically the second one.
Check the description
The other software, I uploaded some time back, to users with this metal RF v5box as I was I reckon there was a good chance it would also work, it comes from this USB3 RF power meter, that I show below, that got an display and a few buttons..
its quite a few years old, got it from CN..
I tested the PC USB3 modell with my SDR, (HackRF/CL) and it clocked in at 24.5mW at 2.445Ghz (video below)
it also goes from like 0 to 9999MHz, and have a bank of 10 presets you can adjust with different Mhz and Dbm offsets both can be adjust on the device display which are a pain in the a'zz or in the software andc you have 3 speed levels..
Its this fellow.
th-cam.com/video/bMnOtG7ROmI/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/uDd7vuCyd28/w-d-xo.html
Thx for the video Tech minds..
hi matt, heads up on the new wolf- sdr chinese "expert electronics mb1" style, as i know you relish in the stype of transceivers, have a look see, then delete this if you want, cheers fella,
From th-cam.com/video/CI-lC2qQERY/w-d-xo.html I would guess the microcontroller is an STM32F401CCU6 and the detector an AD8317
So that a CW power meter 😂
Wow, the presenter misread the frequency range of this device. It is 1 MegaHertz to 10 GigaHertz. Consequently he spent the whole half hour fiddling in the Gig range. He also never showed how to use an attenuator to measure say, a 2 meter ham rig running 25 watts. This video was of no value to me.
No idea what video you watched, but clearly wasn't this video..
Just a chinese toy. You will never trust it, maybe is good for relative indication. Useless without factory calibration. How about measurement errors due to compression?
I have the same exact power meter but the seller never gave me a software link. If you’d share the additional software, that would be very helpful! Good on QRZed. Frank K4FMH
subscribed.. 73 de DL1LEP
Thank you