Re: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

[Dave Baughn]

Check the connections on the back of the meter. I have seen these get 
oxidized and quit working. If the wires have crimped spade lugs, solder them. 
Good luck.
 
Dave BaughnDirector of EngineeringThe University of 
AlabamaCenter for Public Television and Radio WVUA/WUOA-TV & 
WUAL/ WQPR/ WAPR FMBox 870150195 Reese Phifer Hall, 901 University 
Blvd.Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487205.348.8622 cell 205.310.8798NEW 
EMAIL [EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> 
"dadavies3" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 12/31/06 6:41 PM 
>>>

I use my Bird 43 wattmeter frequently and, until today, it has worked 
perfectly. Now, for some reason, there is no meter indication when 
transmitting through it to either an antenna or dummy load. I used 
different slugs, all with the same result. I tested the slugs in another 
Bird and they worked fine.What goes wrong with these meters? Is it a 
repair a can make myself or is it best to send it back to the 
manufacturer?Doug VE7DRF


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Re: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

[Kevin Custer]

dadavies3 wrote:
> I use my Bird 43 wattmeter frequently and, until today, it has worked 
> perfectly. Now, for some reason, there is no meter indication when 
> transmitting through it to either an antenna or dummy load.  I used 
> different slugs, all with the same result.  I tested the slugs in 
> another Bird and they worked fine.
>
> What goes wrong with these meters?  Is it a repair a can make myself 
> or is it best to send it back to the manufacturer?

The meter movement is likely bad.  They are available new from Bird and 
are easy to replace, but be ready to pay the price.

Kevin Custer

Re: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

[N8BQN]

Unlikely as noted, but I *have* had a meter movement fail ~
and found a repair facility outside Detroit  

I recall they were durn reasonable $$ -- but it's been an eon or two.

Sent in JUST the meter movement ~ not the whole Bird.


And .. on the topic of videos -- supposedly the 'rest of the story' you won't
see on CBS:

RE: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

[Eric Lemmon]

Doug,

I suspect that the spring contact in the body of the meter has become loose.
Remove the slug from the body and check the contact in the receptacle for
looseness.  Partial disassembly of the meter will gain access to the contact
screw.  Once you have corrected that problem, wipe the contact and the bore
with an alcohol-dampened tissue to remove skin oils.

Of course, there is a slight chance that the meter movement is open, but
that is a very rare problem.

73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
 

-Original Message-
From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of dadavies3
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 4:42 PM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

I use my Bird 43 wattmeter frequently and, until today, it has worked 
perfectly. Now, for some reason, there is no meter indication when 
transmitting through it to either an antenna or dummy load. I used 
different slugs, all with the same result. I tested the slugs in 
another Bird and they worked fine.

What goes wrong with these meters? Is it a repair a can make myself 
or is it best to send it back to the manufacturer?

Doug VE7DRF



 

Re: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

[Bob M.]

Usually the little metal contact inside the body of
the meter isn't touching the output terminal of the
slug. It can be very carefully bent outwards just a
bit so it makes contact but doesn't interfere with the
insertion of the elements.

Cleaning the contact with some metal cleaner will also
help.

Of course it could also be an open meter movement, but
you might as well try the simple things first.

Bob M.
==
--- dadavies3 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I use my Bird 43 wattmeter frequently and, until
> today, it has worked 
> perfectly. Now, for some reason, there is no meter
> indication when 
> transmitting through it to either an antenna or
> dummy load.  I used 
> different slugs, all with the same result.  I tested
> the slugs in 
> another Bird and they worked fine.
> 
> What goes wrong with these meters?  Is it a repair a
> can make myself 
> or is it best to send it back to the manufacturer?
> 
> Doug  VE7DRF

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Re: [Repeater-Builder] What Can Go Wrong With A Bird 43?

[Steve Bosshard (NU5D)]

There is a connector on the back of the sloted line that resembles an old
style microphone connector - I have had the center pin make poor contact and
either read erratically or not at all. A meter could fail but I don't think
I have ever seen that happen.  sb


On 12/31/06, dadavies3 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


I use my Bird 43 wattmeter frequently and, until today, it has worked
perfectly. Now, for some reason, there is no meter indication when
transmitting through it to either an antenna or dummy load.  I used
different slugs, all with the same result.  I tested the slugs in
another Bird and they worked fine.

What goes wrong with these meters?  Is it a repair a can make myself
or is it best to send it back to the manufacturer?

Doug  VE7DRF



Ham Radio Spoken Here.NU5D