Information Station Specialists is the best known source of travelers information stations, highway advisory radio, advisory signs and services needed to reach motorists with public service information. Learn more about Information Station Specialists.
Information Station Specialists Website     

 America's Source for Information Radio Systems and Services since 1983
 
Troubleshooting with a Wattmeter
What's going on?
Related Links

Technical Specifications

Maintenance Checklist for Information Radio Stations

Operators' Zone

Standard Antenna

TR.6000 Transmitter

A wattmeter is essential for station maintenance.

Whether you're operating a Travelers Information Station (TIS), a Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) System or an Emergency Advisory AM Station, a wattmeter
is a valuable tool for installing and maintaining your information radio station. The wattmeter is used to tune the station's antenna and to determine if the antenna and transmitter are working properly (by allowing the measurement of the system's forward and reflected power).

There are a couple of ways to use a wattmeter. Both the SX100 Wattmeter and the SX.200 model now provided on all new information radio stations are passive units, placed between the transmitter and the antenna. They may be inserted for test purposes, or they may be hard-wired into the system for convenience. 

On the back of the meter, find two UHF coaxial termination points. Route the coax from the lightning surge arrestor and antenna to the connector, labeled ANT. From the connector labeled TX, route the coaxial cable to the transmitter.


Measurement steps include . . .

With the wattmeter now placed in series and the transmitter off, measure the forward RF power. Here's how:
  1. Set the meter's FUNCTION switch to the POWER position.  
  2. Set the RANGE switch to the appropriate setting. (For the SX100, use the 30W range; and for the SX.200, use the 20W range).
  3. Verify that the TX and ANT output connections are secure.
  4. Turn on the transmitter and turn up the output power to 10 watts.
  5. Set the POWER switch on the wattmeter to FWD (forward) and record the reading. If you're using the TR.6000 transmitter, the power-adjust dial is labeled on the front of the unit. If you have the earlier TR20 (Phase II) transmitter, open the transmitter lid and adjust the blue power potentiometer, located vertically just above the power-switch. (A properly tuned antenna should allow a reading of 10 watts.)
  6. Record reflected power by turning the meter's POWER switch to REF. This reading should be less than 1, and less than 1/10 the forward power reading.

The higher the ratio of forward to reflected power.

An information radio system with a high ratio operates more efficiently, resulting in longer transmitter life. 

If your readings show reflected power to be nearly the same as forward power, turn the transmitter off. There is a problem with the antenna system. Confirm that your coaxial, feedline and groundplane connections are secure. If these connections are secure, with a VOM meter, verify that coaxial lines have not shorted or opened; and check the antenna for disconnects and damage.

If the wattmeter indicates that there is very low forward power and reflected power, there is internal transmitter difficulty. Turn the transmitter off and place a dummy load on the ANT connector of the wattmeter (in place of the coaxial connection to the lightning arrestor and antenna.) Turn the transmitter back on. If the meter continues to show low forward and reflected power with the dummy load in place, service the transmitter. (With a dummy load in place and the transmitter's power at full, the reading should be 10 watts forward power and 0 watts reflected.)

Antenna Illustration
Wattmeter Illustration
Transmitter Illustration
ABOUT PRODUCTS RESOURCES SERVICES SEARCHES
Contact Us All Products at a Glance Articles of Interest All Services Site Index
Corporate Overview For Emergencies Customer Support Policy Customer Support Policy Site Map
Why Customers Buy For Health Applications FAQs FCC Frequencies & Licenses  
Founding & Firsts For Highways FCC-Permitted Broadcasts Installation, Testing, Training
Privacy Policy For Visitor Information Glossary of Radio Terms Professional Recordings
  For Other Common Applications News from The Source Purchase Options
  For License-Free Stations Operators' Zone Rentals  
For AM Radio Broadcasters Our Stations across the USA Streaming
For Amateur (HAM) Operators Planning Guide  


©  1983-2024  • Information Station Specialists, Inc. •  All Rights Reserved
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone 616.772.2300, Email Us

TRADEMARKS:  2X Signal Booster, ALERT AM Emergency Advisory Radio System, AMReady Broadcast Components, ANXX AM Radio Antenna, AP.55 Digital Message Player, ENcast Emergency Notification Broadcast System, EventCAST Portable Information Radio Service, FAS.6000 Flashing Beacons & Controller, FASTrack Quick-Erect Sign, FlashCAST Internet Broadcast Service, Flashing ALERT Sign System, FlexPlane Preassembled Groundplane, Free-Radiate On-Premise Radio Broadcast System, HPR.0990 High Performance Antenna, i A.M. Radio Transmitter, Information Station Specialists, InfoRadio Format, Information Station Classic, Information Station IP, Information Station USB, InfOSpot AM Radio Transmitter Station, IP.8 Digital Message Player, IP.76 Digital Message Player, ITS.6000 Highway Advisory Radio Network, LIGHTNING LED Changeable Message Sign, Lowdown 630-Meter Band Amateur Radio Antenna, MGR.021 Digital Audio Management System, MXB.22 THEMATCHBOX Impedance Matching Transformer, NX8R Digital Message Player, PPFL PPFS PowerPlane Preassembled Groundplane, RadioSAFE Wide Area Emergency Broadcast System, RadioSTAT Portable Emergency Advisory Radio Station, RE 2.5 Range Extender Outdoor Antenna and Tuner, RESPONDER 1 Portable Highway Advisory Radio System, RoadRunnR Portable Highway Advisory Radio System, SSD.20 Severe Storm Detector, SMR Signal Measurement Radio Receiver, Stealth Sign, StreamCAST Internet Audio Delivery Service, SS.3000 Free-Standing AM Radio Antenna System with Tower, SX.200 Wattmeter, Talking House AM Radio Transmitter, TH.5 InfOspot Transmitter, TMS.020 Digital Audio Management System, TR.6000 Transmitter, TMS.020 Digital Audio Management System, TR.6000 Transmitter Model 15.73, VP.9000 Vertical Profile Antenna Support and Grounding System.

Information Radio Station is a generic term synonymous with Travelers Information Station (TIS), Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) / Highway Information Systems & Low Power Radio Stations (LPR). Operation of the stations is governed by FCC Part 90.242 Rules. A FCC license is required. Information Radio Stations may be fixed or portable. Subcomponents may include transmitter, antenna and ground system, digital voice player, wattmeter, cabinet with conventional or Corbin locks, lightning arrestors for RF, power and telephone lines, coaxial cable. Most stations employ black maximized antennas to discourage ice accumulation and security measures to prevent unauthorized program access. Options include synchronization, battery backup, solar power, remote programming by local, network or telco, multi-station audio distribution via RF or LAN / WAN or wireless network.