Hi Jim,

   I'm just following up to say I greatly appreciate your support and 
well wishes! While your suggestion is very thoughtful, I certainly do 
not want you guys supporting me in this way. I am the one putting myself 
in this situation so I'm the one that has to deal with the consequences. 
But again, thanks for the support!

Rob
K6DQ
my
On 12/31/2013 11:29 AM, Jim Gammon wrote:
> Hi Rob, let me add my voice in thanks to you for taking on such a
> project.  I think that if all of us on the list would be willing
> to kick in even just $20.00 toward helping you realize the goal
> of a stand-alone accessible meter that would work on Hf, VHF, and
> UHF on any rig, would be a very worthy cause.  This would allow
> you to buy one or more meters upon which to experiment and use as
> a platform to develop a prototype meter.  Happy new year and I
> wish you great success in all of your endeavors in 2014.  73, Jim
> WA6EKS
>
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
> From: Rob <[log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date sent: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 01:41:59 -0800
> Subject: Talking SWR/Power Meter Question Follow Up
>
> Thanks all,
>
>     I want to thank you all for taking the time to respond to my
> query
> and I appreciate the support for my efforts!  As was obvious, the
> need
> to directly read reflected power is not a necessity and depending
> on how
> things progress, I still might be able to provide this but wanted
> to
> make sure it was not required.  For the record, I rarely check
> reflected
> power myself.  That aside, let me try to clarify a couple things
> at this
> point given by some of your responses.
>     As noted previously, the "HamPod" is basically a generic
> hardware
> platform that I can use to communicate with devices that are
> equipped
> with a serial port and provide access via their protocol and
> messaging
> to various internal data points.  That is how I can use the
> HamPod to
> work with the Elecraft W2 and Power Master 2 meters because they
> both
> are equipped with a serial port and provide sufficient messaging
> to use
> them via their serial ports.  In fact, Array Solutions even
> modified
> their firmware to support our community to make this a better
> product
> for us.  They were also very willing to loan me a meter for
> development
> so they should be commended for that as well.  I should also note
> that
> Elecraft loaned me both a K3 and KX3 for development.  I also
> feel
> compelled to mention that the combination of a K3 or KX3 and a
> HamPod
> provides the most accessible solution out there and they are
> pretty
> incredible rigs too!  Sorry for that diversion.
>     The meter I'm currently evaluating to provide accessibility
> for does
> not have a serial port so it will require an internal processor
> based
> circuit to access the hardware directly, much like my SteppIR
> antenna
> controller.  So this will be a self contained stand-alone meter
> much like
> the TW-1.  It is still pretty early into development with this
> unit so
> I'm still not sure it will work for us but if it does, I can say
> it will
> cover HF through UHF and legal power and beyond through use of up
> to 2
> external coupler selection.  So at this point, I can't predict
> what the
> final cost will be but my goal is of course to keep it as
> inexpensive as
> possible but yet still provide an accurate  and quality piece of
> equipment.  I do not intend on adding the ability to measure
> frequency
> with this meter as this would require additional hardware
> modifications.
>     As for future suggestions such as an accessible antenna
> analyzer,
> that is on the list of things I want to build.  Problem is, all
> this
> stuff takes way too much time as it is and funds are limited and
> actually non-existent if you ask the wife! .  So while I agree
> the Array
> Solutions 4170 is an incredible piece of gear, at around $570
> it's
> probably not feasible for the majority of us So it makes more
> sense to
> work with something like an MFJ product.  I'm not even sure if
> the 4170
> is adequately accessible through the serial port, but if you want
> to
> donate one, I'll gladly look into it! I also want to add
> accessibility
> for more rigs for the HamPod so the list is open ended plus I've
> already
> added support for some other gear when asked as was the case with
> the
> Power Master 2.
>     So thanks again for your comments and support and I'll let you
> know
> how things progress.
>
> Thanks,
> Rob  K6DQ
>