In the old days we used to adjust grid current for maximum, then switch the meter to plate current and tune for a dip.  We would then add driver and redip, continuing till the driver wouldn't boost plate current any longer.  The last tube type rig I had was a Kenwood TS520, which was concurrent with the FT101.  Rather than tuning for a dip in plate current, it was set up to peak the output power.  The procedure was then to peak the output using the plate tuning capacitor, add a little drive with the drive tuning capacitor, then repeak the output with the plate tuning capacitor.  This process was continued till a certain output level was reached, but I simply continued till adding driver no longer increased the output.  That got the output tubes to maximum output, which was just a hair over the recommended output.  It worked fine for me for years.  The 6146b's in the final didn't seem to suffer under that regimen.
        I obtained a device called a meter reader from a ham in Sherman Oaks California who is long since deceased.  It was placed in parallel with the meter and emitted a tone that increased in pitch as the needle on the meter deflected.  I set the meter to output and then tuned the plate capacitor for maximum pitch on the meter reader.  I then added a little drive, which further increased the pitch a bit.  I then adjusted the plate capacitor to peak the pitch again, and so on.  I still use the 25-year-old meter reader, but now I have it in parallel with the meter of an external SWR meeter.  I still tune the same way though.  I also use this to adjust SWR by putting the SWR bridge to reflected power and adjusting the external antenna tuner to minimize reflected power.  Of course a lower pitch means less reflected power when the meter is set for reflected power.
        The device I mentioned that is available from Handy Hams as I understand it is an SWR meter combined with the meter reader.  This means you don't have to open up anything to parallel the meter.  You just put the device in line with your antenna and tune as I suggested.  I'm sure the device has full instructions with it.
        I have heard of using a noise bridge to tune, but when I used one once I forgot to take it out of line before transmitting and burned the potentiometer with RF.  Perhaps there are protected types now though.  With the noise bridge you tune for maximum noise by adjusting the capacitors as I described.  That matches the antenna to the pi network, but I'm not sure that method will allow for the appropriate power level.

73,

Dave A F 6 Y

At 05:36 PM 3/8/02 -03-30, you wrote:
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>David:
>
>Other than a noise bridge, What other device could I attach to the main
>meter of a transceiver to receive outputs?  As well, how would an SWR noise
>bridge output all the information necessary to tune and operate a tubed
>transceiver?
>Could I have a detailed explanation?
>This is all new to me as I haven't been licensed for very long.
>Presently I'm using a Kenwood TS-570DG which eliminates these questions. <HI
>HI>
>Thanks:
>
>73
>Michael VO1RYN
>
>
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