Telepost LP-100A
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| Frequency | 1.8-54 MHz with the standard LPC1 coupler (160-6 m power/SWR coverage) |
| Bands | HF (1.8-30 MHz), 6m, 160m-6m power/SWR/impedance |
| Power | A digital vector wattmeter and station monitor, not a transmitter. It autoranges from 50 mW to 3000 W with the standard LPC1 coupler (3 kW PEP/CW, 1.8-54 MHz); optional couplers extend measurement to 5 kW (LPC2/LPC4) or 10 kW (LPC5). |
| Modes | power measurement (forward, reflected, delivered), SWR, vector impedance (Z, R, |X|, phase), return loss, dBm, field strength |
| coupler rf | Separate in-line coupler with SO-239 ports (N-type optional); standard LPC1 coupler is 1.8-54 MHz, 3 kW |
| meter to coupler | Coupler connects to the meter with supplied RF cables and can be remoted up to about 50 feet |
| usb | USB/serial to a PC for the free VCP and Plot software (remote monitoring; SWR, impedance, return-loss and Smith-chart plotting) |
| dc in | 12 V DC at about 500 mA (2.5/5.5 mm barrel); a 6 ft DC cord is supplied |
| power req | 12 V DC at about 500 mA (2.5/5.5 mm barrel); a 6 ft DC cord is supplied to connect to a station supply. |
An industry-standard digital vector wattmeter used even by the ARRL lab and by ham manufacturers. Beyond accurate forward, reflected and delivered power and SWR, it uniquely reads vector impedance (Z, R, X and phase) while you transmit, unaffected by nearby broadcast stations the way an antenna analyzer can be. The graphic VFD with dual and 90-segment bargraphs is superb for tuning, and it adds NIST-traceable per-band calibration, an SWR alarm with PTT trip, a remotable coupler, optional 5 kW and 10 kW couplers, and free Windows plotting software.
It is a premium meter at around $550 and needs a 12 V supply to run. The standard coupler covers 1.8-54 MHz at 3 kW, so higher power or other coverage means buying optional couplers, and N connectors are a paid option. The deep feature set and menu system take some learning, and as a power/impedance monitor it is not a standalone swept antenna analyzer (though the Plot software adds swept plotting when driven by a transmitter).
The Telepost LP-100A is a top-tier digital vector wattmeter and station monitor: precise power and SWR with a genuinely useful tuning display, plus vector impedance, return loss and PC plotting that few in-line meters offer. It suits a serious operator who wants reference-grade measurement and protection at the operating position; those who only need basic power and SWR can spend far less on a cross-needle meter, and those who want a standalone swept analyzer want a NanoVNA or a RigExpert instead.
The Telepost LP-100A is a digital vector wattmeter and station monitor, designed by Larry Phipps and made in the USA. It is widely regarded as a reference-grade instrument; more than 5,000 have been sold and they are used at the ARRL lab and at ham manufacturers for testing and calibration. Where a cross-needle meter shows power and SWR with swinging needles, the LP-100A presents forward power, reflected power, true delivered power and SWR together on a high-quality graphic vacuum-fluorescent display, with dual bargraphs, a fine 90-segment tuning bargraph and a 'sticky' peak-hold bar that make it excellent for adjusting a manual tuner.
It does more than a normal wattmeter. It also reads vector impedance, showing Z, R, the magnitude of reactance and phase, while you transmit, which means it is not fooled by nearby broadcast stations the way a low-level antenna analyzer can be. Additional screens cover return loss, dBm, calibrated field strength and peak-to-average (compression) ratio. Accuracy is high: power is typically within 3 percent with 11-band NIST-traceable calibration and a built-in frequency counter, and SWR reads to 0.01 resolution. An SWR alarm with snooze, an LED, an audible sounder and a PTT trip can protect the antenna and amplifier.
Measurement is done in a separate 50 ohm in-line coupler that can sit out of the way and be remoted up to about 50 feet. The standard LPC1 coupler covers 1.8 to 54 MHz at 3 kW, and optional couplers reach 5 kW or 10 kW; connectors are SO-239 as standard with N-type optional, and a dual-coupler option auto-switches between two couplers for SO2R or separate HF and 6 m paths. It runs on 12 volts at about half an amp, and free Windows software (VCP and Plot) adds remote monitoring and automated plotting of SWR, impedance, return loss and Smith charts. The base unit sells for around $550.
It is aimed at the operator who wants reference-grade measurement and protection at the operating position. Those who only need basic power and SWR can spend far less on a cross-needle meter such as the Daiwa CN-901HP, while anyone wanting a standalone swept antenna analyzer is better served by a NanoVNA or a RigExpert.