Hi Pat,
how did you measure the power output?
73 Detlev, DC7KG
Hi Pat,
with a normal constellation of Pluto and CN0417 you can expect a level around +20 dBm. The Pluto itself should be used with 0 dBm and a good linearity. In case of low level output try to transmit on another (lower) frequencies and increase stepwise for example 100 Mhz. Not sure if this will help, I had this situation also and could solve it.
73
Andreas
Hi Andreas,
How does this work? Is Pluto learning to deliver more power again?
73 Detlev
Is it possible the firmware used affects power output? I believe I read that to be the case. Just an idea.... 
Hallo,
no idea what happens inside the Pluto. Especially when playing around on different frequencies, it happens some times, the output was very low. The "repair technology" was to start transmitting at VHF with increasing frequency. May be, it could be a miracle, it helped. Never checked the results with different firmwares. Of course, first step is to use the actual one or try a DFU setup.
73
Andreas
No, there is no attenuator inside the Pluto. I suggest to compare the power measurement with another power meter.
Hi Pat,
I can confirm your measurements, with the SATSAGEN generator I achieve 6dBm output power.
Regards,
Detlev
Thank you Detlev,
I compared the Yellow Frog 2 meter reading on 432mhz against another one and the reading is good, I also tested Pluto with a few
pre-amps namely the SPF511897,SZA2044 and Novate SKY65135 all had no power output, only the CN0417 gave 9/10 dbm out instead
of 18/20 dbm.
My conclusion at this point is that the Pluto is faulty, giving very low power output, much less than supposed. 
Note that it's the same on 432 Mhz, no reading on the meter.
Hi Pat,
I suppose it is a problem of SDR console. Repeat your measurement with SATSAGEN Generator.
Best regards,
Detlev
Hi Pat,
I get less than 0 dBm with SDR console in FM.
Best regards,
Detlev
Hi Detlev,
I had the same experience. With Satsagen 6-8dB more output in CW mode, measured with an HP power meter.
On the other hand, I once received a new Pluto C/D that only delivered a maximum of 0.4mW on 2.4GHz. Mouser replaced the Pluto without any problems. Apparently I wasn't the first one with this problem
Hi Rolf,
there seems to be a big difference between SDR console and SATSAGEN. Was your Pluto with 0.4 mW on 2.4 GHz driven by SDR console or SATSAGEN?
Detlev, DC7KG
Hi Detlev,
my Pluto was driven by SDR console. With other Plutos I get an output of 1-2,5 mW driven by SDR Console.
Hi Rolf,
I repeated my measurements. Here are the results:
Pluto C/D, f= 2.4 GHz
SATSAGEN v. 0.9.1.1 P out = 4.4 mW, 6.4 dB
SDR console v. 3.4 P out = 0.85 mW, - 0.7 dB (in FM, highest output)
Very strange,
Detlev
Hi Rolf and Detlev,
Since quite a while, the Pluto output level with SDR console depends on the selected bandwidth.
As far as I remember, I've seen the highest output with 2.304 MHz bandwidth and the lowest with 960 kHz bandwidth.The level difference could be up to almost 10dB,
73 Jean
Hi Jean,
many thanks! That is very important. Tomorrow I'll measure the power output with different bandwidths settings!
Detlev
Here are the results (I measured in FM mode because it gave the highest output)
BW P out
576 kHz 0.86 mW -0.66 dB
768 kHz 0.5 mW -3.0 dB
960 kHz 0.32 mW -4.9 dB
1536 kHz 1.8 mW 2.7 dB unstable
1920 kHz 1.1 mW unstable
2304 kHz 3 mW 5 dB unstable
2680 kHz 1.6 mW 2.5 dB unstable
