Hi, I got two old parts from scrap - a dummy load (50W up to 2.7GHz, N-connector) and a diode detector (a T-shaped module with 2x N-connectors and 1 BNC voltage output). Inside the detector was a diode (looks like the old germanium point-contact one in glass, DO7 package I guess, it was broken however, and a capacitor at diode's output against GND, DC signal wired to the BNC). No special markings on that part.
I wanted to make a simple RF power meter from that parts, and I replaced the diode with a vintage GA204 in the same package (a Ge detection diode, Vr=100V).
It worked fine at aprox 100W output from my transceivers, showing stable and reasonable DC voltages (88-107V) on my DMM in the 1.8-50MHz bands.
At 145MHz (50W) the voltage was only a half of the expected, at 440MHz (35W) it got crazy showing around 0V. After that I again tried with HF and all voltages were lower by some 4-5V. So it seems the diode got degraded after it was exposed to those aprox 60Vpeak @440MHz.
Is there an available diode to be recommended for this application as the replacement?
People wrote about 1N5711 (Vr=70V), 1N4148 (Vr=100V), all other diodes I saw are for lower reverse voltages or not easily available.
I think the Vr of the diode should be at least 100V as the Vpeak is 100V with 100W at 50ohm load. And it should be fast enough such I get it working till 70cm
..