> #1.  Is there some way I can observe RF directly with my scope?  Do I need
a
> special probe?

Depends on your scope, you need at least 500 MHz bandwidth to play.
Your probes also need enough bandwidth.
You can make a rectifying probe with a small signal diode and cap, but you
loose frequency and waveshape info.

Be aware, you are building a device that has to live underneath ham
transmitters at <=1500W.
January has a major contest weekend coming up too.

> #2.  I am thinking of buying a field strength meter.  The field strength
> meter I am looking at claims 5 mv sensitivity at 433 MHz.  The transmitter
I
> am using claims 1 mw power output.  Would this field strength meter be
> useful with such a tiny transmitter?


Hard question to answer, depends on the antennas.
I would look at getting at least a decent receiver.
An IC-R8500 or similar with AM, FM, CW, internal attenuator(s) and a signal
strength meter.

At any given impedance, you can calculate the voltage for a given power
output.

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic:
[PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads