I'm perplexed by the edited dB figures.

On JT65A HF it doesn't make any sense that the values are -5 or -6 db
when the signal is strong and moving the S-meter to s5 or s6.

Here we use a 300Hz filter and the audio output is adjusted to read
about 0db with no signal.  What I would have expected is the db value
would be referenced to this receiver noise floor value.

Secondly, I can hear and copy the CW ID at edited values of -20db or
so. That also makes no sense.  This threshold should be around -10db
or so below the RX noise floor.  This audible threshold is pretty much
independent of whether one uses a 2.1 KHz filter or the narrower 300HZ
filter. In fact, if I'm interested in hearing really weak signals,
using the 2.1KHz filter allows weaker CW signals to be heard --
presumably due to less attenuation in the wider filter.  This only
works of course if there is no signal within the filter passband which
starts AGC action.

AVC use no doubt confounds things for stronger signals.  However,
there is no option on the IC706 to turn of AGC. Audio output is pretty
much linear (as per ARRL BPL studies) below the AGC threshold.  I
estimate that threshould to be about S2 for the 706.

So just what does the edited db value mean?  It certainly does not
represent how far the signal is below the RX noise floor.

Since RX gain is unknown, it can't represent some absolute value of
voltage. 

73 de Brian/K3KO 

--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Lindecker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> Hello to all,
> 
> Comparizon with S/N Multipsk figures.
> 
> According to JT65 specifications, this mode decodes with few errors
down to -23 dB, with a normalized band of 2.5 KHz.
> All Multipsk figures are normalized with a band of 3 KHz. -23 dB in
2.5 KHz is about -24 dB in 3 KHz band (-23.792 dB exactly).
> 
> This figure of -24 dB can be compared to Olivia 250-8 which has a
minimum S/N of -14 dB. So JT65 is 10 dB better or 10 times better.
> But of course JT65 is much slower that Olivia 250-8.
> 
> The only modes which are close to JT65 are:
> * THROBX: Lowest S/N:  -18,5 dB for the 1 baud, -17.5 dB for the 2 bauds
> * PSKAM10: Lowest S/N : -19.5 dB
> 
> In conclusion JT65 is better (under S/N criteria) that any modes in
Multipsk. 
> 
> 73
> Patrick
>  
> 
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Tony 
>   To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 9:25 AM
>   Subject: [digitalradio] Path Simulator tests -- JT65A vs Olivia
and others
> 
> 
>   All:
> 
>   I used Pathsim to compare the sensitivity of JT65A 
>   vs MFSK, PSK31 and OLIVIA using AWGN to alter the 
>   SNR. I ran direct-path with no ionospheric 
>   disturbance.
> 
>   The chat modes decoded with error-free print down 
>   to -12 to -14db SNR. The JT65A mode decoded 
>   at -27db SNR (signal inaudible).
> 
>   Assuming the Pathsim white noise measurments were 
>   accurate, I think it's safte to say that JT65 is 
>   capable of decoding much weaker signals than the 
>   others. Would be interesting to see how it does 
>   with simulated ionospheric disturbances.
> 
>   73 Tony - KT2Q
>


Reply via email to