I'd like to say that I can't agree with Danny's comments any more. I compare it to this: Imagine a DX station @ one end of a football field with the rest of us trying to work him at the other end by yelling our callsigns. The DX is able to able to pick out a callsign and work them. Suddenly, one guy shows up with a bullhorn. Then quickly others follow suit. After awhile 9 out of 10 of us use amps. Guess what, most are back on the same level again and having just as much time in their perceived need to bust the pileup in the first call. First does this follow with using the minimum amount of power necessary to carry on communications?? I think not, everyone was able to do it without a bullhorn. I've heard arguments from others that feel differently that it was necessary...they were able to get thru on the 1st call weren't they?? I've worked more than 180 DXCC entities...all on 100W or less with simple wire antennas. It can be done...no you won't always bust the pileup the first time, or get a 59+20 over signal report. There is a time and a place for using an amp. It won't help you talk any farther if propagation will not support the distance. I think more needs to be done about when and when not to use an amp. Digital modes in RF power have an advantage over SSB, generally you need less RF power. Use it, find other methods to making contacts. Improve your antenna is one that comes to mind first. There are other ways like improving your communications skills, or equipment like filtering. Then learn when you should use an amp, or when it isn't necessary. In comparison, (as I'm sure many of you know, but there may be some who don't), if you were to increase your RF power from 100W to 400W, that's 6dB....1 S-unit, in many cases is that going to break the bank on making the contact or not? I don't think so, not unless you're rising above the receiving stations noise level. I know of some hams that as soon as they turn on the rigs, the amplifier goes on. I hear hams that since they have their RF gain turned up they can't hear another station unless he's 20 over since they want perfect armchair static free copy. Again, especially with digital modes, 100W or more is not always necessary. My 1st PSK31 contact was to New Zealand w/ 5W.
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "DANNY DOUGLAS" <n...@...> wrote: > > I do not understand the instance of 200 or more watts. Most gear made in the > past, and even the majority of rigs made today, run 100 watts. Lets keep it > to that, or lower, to avoid pushing everyone into thinking they need an amp > for digital modes. It becomes a rat race, with the biggest rat wanting the > highest power, and then still leaving off those who have neither the money, > nor the QTH where an amp could be use . Level the playing field for these > guys and dont encourage them to use more power than necessary to make a QSO. > > > Danny Douglas > N7DC > ex WN5QMX ET2US WA5UKR ET3USA SV0WPP VS6DD N7DC/YV5 G5CTB > All 2 years or more (except Novice). Short stints at: DA/PA/SU/HZ/7X/DU > CR9/7Y/KH7/5A/GW/GM/F > Pls QSL direct, buro, or LOTW preferred, > I Do not use, but as a courtesy do upload to eQSL for those who do. > Moderator > DXandTALK > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DXandTalk > Digital_modes > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digital_modes/?yguid=341090159 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rik van Riel > To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com > Cc: Gary > Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 5:17 PM > Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Techs on HF digital > > > > On 12/15/2009 12:55 PM, Gary wrote: > > I thought I'd run something up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes: > > > I would imagine, the license limitations would have to state something > like a maximum of 300 baud and 500 Hz bandwidth with a 200 watt power limit. > There may be other limitations that might be nice to toss into the mix but > this is a starting point for discussion. > > IIRC the Tech license pool does not include all the questions about > RF safety, nor about use of the ALC, etc... > > I believe the power limit and frequencies HF use by Tech licensed > amateurs should be low. Maybe 10-20W power limit, in a few limited > frequency ranges (staying away from the most crowded bands). > > I could see adding 30m digital privileges to Tech, maybe 80m too, > but 20, 40 and 15m already have too many people who don't know > their what their ALC readout means :) > > -- > All rights reversed. >
