On 6/22/2011 8:37 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > I think it would be great if we had at least one MF Ham band with a maximum > power of 10 or 20 watts.
While I certainly enjoy QRP, it should be be remembered that one of the greatest problems facing ham radio is the increasingly high noise level from all sorts of switching power supplies, plasma TVs, motor controllers, solar power systems, and power line arcing. I live out in the country, with my nearest neighbors nearly a block away. Although my noise level is sometimes as low as S1 (on my calibrated K3), it can increase by 20dB or more when someone fires up one of those noise sources. On 6M for example, one neighbor (at about 120 degrees), has a solar installation that brings that noise level up to about S5 during the day; another, at about 60 degrees, has a switching power supply with a 75 kHz wide, S5 hump of noise that drifts up and down between about 50.05 MHz and 50.2 MHz. When either of those sources is active, it means that the station on the other end needs 24 dB more power to work me than if the noise were not present. 24dB is roughly 250 X the power. At least half of my 6M QSOs this summer would not have been possible if those noise sources had been present -- I would never have heard the other station. Most hams have far higher noise levels than I do. The greatest justification for running more power and putting up bigger and better antennas is RF NOISE experienced by the ham on the other end. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
