Actually, gain compression reduces "gain" not dynamic range.  All signals are reduced in amplitude by the same number of dB.  This is the only way it doesn't introduce distortion.

This reminds me of the endless discussions about RX AGC where everyone has their favorite combination of rf-gain, threshold, slope, etc, that somehow magically reduces strong signals while allowing weaker ones to "pop out of the noise."  If you have one of these receivers, you best only use it for FM reception.

There is nothing inherently wrong with using compression, i.e. ALC on digital modes if the time constants are appropriate.  I have just run some tests on my K3S on FT8 while looking at the spectrum on a spectrum analyzer and listening with a second K3 for the dreaded in-band harmonics while "overdriving" the audio into the ALC region. With the present setup, I got the "recommended" 4-5 bars with the Line In at about 7 to 8.  Cranking it up to 30 and maxing out the ALC at 8 bars made no difference in detectable in-band harmonics, even using a 300 Hz offset. (Split was off)

It's funny that this guy, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smWp0TOEtlQ decides that speech processing has no undesired effects yet is adamant that ALC should not be used.

Wes  N7WS



On 7/12/2019 2:41 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
Don't confuse compression and clipping.   Compression reduces dynamic range 
while clipping sets a hard ceiling and does generate distortion.  Compression 
used correctly does not generate distortion.

73
Bob, K4TAX


Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 12, 2019, at 4:00 PM, Wes <[email protected]> wrote:

What distortion?

On 7/12/2019 1:15 PM, Jim Rhodes wrote:
Nothing when it is done correctly on a mode that can stand the distortion. I 
personally won't use it on digital modes as my rigs tend to turn it off by 
default.

Jim Rhodes
K0XU

On Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 15:10 Wes <[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

    And what exactly is the problem with compression?  It's used all over the
    place.

    Wes  N7WS

    On 6/28/2019 11:38 AM, Brian Denley wrote:
    > I have always thought that ALC is not appropriate for power control.
    It’s a protection system.  Over use of ALC acts like compression.  No?
    >
    > Brian
    > KB1VBF
    > Sent from my iPad

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