I do use "fast AGC" at times but I'm basically a "non-AGC" CW operator unless I'm just casually tuning around and chewing the rag with stations with good strength. I don't appreciate listening to band noise that is greatly amplified above its real level. If a signal is 20 dB above the background noise, I want to hear it standing out 20 dB above the background noise. But AGC works hard to make the background noise as loud as the signal.
I guess that's a valuable feature in marginal conditions where you're trying to hear a weaker signal that may send only an element or two after a much stronger signal finished sending, provided there isn't another signal in the passband killing the gain as Tom observed. It saves having to "ride" the gain control manually, but I find AGC extremely irritating under those conditions - like trying to operate with a loud vacuum cleaner (a "Hoover" to our friends in England) roaring next to me in the shack as the background QRM is pulled up to full volume whenever the signal is not present. So I use either AGC slow for casual operating or no AGC at all and ride the gain manually, especially if I'm digging for weak signals. So when do I use "fast" AGC? When I'm listening to a strong AM signal on the K2 that has significant QSB. The fast-acting AGC follows quick changes in the carrier level more closely. That's true of PSK or other digital modes in which there's a steady carrier present as well. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
