Topband
[Top] [All Lists]

Topband: RST and S meter readings not the same.

To: Topband <Topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: RST and S meter readings not the same.
From: Ken Brown <ken.d.brown@verizon.net>
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 09:55:30 -1000
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Hi all,

There are many reasons that S meter readings are irrelevant to an RST report. Most of those reasons have already been discussed, and they deal with the wide range of S meter response to signal power input in our various rigs, and the wide range of receive antenna gains/losses. There is another reason that was touched upon in a previous posting, wherin the RST system was quoted. The RST system as explained in ARRL and other standard references says nothing about any meter reading. It only describes signal strength in terms of what you hear in the headphones (or speaker) relative to other noise and signals. I would guess the the RST system was devised when few if any receivers had S meters. What the S meter indicates is almost completely irrelevant to the RST report.

My S meter seldom ever goes above S7, and I give 599 reports regularly. I do however try to give honest reports, giving 599 only when the signal really is strong. And I do not look at the S meter to determine that.

DE N6KB


_______________________________________________ Topband mailing list Topband@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>