A few years back there was someone who did a clever experiment
and posted CW recordings and they were all 1 or 2dB signal levels apart.
I don't know who or how that was done, but when I listened to them,
for sure I could tell the difference most of the time
in 2dB's of difference and given enough time, often I could hear 1dB
of difference.
- - -
As a "test" I have tried in one contest, some years ago calling
stations at very low output levels here. 1watt or 1.5w I think I tried
and often, no reply. Not even a QRZ. Then I called again and I upped it
to 2 or 3 watts (I forget exactly) and often got a QRZ and sometimes
only then was a QSO made. Not exactly scientific, I know...
My QTH is (typically) very quiet, in rural NB, Canada more-or-less on
top of a nice hill far from the nearest city and a LOT of times I may
call a very weak station (full QRO here) and not get a reply. Obviously
they have a higher noise level than I do. How much more, I have no way
of knowing.
The takeaway:
Every dB counts.
I have worked loads of EU on 10m and for hours on end at super weak
signal levels and rarely been spotted by the RBN on those days.
Mike VE9AA
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