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Re: [TowerTalk] Minimum Discernible Difference

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Minimum Discernible Difference
From: David Gilbert <xdavid@cis-broadband.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:12:16 -0700
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>

Thanks for the feedback, Rick ... good comments.  I wasn't really trying 
to simulate what happens in a receiver, though, because there is no way 
I can account for all the various receiver characteristics of AGC 
threshold and non-linearity.  I own an Elecraft K3 that has a very wide 
range of possible settings, and I know from personal experience that it 
is possible to make multiple weak signals virtually unintelligible if I 
try hard enough.

Based upon your comments and those from Gary, K9YC, though, I think I 
will go back to the original .wav files and remix them, then feed them 
into my backup rig (756Pro) with it transmitting into a dummy load.  I 
can then record the result as received by my Elecraft K3 to see if the 
results are significantly different than what I already have.   I'll 
give it a try with and without mixed background noise and see how it works.

Thanks es 73,
Dave   AB7E



On 8/23/2010 11:43 AM, Rick Karlquist wrote:
> The intent of these tests is good.  It is always good
> to get confirmation that a 2 dB difference in S/N
> is significant.  That's why I run 150W in low power
> contests instead of 100W, if the rules permit.
>
> There is some question as to the validity of your
> experiments.  It sounds like you added perfect audio
> tones to receiver background noise.  This isn't
> necessarily equivalent to actually receiving signals
> through the receiver.  The receiver could have some
> nonlinearity and the receive filter could have some
> ringing.
>
> Rick N6RK
>
>
> David Gilbert wrote:
>> I've added a page to my web site covering some investigations into how
>> much difference in signal strength might be noticeable in weak signal
>> and/or contest conditions, with several audio files included as
>> illustration.  Please don't consider any of it to be authoritative since
>> I am not an audio professional, but maybe some of it will be useful to
>> someone.  If anyone has suggestions for different comparisons, please
>> let me know.
>>
>> http://www.ab7e.com/weak_signal/mdd.html
>>
>> 73,
>> Dave   AB7E
>>
>>
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