In contests I call a lot of guys barefoot first and kick on the amp as needed.
Problem is usually a guy running full power can be heard out here but has an
S-8 noise level and can't hear 100W..Yes you can work a lot of DX with low
power, but as an ex-QRP club member I learned life if too short, 9 to go for
DXCC on 160 and sweating it.
5U and TU can't hear me thru the pile up but I'll bet they can copy if there
was nobody else on.
Tried JT65 and it seems CW work also work when it works.Bottom line is you
typically need power on the low bands to overcome the other guys noise. Rick
N6PE======================================================================
There are more planes in the ocean than submarines in the sky
From: "topband-request@contesting.com" <topband-request@contesting.com>
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2017 9:11 AM
Subject: Topband Digest, Vol 171, Issue 17
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Today's Topics:
1. Digital modes on TB and power required (Jim Jim)
2. Re: Digital modes on TB and power required (wb6rse1@mac.com)
3. Re: Digital modes on TB and power required (HAROLD SMITH JR)
4. Re: Digital modes on TB and power required (Mike Waters)
5. Re: JT65 Power and bandwidth (Rob Atkinson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2017 21:14:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jim Jim <wa3mej@comcast.net>
To: List-Topband <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Digital modes on TB and power required
Message-ID: <1176951029.186017.1489972452731@connect.xfinity.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Guys,
First of all in many cases the reason we need really high power on any mode is
because other hams on the band are using it and they cover us up... so it is
mine is bigger than yours. Now to be fair that is not always the case I know
but it happens far too much. Since we are in the years of the bottom of the
solar cycle we actually may need more power. Also you can not compare doing
meteor scatter or EME work with HF work. There you absolutely need power
unless you have stacked 18 element beams or something. But I have seen very
very few instances when 50 watts wont get the job done EVEN on 160M. and NO I
don't run my RX with a wide open front end I have an IC 7300 and I trim my RX
and TX filters to a reasonable width based on the mode I am running. Common
sense (and good engineering principals) teach you if you cut the RX bandwidth
the signal goes up in strength. You have only to try that with CW to learn
that. and for those of you that don't understand the princi
al of RX front end overload try having a neighbor 4 miles away as the crow
files who is trying to call the same DX you are wanting to work he can be half
a kHz away and still give you problems even with a good RX. Now you guys with
the really big antennas can mitigate some of this but us little pistols have
only once choice ... wait until you neighbor is done. And to be neighborly
both my neighbor and I do just that. Something to also consider when you run
any digital mode even RTTY and you do it through a sound card you should not be
drawing ANY.. not even a little ALC and if you do you not only will make it
hard for others to copy you but you could easily cause all kinds of splatter on
the band, you have only to listen to some to the signal on 40 and 20 meters to
see this.
I am not saying any of this to flame or inflame anyone it is simply the way it
is. High power is RARELY necessary on the lower bands.
Doubt me? Set your transceiver up on WSPR and set it to 20w and find out.
When TB was open I was heard all over the world with that power .. and yes even
VK. If all of this is not convincing then follow the FCC rules .. use only the
power necessary to do that job
Oh by the way many of these digital modes are high duty cycle and could do
damage to your transceiver.
Jim
On the higher bands, low power generally gets the job done. But digital
folks on 160 need to rethink a few things. Ideally, we should ALL just bump
our output up to 100 watts. But that's just not gonna happen. ?
I don't have the time right now to add more, but I hope this thread nets
some useful suggestions to minimize QRN in the 160m digital portion.
73, Mike
www.w0btu.com http://www.w0btu.com/
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:42:18 -0700
From: wb6rse1@mac.com
To: Top Band List List <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Digital modes on TB and power required
Message-ID: <C9E69442-3141-4A38-A05C-2BD29E827C3C@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Try that on 160 from the left coast to EU and AF and you might get very a
different perspective.
73 - Steve WB6RSE
On Mar 19, 2017, at 6:14 PM, Jim Jim <wa3mej@comcast.net> wrote:
But I have seen very very few instances when 50 watts wont get the job done
EVEN on 160M.
High power is RARELY necessary on the lower bands.
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2017 02:31:32 +0000 (UTC)
From: HAROLD SMITH JR <w0rihps@sbcglobal.net>
To: "wb6rse1@mac.com" <wb6rse1@mac.com>, Top Band List List
<topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Digital modes on TB and power required
Message-ID: <2090077556.3483773.1489977092492@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Try that from the mid-west and you will have to wait, wait and wait and then
wait some more.Been there, done
that......................................................................................................................................................
Try that on 160 from the left coast to EU and AF and you might get very a
different perspective.
73 - Steve WB6RSE
On Mar 19, 2017, at 6:14 PM, Jim Jim <wa3mej@comcast.net> wrote:
But I have seen very very few instances when 50 watts wont get the job done
EVEN on 160M.
High power is RARELY necessary on the lower bands.
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Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2017 22:13:50 -0500
From: Mike Waters <mikewate@gmail.com>
To: topband <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Digital modes on TB and power required
Message-ID:
<CA+FxYXhTu4z1Njc9DnkcJUSfwfbA=tJoYjMSzret1XTx5OSeUA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
On Sun, Mar 19, 2017 at 8:42 PM, <wb6rse1@mac.com> wrote:
Try that on 160 from the left coast to EU and AF and you might get very a
different perspective.
73 - Steve WB6RSE
On Sun, Mar 19, 2017 at 9:31 PM, HAROLD SMITH JR <w0rihps@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
Try that from the mid-west and you will have to wait, wait and wait and
then wait some more. Been there, done that................................
Well said, Steve and Harold! That's usually true even if you have a super
station.
Maybe Jim has a better antenna system? Or a better location? We're all
ears, maybe we'll learn something new.
73. Mike
www.w0btu.com
On Mar 19, 2017, at 6:14 PM, Jim Jim <wa3mej@comcast.net> wrote:
But I have seen very very few instances when 50 watts wont get the job
done EVEN on 160M.
High power is RARELY necessary on the lower bands.
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2017 08:57:12 -0500
From: Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo@gmail.com>
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: JT65 Power and bandwidth
Message-ID:
<CALWD7Z5=OAo7vCZsMuEwgJ7J0nPxQ8tZidzUzMy1rSfhBS2zqQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
FCC regs say you should use the minimum power necessary to establish
communications.
Um, no. Here's what it actually says:
?97.313 Transmitter power standards.
(a) An amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power
necessary to carry out the desired communications.
Your "desired communications" are not my "desired communications." I
desire solid armchair copy. On 160 that usually means QRO.
73
Rob
K5UJ
------------------------------
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