[Amps] Maximum RF output in practical application: 4-250A

[Joe Isabella]

Really Joe??  So how many rigs do you have with an "ISB" button?  None of mine do.  It does however have an AM button, as well as 4k+ (at -6dB) of SSB right out of the box.  With 4k of audio, phonetics are not required and "arm-chair copy" means exactly that -- clean & clear speech without question of whether the call sign had a "P" or "T", "Z" or "C", "S" of "F", etc. in it.  The justification for BW greater than 3k is exactly the reason you stated -- this is Amateur Radio, and we should be free to experiment as such.  There is nothing morally or technically wrong with 4 or 6k of SSB (with sufficient available BW), and I would argue that it is actually superior to AM due to reduced RF BW for the same AF BW (less than half) and greater efficiency.  It sounds great and has gotten a lot of new blood interested in our service.

Not to mention the fact that there is a whole lot of vintage AM gear out there that you would make illegal for nothing but arbitrary reasoning.  I'd like to know exactly what that reasoning is, though (other than your edict).

That said, mis-tuned amps, slamming ALCs, etc. (in other words, a lot of contesters & DX'ers) should be admonished for their operating behavior, as well as anyone else that thinks "all knobs & meters to the right" is the way to operate.  My amp is tuned up at 2kW+, then my rig's drive is reduced for 1.5kW out.  With 4kV on the plates of the 3-500ZGs and 150W available from my rig, I can get that easily and very cleanly.  Usually, I end up driving the amp with about 85W which is slightly more than half of what the rig's full output is even before ALC kicks in.  And in operation, I drive the rig so I get *NO* ALC at all.  I defy you to show me a cleaner way to run my station.  I'd bet a cup of coffee that it's more narrow than many contest stations heard on the air on any given contest weekend, even with 4.2k of audio.

In other words, "Good audio is an Amateur Radio Tradition, not a Crime" (borrowed tag line from another Amateur).

Joe, N3JI


----- Original Message ----
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <w4tv at subich.com>
To: R L Measures <r at somis.org>; amps at contesting.com
Sent: Monday, July 3, 2006 10:02:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Maximum RF output in practical application: 4-250A


Rich writes: 

> With a 3kHz limit,  AM would be virtually banned. Should AM 
> have 2x the limit of SSB?

Banning DSB full carrier AM sounds like a good idea to me.  If 
someone wants "AM compatibility" ISB with reduced carrier will 
do the job just fine.  There is no justification for a bandwidth 
greater than 3 KHz at -6 dB and 5 KHz at -40 dB in communications 
service ... after all amateur radio is not a high fidelity 
broadcast service.  

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
 

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