Topband: Re: S-meter

[Jeff Maass]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Herb Schoenbohm [mailto:herbs at vitelcom.net]
> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 12:55 PM
> To: jmaass at columbus.rr.com
> Cc: Ian Keyser; ve3zi at rac.ca; Topband
> Subject: Re: Topband: Re: S-meter

> Jeff Maass wrote:
> 
> >S-meters have little meaning when using receiving
> >antennas. The most copiable signals are often not
> >moving the needle (or bars) at all, but are R5.
> >  
> > 
> Jeff, Here in the tropics the S meter always lets me know where I live 
> by seldon dropping below S9 plus on 160.  I use my S meter as a test 
> indicator to measure f/b rejection of Beverages on BC station 
> tests.Noise floor determination on Beverages is also a good use.  For 
> example yesterday I did something that I should have done long ago.  
 
> path to the southwest.  Yet my S meter let me know I was making some 
> improvement in the ability for this Beverage to receive.
> 
> 73
> 
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
> 

G'day Herb:

I wasn't specific enough!

I was replying to the comment that Ian made:
  "My big wish is that we'd always do the 
   S meter reality check..... I want to know
   just how strong my signals are... not an
   ego boost!". 

I don't think the S-meter is of any value whatever
in telling him how strong his signal is at the
receiving station (unless as a relative test in
the short term, an "A - B" test).

Telling Ian that he's S3 on my meter tells him 
nothing of value (even if I have the best-calibrated
S-meter possible), as he doesn't know anything about
my antennas or how I'm using them.

Of course, I also use my night-to-night S-meter
readings to judge the conditions of the local 
QRN and judge whether I'm likely to be able to
hear that night, and to compare and judge receiving
antennas over time, or compared to other antennas. 

I don't get to eat tropical static more than a few 
weeks a year, but I'm looking forward to another 
tasty meal in a couple of weeks from Curacao as 
PJ2T in the CQ 160 CW Contest (and for a week before
the contest)!

73,

Jeff Maass  K8ND