Topband: One Way Propagation.

[List Mail]

I have been using HPSDR in my station for the past ten or so years, and like 
Flex SDR, the S-meter does not change with application of attenuator. The 
signal strength changes between the transmitting antenna and receiving 
antennas of course, so IMO it's absolute value is largely irrelevant.

I also find somewhat bemusing the lengthy signal reports I hear between 
stations "with Preamp 1, with Preamp 2" etc., usually on 40 m SSB.

My on air reports usually pay little heed to what the "S-Meter" is reading, 
apart from noting the band noise strength compared with the signal strength. 
S-Meters are mostly a gimmick, with relevance only in laboratory bench 
testing. My use of the RST is generally in accordance with the verbal 
description of signals, i.e., Readability 1 = Unreadable to 5 = Perfectly 
readable; Signal Strength 1 = Faint signals, barely perceptible to 9 = 
Extremely strong signals. Don't start me on people giving "0 and 1 or 2" 
signal reports, and then conducting a conversation. And where the heck does 
the "Audio Only report, NO Signal strength" come from?

Back to the OT, I often receive very lopsided signal reports, usually with 
FT8 (sometimes a 30 dB lower report received than given) and less often in 
SSB or CW. Sometimes it is in my favour, sometimes my QSO partner. As long 
as we can complete our QSO, with a few of the traditional niceties, I don't 
lose any sleep over the differential. I live in a quiet rural location, with 
plenty of room for antennas, and the nearest neighbour is some 500 metres 
away, so I hear better than most. Sometimes I call a relatively strong 
station, and don't get any response at all, and wonder if my antenna has 
fallen down. I put it down to the other station listening in a different 
direction, and/or having QRM/QRN. I move on.

73, Luke VK3HJ