[TowerTalk] perspective

[Dave D'Epagnier]

My understanding is that S9 is equivalent to 50uV rms, and each S unit
decrease is -6dB. Therefore:

S9=50uV
S8=25uV
S7=12.5uV
S6=6.2uV
S5=3.1uV
S4=1.6uV
S3=0.8uV
S2=0.4uV
S1=0.2uV
S0=0.1uV

I checked my Icom transceiver s meter once with a signal generator and sure
enough S9 was 50uV.
--Dave
K0QE

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Brian Alsop [SMTP:alsopb@gloryroad.net]
> Sent:	Thursday, July 20, 2000 10:39 AM
> To:	David Jordan; towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject:	Re: [TowerTalk] perspective
> 
> 
> Examining the TS850 specs, S1 kicks in at 1 microvolt.  These are LED
> bar s meters.  I don't know how the threshold is set.  However, I dug
> into the manual and the S-Meter is adjusted so that the S1 LED just
> comes on at 1 microvolt.  Thus you have the entire range between 1
> microvolt and zero microvolts for potential "S0" signals.  That's an
> infinite number of DB's.
> 
> On 10 and 15 meters, I've seen figures like  <.2 microvolts being quiet
> location noise levels.  If it is 0.1 microvolt, then there is a 10 db
> range of "S0" signals one can hear.
> 
> The other thing -- all S meters lie.  "SO" on the Kenwood is by the
> above calibration just under one microvolt.  It may be anything on other
> Rx's
> You can change it to anything you want.
> 
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
> 
> David Jordan wrote:
> > 
> > YES Brian,
> > 
> > I have no noise level in my country place...and hear most stations as if
> > they were "S"9.  But my question was...how many db above the noise floor
> > but still under "S" 0.  Obviously, there is significant signal strength
> > that lies in between.  I just wonder if there is enough between the
> > noise floor of the receiver circuits and "S" 0 to be measured in db.
> > 
> > dave
> 
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