On 9/23/2010 4:37 PM, Ray Sills wrote: > The difference in power between 50 watts and 100 watts is essentially > insignificant. Any contester or DXer will tell you from experience that this is NOT TRUE. When you're 20 dB over the noise and QRM, 3dB doesn't matter, but when you're on the edge of making a contact, 1-2dB can matter a LOT. MANY times, I've been working a contest by running up and down the band, with the amp tuned at one end. When i get to the far end, I'm running less power. I'll work the guys who hear me well, but I've often had to retune the amp for another 2dB make the contact. Also, I often run my legal limit Ten Tec Titan at 1kW to save the tubes, but when I'm not getting through, I'll kick it up that extra 1.7dB to 1500 watts to make the contact.
One of the big misunderstandings about dB and audibility is that when the desired signal is close to the noise level, a dB or so can be quite obvious. 73, Jim Brown K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
