Back in my college days my '47 Studebaker was equipped with a Lysco 10 meter transmitter and the ubiquitous Gonset converter feeding my car AM radio for receive. The antenna was an 8' whip mounted on the rear fender ('Highway Patrol' style).
The Lysco put out perhaps 12 watts at about 80% modulation using a "clamp tube" modulator. That's 2 maybe 3 watts output in each sideband. Sideband was still fairly unusual in those days. Most 'phone Hams were still AM. Even so, I made a lot of contacts, including working South America from Southern California from time to time. (Oh, do I need to point out that was in 1957 near the height of the mega-sunspot-cycle?) 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of k...@baymoon.com Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 6:26 PM To: Frank MacDonell Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 on AM Now that 10 m AM is "back," I have started firing up my Globe King 500 on that band/mode. AM is truly not a QRP mode. But, if you want to try, go for it. As has been pointed out, only half the power goes into the AM sidebands. The carrier is discarded, so offers no communications ROI for the power it consumes. It is not an efficient mode by any stretch. However, a well modulated AM signal, under stable band conditions sounds about 10,000 better than a sideband signal. It's a bit like driving a 1939 Ford coupe. It ain't efficient, but it's different than driving a Prius. If I'm looking for efficiency, I drive the Prius and I operate CW. If I'm looking for nostalgia, I drive the Ford coupe and operate 10 AM. Rob K6RB ______________________________________________________________ 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