RE: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
You like fiddlin', and that's fine. But, for me (and I think some others here agree) there's nothing finer than saying rig here is homebrew and getting that man, that's a good sounding rig report in return. The feeling is indescribable. You get a lot of bang for the buck with home brew. You get all the fun of planning the design, including things you like such as protection circuits, front panel layout, metering, etc. You get to design it just how you want it. Then you get to select parts, I go with WAY oversize and over rated parts. Then there is the fun of actually building the thing, nice paint, parts placed so they look nice, say in a line and centered, symmetrical panel layout, controls labeled, etc. Then you get to test it, and make any improvements to make it work real well, Then you get to use it, over and over. I am almost all home brew, two tube type superhet receivers, and two and a half transmitters, (the pair of 4d32's rig is half done), home made antenna's. I need to build a multi band exciter deck to drive the various rigs, and an audio driver setup, eq, compression, mixing, mike amp, power output. Then I will be all home brew except for the microphone. The receivers were more fun than anything else, because they are small and easy to work on, a lot less metal work, more experimentation Another advantage to well made home brew is its reliability, since its all been built robustly (unlike commercial 'ham' gear), it just works and works, even after mental burnouts like not connecting the antenna to the correct rig... Brett N2DTS
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
peter markavage wrote: Don't see this as silly but as imperative, or something similar to it, as vital to the amateur radio service as we move further into the 21st century. But, to get back to the real thread, Don, KYV, said it about as clear as you can get it: Run a certain plate voltage and load the transmitter enough that plate voltage multiplied by plate current calculates to 1000 watts. Carefully watch the scope so that the negative modulation peaks just barely approach baseline, and make sure the positive peaks do not show evidence of flat-topping. Simple laws of physics It's not rocket science. Pete, wa2cwa Patrick was speaking of legalities. I'm sure all of us here, know how to load a rig to a kW. What he's asking is: How do we go about getting our old '1kW DC Input to the final' rating back from the Feds? And, as noble as that sounds, I'm afraid that you'd have a better chance of picking up a 250TH at your local corner store market. You know, the one that has a tube-tester in it? Just like those days of tube testers in the local stores, so too are the days of running a legal 1kW DC input power level gone. --- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
You might start with your congresspersin. 73, John, W4AWM
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: how do we get the old KW Input for AM back now? probably impossible.. You might start with your congresspersin. The FCC guy gave up on trying to get AM off the bands, quoting the same thing, and we're still here. Calling up your congress-critter might not be a bad idea, but what are we effectivly going to use to argue that we -need- to have 1kWDC input to the final, these days? If there's an emergency, you -certainly- won't be totin' yer RCA BTA1R out to a tornado/hurricane/(un)natural disaster site to setup emergency communications... and the remote site surely doesn't lend itself well to the kind of power requirements needed by an AM transmitter of any heft. The way *I* see it, we only lost 500w. Run your AM rig at 500w DC input to the final, and let the audio fall where it may. Perhaps some of the guys on the air will get more interested in making their final more efficient - find better ways to modulate their rigs - get some of the trashier sounding rigs off the air, by -helping- that ham with working on -his- rig. Get the ol' commraderie going, again. I can build stuff... I just need to have someone around to talk to, joke with, laugh at.. er, with (hehe) .. I'm just not a good self-motivator. Besides, working a project together is what fosters friendships and forges bonds that keep you tied in a hobby together, for a lifetime. Speaking of which, Patrick... you ever get your General Class license? I can't -wait- to hear some of that Big Iron you've got up there, on the air. --- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: how do we get the old KW Input for AM back now? probably impossible.. You might start with your congresspersin. We have a couple of hams in congress. Why not email them, especially hams in their district. One very good argument for going to DC input is the accuracy of measurement. 73 Jim W5JO
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
And then how about a nice 5 or 6 DB antenna? A nice 4 sq. on 75 won't cost much more than a 1KW, 100% mod. rig, is steerable, and legal. Byron, W3WKR
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
Jim Wilhite wrote: We have a couple of hams in congress. Why not email them, especially hams in their district. One very good argument for going to DC input is the accuracy of measurement. Or maybe just tell them that running 1KW AM will help BPL...they seem to go for logic like that... 73 Bob W9RAN
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
I can see Congress spending the time, with all their own local issues and world issues, to petition the FCC to give hams more RF. Now we're being silly. Pete, wa2cwa On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 16:12:38 -0500 Geoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Jim Wilhite wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: how do we get the old KW Input for AM back now? probably impossible.. You might start with your congresspersin. We have a couple of hams in congress. Why not email them, especially hams in their district. One very good argument for going to DC input is the accuracy of measurement. Amen. Hey, I'm all for running a full kW DC input again, and more power to those of y'all that can pull it off. I'm plagued with a bad rash of neighboritis. But, still.. for accuracy of measurment, how hard is it to calculate 500w DC input? (uh, gee.. 2500v x 200mA =... Cornbread?) ;-) Besides, Jim - given that Class C finals are 75% efficient (on average), what's 75% of 500w? (just to point you in the right direction, 500w DC input is -half- of what we -could- run, given that 1500w PEP is 'generically considered' to be 100% modulation of the product of 75% of a 500w carrier.) Can I be an instructor now, Don? ;-) So, we're NOT down 25% of what we -could- run as some lamented.. it's realistically only 50%. The saying back in those days was: They'll get my kilowatt when they pry my D-104 from my cold dead fingers and When AM Kilowatts are outlawed, then only outlaws will be running AM Kilowatts. (which in some cases isn't that far from the truth ;-)) Think about it, fellas. Asymetrical Audio. Run 500w DC input - have enough power to modulate the carrier - run 3kW pep output, and tell the eff cee cee that my carrier power is 375w! I'm LEGAL! No, really - DO IT! Currently, (as Jim aptly pointed out) who's gonna measure? How could that measurment stand up in court? Where are they measuring, at the Final, or at the Antenna? I think, that if a good, solid, well-built/constructed AM rig was operated in a gentlemany manner, then that person doesn't draw that much negative attention to himself and be nice, polite.. Gentlemanly (sorry, I just ain't heard no female AM'ers) and you'll fly under the radar as long as you maintain. And, you could be running a kW DC input. (which, btw, is 750w of carrier, and only 3kW PEP if modulated with a sine-wave to 100% but who talks in sine-waves?) --- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
You want high efficient AM transmitters, go here: http://www.classeradio.com/ Pete, wa2cwa On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 15:21:15 -0500 Geoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The way *I* see it, we only lost 500w. Run your AM rig at 500w DC input to the final, and let the audio fall where it may. Perhaps some of the guys on the air will get more interested in making their final more efficient - find better ways to modulate their rigs - get some of the trashier sounding rigs off the air, by -helping- that ham with working on -his- rig. Get the ol' commraderie going, again. I can build stuff... I just need to have someone around to talk to, joke with, laugh at.. er, with (hehe) .. I'm just not a good self-motivator. Besides, working a project together is what fosters friendships and forges bonds that keep you tied in a hobby together, for a lifetime. Speaking of which, Patrick... you ever get your General Class license? I can't -wait- to hear some of that Big Iron you've got up there, on the air. --- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
RE: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
From: Patrick Jankowiak [EMAIL PROTECTED] how do we get the old KW Input for AM back now? Run a certain plate voltage and load the transmitter enough that plate voltage multiplied by plate current calculates to 1000 watts. Carefully watch the scope so that the negative modulation peaks just barely approach baseline, and make sure the positive peaks do not show evidence of flat-topping. Simple laws of physics. kyv
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
No Pete, only the ARRL can be silly. Bandwidth proposal - Original Message - From: peter markavage [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2005 4:47 PM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ? I can see Congress spending the time, with all their own local issues and world issues, to petition the FCC to give hams more RF. Now we're being silly. Pete, wa2cwa On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 16:12:38 -0500 Geoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Jim Wilhite wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: how do we get the old KW Input for AM back now? probably impossible.. You might start with your congresspersin. We have a couple of hams in congress. Why not email them, especially hams in their district. One very good argument for going to DC input is the accuracy of measurement. Amen. Hey, I'm all for running a full kW DC input again, and more power to those of y'all that can pull it off. I'm plagued with a bad rash of neighboritis. But, still.. for accuracy of measurment, how hard is it to calculate 500w DC input? (uh, gee.. 2500v x 200mA =... Cornbread?) ;-) Besides, Jim - given that Class C finals are 75% efficient (on average), what's 75% of 500w? (just to point you in the right direction, 500w DC input is -half- of what we -could- run, given that 1500w PEP is 'generically considered' to be 100% modulation of the product of 75% of a 500w carrier.) Can I be an instructor now, Don? ;-) So, we're NOT down 25% of what we -could- run as some lamented.. it's realistically only 50%. The saying back in those days was: They'll get my kilowatt when they pry my D-104 from my cold dead fingers and When AM Kilowatts are outlawed, then only outlaws will be running AM Kilowatts. (which in some cases isn't that far from the truth ;-)) Think about it, fellas. Asymetrical Audio. Run 500w DC input - have enough power to modulate the carrier - run 3kW pep output, and tell the eff cee cee that my carrier power is 375w! I'm LEGAL! No, really - DO IT! Currently, (as Jim aptly pointed out) who's gonna measure? How could that measurment stand up in court? Where are they measuring, at the Final, or at the Antenna? I think, that if a good, solid, well-built/constructed AM rig was operated in a gentlemany manner, then that person doesn't draw that much negative attention to himself and be nice, polite.. Gentlemanly (sorry, I just ain't heard no female AM'ers) and you'll fly under the radar as long as you maintain. And, you could be running a kW DC input. (which, btw, is 750w of carrier, and only 3kW PEP if modulated with a sine-wave to 100% but who talks in sine-waves?) --- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net
Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ?
Don't see this as silly but as imperative, or something similar to it, as vital to the amateur radio service as we move further into the 21st century. But, to get back to the real thread, Don, KYV, said it about as clear as you can get it: Run a certain plate voltage and load the transmitter enough that plate voltage multiplied by plate current calculates to 1000 watts. Carefully watch the scope so that the negative modulation peaks just barely approach baseline, and make sure the positive peaks do not show evidence of flat-topping. Simple laws of physics It's not rocket science. Pete, wa2cwa On Sun, 7 Aug 2005 17:53:34 -0500 Jim Wilhite [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: No Pete, only the ARRL can be silly. Bandwidth proposal - Original Message - From: peter markavage [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2005 4:47 PM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Re: How can we rid the HF bands of AM ? I can see Congress spending the time, with all their own local issues and world issues, to petition the FCC to give hams more RF. Now we're being silly. Pete, wa2cwa On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 16:12:38 -0500 Geoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Jim Wilhite wrote: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: how do we get the old KW Input for AM back now? probably impossible.. You might start with your congresspersin. We have a couple of hams in congress. Why not email them, especially hams in their district. One very good argument for going to DC input is the accuracy of measurement. Amen. Hey, I'm all for running a full kW DC input again, and more power to those of y'all that can pull it off. I'm plagued with a bad rash of neighboritis. But, still.. for accuracy of measurment, how hard is it to calculate 500w DC input? (uh, gee.. 2500v x 200mA =... Cornbread?) ;-) Besides, Jim - given that Class C finals are 75% efficient (on average), what's 75% of 500w? (just to point you in the right direction, 500w DC input is -half- of what we -could- run, given that 1500w PEP is 'generically considered' to be 100% modulation of the product of 75% of a 500w carrier.) Can I be an instructor now, Don? ;-) So, we're NOT down 25% of what we -could- run as some lamented.. it's realistically only 50%. The saying back in those days was: They'll get my kilowatt when they pry my D-104 from my cold dead fingers and When AM Kilowatts are outlawed, then only outlaws will be running AM Kilowatts. (which in some cases isn't that far from the truth ;-)) Think about it, fellas. Asymetrical Audio. Run 500w DC input - have enough power to modulate the carrier - run 3kW pep output, and tell the eff cee cee that my carrier power is 375w! I'm LEGAL! No, really - DO IT! Currently, (as Jim aptly pointed out) who's gonna measure? How could that measurment stand up in court? Where are they measuring, at the Final, or at the Antenna? I think, that if a good, solid, well-built/constructed AM rig was operated in a gentlemany manner, then that person doesn't draw that much negative attention to himself and be nice, polite.. Gentlemanly (sorry, I just ain't heard no female AM'ers) and you'll fly under the radar as long as you maintain. And, you could be running a kW DC input. (which, btw, is 750w of carrier, and only 3kW PEP if modulated with a sine-wave to 100% but who talks in sine-waves?) --- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
