Joe,
An observation if I may about expedition mode. I see with KH1/KH7Z that the
number of Fox TX channels varies - I presume as they place more stations in
the queue. As expected, the power per channel drops the more channels
running so that the amplifiers can keep up. However, this has an unintended
consequence perhaps of potentially breaking QSOs. A few times now I have
started calling KH1/KH7Z on 20m when I am receiving them around -09 (but
with pretty low S-meter signal strength). Usually this is with 1-2 channels
running on their downlink. If they go to 3 channels I can still receive but
it falls to say -15. If they bring up channel 4 and 5 I loose them. There
just isn't the link budget left to receive them when the power is split
between more than 3 channels in this example.
Now the issue is, if they answer me by adding the 4th channel - I wont hear
them under those conditions. If I am part way through a QSO I can loose the
RR73 for the same reason if they answer someone else on the 4th channel-
simply because the link runs out of steam.
Now if I couldn't hear them in the first place I wouldn't have tried
calling. In this case however, they can disappear under load effectively and
I loose them mid QSO.
For future consideration perhaps is to have the setting of number of
channels vs the number of active channels maintain a constant PER CHANNEL TX
power rather than the variable situation we have now. Ie I enable my fox
station to run say 4 channels, but only reply on 1 channel, then the output
power should be the equivalent of the power that would be in that channel if
all 4 were in fact on air but aren't. At least that way I have a constant
link budget I am working with on my comms channel with the fox station
rather than one that can have them drastically cut power mid QSO without
reference to the conditions on the path I am working them via.
If what I am describing is not how it is supposed to work already then there
is another factor at work somewhere in the chain to be explored. I would be
happy to discuss this further and use the KH1/KH7Z expedition to observe and
learn more about how the multi-channel nature of the mode works.
Regards,
Grant VK5GR
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