[1000mp] QST Review of IC-746PRO

[Tom Rauch]

> Several years ago I was so infuriated with the ARRL review's
> whitewashing otherwise lackluster to downright unacceptable
> performance that I phoned them long distance and discussed their
> procedures and reporting for over an hour. Nothing was changed as a
> result.

On the other hand after a spirited discussion about receiver testing 
on the topband reflector, QST started publishing close-spaced 
receiver specs.

That is at least a step in the right direction, if people 
UNDERSTAND what the numbers mean and ignore the fluff in text.

One test I'd like to see them is a measured test for clicks on CW. 
How on earth dod so many clicky radios get on the market and out 
to end-users without anyone catching it?? 
 
> One of my serious pet peeves about their reporting procedure is that
> completely contrary to both industry standard and FCC part 97 rules
> intent, they report the 2 tone intermods levels relative to an
> IMAGINARY carrier level by combining the power of the two tones. 

As I recall that change happened when the KWM380, with its 
horrid TX IMD, came out. using dB below PEP, something no one 
does commercially, makes everything look six dB better.

A rig or amplifier testing -25dB for 3rd order is really -19dB....just a 
few dB above class C operation.

Not only does a non-conventional standard make us "feel better" 
about our rigs, it allows unscrupulous marketing people to compare 
apples to oranges. For example, a certain offshore tube 
manufacturer compared their "dB below PEP" tetrode data in best-
case conditions to Eimac's standard "dB below one tone" in worse 
case conditions, and proclaimed slightly better IM performance!  

Shameful!

> tone levels. In fact, several radios tested by the ARRL if reported
> this correct way would NOT pass the FCC equipment requirements.

There is no FCC requirement for testing in-band IMD, and it isn't 
even asked for in type-acceptance tests. Of course the USER is 
the one expected to control problems, and byproducts of 
emissions are not allowed to cause harmful interference to 
adjacent frequencies.

The user also is not allowed to have any modulation products that 
extend outside of the authorized band for both him and the mode.
 

73, Tom W8JI
W8JI@contesting.com