[1000mp] Fw: Message to Hi Fi SSB Operators - Cross Post

[WD8ARZ]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "xtalradio"
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 05:06
Subject: Message to Hi Fi SSB Operators


"A message to Hi Fi SSB operators:

The 18110kHz to 18168kHz band is the smallest HF SSB band. It has 
traditionally been a band used as a refuge from the power and 
domination tactics generally found on the dog-eat-dog 20 meter band. 
Recently, a few of the wide bandwidth SSB ops have been creating quite 
a stir on 17 meters among the regular SSB ops. 

On the weekends, due to the lower power and meager antenna systems 
generally used in the 17m band, there is an SSB signal every 1.5 to 
2.5kHz. This averages to about 23 standard SSB QSOs in the band. On 
the other hand, only 8 QSOs could fit within the 17m band using 
wideband high power SSB techniques. The higher power generally 
utilized to enjoy wideband ssb causes QRM to a larger area of the 
world and to stations which cannot be heard by the transmitting 
station.

A -3dB down frequency response curve of 3.1kHz or 6.0kHz may be fine 
for the upper parts of the 10m or 15m bands. At kilowatt output levels 
on the 18MHz band, the signal skirts cause quite a large swath of 
adjacent channel interference out several more kHz on either side, to 
the average stations who are working each other at less than 50W ERP 
levels.

Personally, I have several racks of fine state-of-the art audio gear 
and studio microphones at my disposal, and a transmitter capable of 
wideband SSB... Professionally, I've been both a recording engineer 
and a broadcast engineer, so I know good audio when I hear it. But I 
would not even consider using wideband audio SSB techniques in the 
tiny 17m band. Just because it's legal does not make it good amateur 
practice.

Let me close by asking in the most friendly, humble, and pleading 
manner I can convey by this text medium.

Please, my dear audiophiles, be considerate to your fellow amateurs, 
and do not use wideband audio SSB in the 17 meter band.