[1000mp] Key Clicks

[Garry Shapiro]

All:

Uniform measurements by a group of individuals are only possible if all
measurements conform to a standard procedure using identical tools. But this
has not been the case in this thread in evaluating either the click
performance of an unmodified radio, or the improvement due to modification.

Those reporting are using different radios with different filters. Putting
aside the differences in filter shape factors, we see measurements performed
with single and cascaded filters of various bandwidths, mounted in different
radios, evaluated by operators of widely different technical backgrounds. My
suspicion is that the variations in the radios of a given model are probably
less than the deviations in observation.

As there appears to be no uniformity in the methods reported, the
implication is that we each can compare our own measurements taken before
and after any click modification, and thus obtain at least a qualitative
evaluation of the efficacy of the mod. But it would be foolish to extend
that reasoning to others' reports, and perhaps especially the "no clicks"
reports.

I just took a look at my own MP, using a TS930S with cascaded 400 Hz Inrad
filters. Not having a calibrated attenuator, I had to use S meter readings
vs. deviation from signal frequency. While this can  provide a useful
benchmark for comparison with results after mod installation, it is useless
to compare with anyone else's results, and, even for my own use, is no
better than the accuracy of the S meter. My results show that my MP has
observable clicks, period. They do not show whether my radio is worse than
your radio.

I plan to obtain a calibrated attenuator, which will at least provide an
accurate measurement of relative response vs. frequency--for the filters I
have. But, with filter bandwidth on the order of the bandwidth of the
observed effect, this is still a low-resolution measurement.

The results on W8JI's website are for the MP's he measured---more than one.
They may not accurately portray every MP in use, but they are quite likely
to be representative of most. Moreover, Tom's measurements, with
professional equipment, are more likely to be accurate than the measurements
most of us are performing.

In my own case, I observe enough clicking---and have received enough reports
from others--to convince me that action is required, and that any
improvement will be welcomed by those with whom I try to coexist on the
bands.

Garry, NI6T