[AMRadio] Re: Low Power AM Night

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

My 2¢ on the matter...

Here on the east coast, we've always made an effort to talk with lower powered
stations when conditions permit. Having spent a lot of time in this category
myself, I can tell you that it's not always(or even often)possible. Even when I
was running my 32V-2 I'd often unkey to find the guys had continued without me.
I wasn't offended by it, more likely frustrated that my location and schedule
didn't allow me to erect a better aerial to improve the signal.

Most nights on the low bands, you're just not going to hear low-powered
stations. It's as simple as that. This is especially true in summer. And Bill
is correct when he says that if you don't keep a frequency active, you'll lose
it fast. This means that at some point, someone has to decide to pull the plug
on your conversation and either speak or let someone else speak, to preserve
the frequency as well as move things along.

I haven't used my big iron here since the early 90s, between moving and
problems with the equipment and getting some metal up in the air. Still, before
as well as after this time, the 'Big boys' have always made an effort to talk
with me or at least answer me when they could hear me.

There has also been a group around over the last decade or so who have spent a
great deal of time trying to work low power, known as the 'pissweak' group. If
you've ever seen the "breadboard" transmitter built on an upside down cakepan,
W(A?)1EYE Carl is one of the fellows who started offering these. Along with
many of the other kits and low-powered rigs mentioned previously, these little
rigs were(and maybe still are)quite popular.

AM mobile is another low-power means used up this way whenever conditions
permit. But, that's just the thing - conditions don't always permit. At least,
not in the evening when the majority of us have the time to spend playing
radio. Those of you who seem displeased with the QRO stations really need to
factor this in more, and the personality part, less. I just can't recall
hearing anyone refuse to talk to another AM station they could hear. Plenty of
times I've been asked to boost my power level a bit to get over the noise,
though.

Hopefully the bands will cooperate tomorrow night and all will be heard. I'd
guess chances are fair at best, but this is the quiet season, so let's hope. My
feeling is that there are both types of stations - high and low power, but I
honestly think it's more a case of being able to hear someone well enough to
hold a conversation than being a snob.

I'm going to dig out the 100V tonight and see what it'll do. Maybe I'll catch
some of you on the air tomorrow evening.

73 de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ

SBJohnston at aol.com wrote:

> Paul wrote:
>
> >I didn't take the Dale's remarks in ER as a putdown
> >and I don't think Dale meant to insult us low power
> >operators.  I think he was just trying to provide
> >instruction for newcomers to AM operating
>
> You're right...  But his column did point out that such a situation exists.
>
> Steve  WD8DAS