[AMRadio] Re: Low Power AM Night

[Brian Carling]

We need to get the word out to the guys on what an EXCELLENT band 40m is for morning AM 
activity with minimal power.

I recommend 25 to 50 watts, but you can get by with less.

It was not uncommon when I lived in the DC area to hear several strong signals (I mean 20 
to 40 dB over S9) around 7290 on a Saturday morning and many of the guys ran simple rigs
like a DX-60 or a homebrew 6L6 final etc.

Down here in Florida it apparently has not caught anyone's attention as much.

Back when I lived in GA about 35 years ago I ran a Knight T60 with 30 watts
AM on 40m and made many many solid, satisfying AM QSOS on weekends in 
the daytime hours.

About 9 AM until 2 PM seems to be about the best hours, with signal strengths 
peaking around 10-12 AM.

See you all on the air some time!

73 de AF4K

On 22 Jan 2002, at 17:36, Todd Bigelow - PS wrote:

> 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
> 
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