[AMRadio] Usages of AM in the amateur context

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 4:30 AM, Donald R McMurray
<donmcm63 at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Well... enough rambling. My question is, how effective is AM on the bands, what bands do you usually use, what time of day do you usually use them, and how do you know someone is calling CQ on a band that is predominately SSB?

Welcome aboard as a potential AMer, Donald. The effectiveness if AM vs
SSB or CW will really depend on what you're expecting for results as
well as what you run for equipment, power, and so on. SSB is more
efficient for long distant contacts, sure. But also more fatiguing to
listen to over extended periods of time, and lacking the more human
feel of an armchair copy AM contact. Few of us are monolithic and also
enjoy a bit of CW, SSB for DX work, or some other mode. But most can
be found spending the majority of their radio time on good ol' AM. It
does help to run a healthy signal of course, 100 watts minimum for
75-80m most evenings and quite often even that will land you in the
'weak copy' category if the band is busy or noisy. 200 watts or more
will make your presence known most night. A decent 811 amp or similar
on your 930 should do the trick.

An AMer calling CQ with a reasonable signal will stand out from the
SSB garble, making your S-meter rise upscale and stay there as they
tune or call. Much easier to tune in than SSB too.

> I hope everyone will bare with me, as I am just trying to learn about full-wave AM ( I guess that is a term for AM since SSB AM is either the bottom or top of the AM wave, but please correct me if I'm using the wrong terminology).

Maybe 'full signal' is appropriate. SSB utilizing only a portion of a
full AM signal.
> I hope some of you might want to explain the standard of AM in amateur radio, versus SSB.

As a fellow I was talking with this morning said "AM operating is a
lot like what I remember amateur radio being like when I listened as a
kid". Generally speaking, it's a more relaxed style of communicating
that is as much about the social aspect as the technical. While there
are always exceptions (idiots and troublemakers, regardless of mode),
I think you'll find the AM community to be the most technically-astute
and active group out there in the design, building, and restoration of
equipment. If you go to a decent sized hamfest, you'll find the AMers
also tend to have a lot of social activities going on from cook outs
and BBQs to dinners, parties, and whatever else. As we've aged and
gone through the boatanchor/more toys phase, the time together with
friends has become more important.

And also as with SSB, don't be discouraged if you hear some bad
behavior on the bands. It does happen, but the vast majority of AMers
are a decent lot who simply enjoy the pleasant sound and experience of
the mode. I'm east of you in NC and work stations in TN quite easily,
so I hope to hear you on the bands someday soon.

73 -

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4