[AMRadio] Usages of AM in the amateur context

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 2:22 PM, K7SU <kelly at k7su.com> wrote:


Hello Kelly and welcome aboard! Looks like quite a few folks are
discovering or rediscovering AM this year, should make for active fall
and winter seasons.

> I've also noticed that many of the guys have great signals, but MUSHY sound
> when they try to make it sound like HI FI...a bass-y warm sound that works
> well on AM broadcast but makes for difficult hearing with much of a noise
> floor.

It's been a problem as long as I can remember, fortunately these
stations seem to be in the minority. Over-processing in hopes of
compensating for a lack of bass in the voice or overall signal never
seems to cut it. One buddy tells them it sounds great though, and
there's no looking back. A lot of lost/wasted energy that folks more
than a could hundred miles away (or less) can't hear.

The trick is to have enough signal to start with, and enough
modulation to properly modulate it. Quite often I see decent carriers
but have to switch to CW to tell if there's even any audio. A good,
strong station with their audio set up properly sounds sweet and
smooth with Hi Fi audio. It's just not as simple has hanging a
processor on the transmitter.

> Anyway, as I explore the world of AM, I find I'm learing a lot about sound
> and propagation, and just having a lot of fun.  For longer distance
> communications, on the lower bands anyway, you're better off with SSB but
> within 500 miles or so, AM is really cool.

That may be true for the average QSO, but I was able to work VT to CA
several times a few years back along with OK, AZ and WA, which was
quite a kick. Definitely not something to expect during summer static,
but quite possible in winter. A number of guys in the eastern US have
worked European AMers too, which is DX at its best in my book. Fun
stuff, and a bit of a change from the same ol' same ol'.

Have fun with it Kelly, hope to hear you this winter.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4