[AMRadio] Usages of AM in the amateur context

[Mel Farrer]

I agree with Bob and would like to add a few comments on the use of AM "nowadays".  

Most of the modern AMers have had their initiation into ham radio phone starting with AM or they had an involvement in the Audio or Broadcast industry.  That puts alot of us in the senior group.  What I remember most was the times I was comfortably on the floor looking up at this old radio with the orange glow and listened into all hours of the night to guys just talking about everyday events.  Some technical some not, but oh so fun to listen.  Besides, our young minds could conjure up vast images as they talked.  Much better than TV.

I run a Bauer 707 1 KW AM transmitter at 275 Watts carrier, yes a tad over limit, but then I use a great FAT HEAD ribbon microphone, no equalization, no compression  and watch the RF modulation wave form on a scope for about 85% of modulation.  As such I am very pleased to talk to anyone who is interested.  Do I do DX, well, if they break in and want to talk, sure.  But I didn't chose to get back on AM to get the longest distant contact.  I just enjoy the quality of good AM.  

Cheers,

Mel, K6KBE



--- On Mon, 9/27/10, rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net> wrote:

From: rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Usages of AM in the amateur context
To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Monday, September 27, 2010, 11:24 AM

  What youu have posted is "true", but there are also caveats.

The DX-60 feeding a pair of 3-500Zs will do better than a DX-100 or a 
TX-1 Apache.

Then we get into what some call "The Tall Ships".   These are "mostly" 
home-brewed - such as 813s modulating 813s, and all manner of "other" 
combinations.

There are also the Old Broadcast Transmitters that have been modified to 
run the Amateur Bands.

Then the "tanks" like my BC-610 and its later rendition, the T-213.

Todd also pointed out the audio issues that make "some" signals 
difficult to listen to.

I do NOT bother with a DBX Compression box, nor do I use these big over 
abused audio boxes from commercial stations.

I run an "old" Shure 737A directly into the speech amplifier, BC-614, 
that ties into the audio segment of the Beasts.

I keep the gain within limits, watch it with a monitor scope, and keep 
the "horses" reigned in to stay within the legal limit.

The net result has been very good audio and signal reports.

Now I just have to re-connect the equipment in the shack again.  Been 
cleaning out the downstairs area.

This time I'll be using the Northern SP-600 for receive - until I get 
the R-390A re-assembled.  I need to re-finish the front panel, or just 
go and use the "other" one with the "partial moon" wear marks.

Bob - N0DGN

On 9/27/2010 3:20 AM, Jim Hill wrote:
> Regarding AM vs SSB, you definitely get out much better with
> SSB.  Years ago when the Heath DX 100 was available, a friend and I
> made a comparison test.  He had a DX 100 with the SSB phasing
> adapter, and lived about 40 miles away from me.  He transmitted on
> AM, and I rotated my beam until I couldn't hear him, and telephoned
> him to switch to SSB.  I had no problems copying him on SSB.  I was
> quite impressed. I noticed a big improvement when operating mobile,
> but my AM rig was a Morrow MB560 with a single 6146 in the final,
> while my SSB rig was a Swan 500 so there was a power difference,
> too.  I traded my MB560 for some other gear, and have regretted it ever since.
> Jim

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