[AMRadio] Source Broadcast Xmtrs

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 2:19 AM, John Lyles <jtml at losalamos.com> wrote:
> I've been reading this thread for a few days now, and my only comment so
> far is that we hams don't need to be defending ourselves for wanting to
> resurrect old AM BC rigs as long as we are respectful with them, don't
> intend to QRM.

Excellent point John. AMers have no more or less responsibility for
proper operation than someone using CW, SSB, or whatever the preferred
mode is. AM is not an exception, merely one of a number of approved
and accepted modes available to amateurs. And as others have pointed
out, amateur radio isn't a business where absolute efficiency is the
goal. Otherwise we'd all be operating CW or some digital mode taking
up minimal space.

Though I wasn't on the air then, I understand an appreciate Ron's
perspective of the heterodynes and associated interference back in the
days when AM was the primary mode. I've heard this from others as
well. No different really than the days of spark. But times have
changed and those days are gone. True, AM has gained favor and more
participation in the last decade, but it's still nowhere near as
crowded on the bands as it was then - despite the listed number of
licensees. Anyone who doesn't believe it need only check the bands on
a given night. Most portions are a vast, unused wasteland with few
signals heard. Weekends and holidays see more activity, but aside from
the corntesters, even weekends aren't what they used to be.

So IMO the argument or reasoning shouldn't be based on a now-dated
talking point from decades ago. It should be based on the reality of
today and the prospects for amateur radio's future. This seems to
dictate that more folks getting on the air - regardless of mode - is
what is required. AMers are a big part of that since AM appeals to
many who have tired of the typical SSB or other contact and crave a
more natural sounding signal and/or the opportunity to enjoy the mode
through historic equipment, or perhaps building their own rig. No one
is above the rules of course, but the rules intentionally provide
enough latitude to allow for the operation of old broadcast
transmitters just as they do for homebrew or commercial gear. Without
a legal precedent, one's personal interpretation is nothing more than
a personal opinion with respect to such rules. I've heard SSB ops
running store-bought rigs with amps and processors cranked to the
point of being 40khz wide, so occupied bandwidth isn't specific to
full AM only. I've also listened to many AM stations with excellent
fidelity who were 10 khz wide or less. In fact, the vast majority I
listen to fall into that category, with a couple Class E stations
occupying more.

Hopefully the 300G and 21E here will both make it back to the airwaves
by winter. Two more broadcast transmitters that will continue to sing
for their supper instead of being recycled into some cheap, disposable
consumer product. And while my attraction to such gear may put me in
the minority compared to the plug-n-play crowd, I don't mind. I'm sure
I enjoy my fascination with the technology at least as much as they
do. I just don't get bored with it as fast or regulalry as so many of
them seem to.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4