[AMRadio] AM power

[Rob Atkinson]

I asked about the "375 watt power limit" but I confess it was a loaded
question, with an agenda, for which I apologize because I hate being
on the receiving end of such questions and try to stick to saying what
I think instead of fooling around with manipulative questions.

So my agenda was to make a point, the point being that the mythical
375 watt power limit is 100% b.s. on two or three levels, the first
being it's having a peak envelope power limit as its basis, which is a
jackass rule since, for one thing, how is this measured with precision
by an average ham.

Now we get to AM where measuring a carrier to meet an exact numerical
requirement is basically impossible unless you are at the NIST, and
measuring peak positive modulation with any accuracy is impossible,
made more complex with asymmetric voices, which most males have.  We
can estimate; that's about it.   If the FCC were realistic, the rule
would provide a fudge factor like a figure +- 5 or 10 % on carrier
power with a positive modulation limit of 150% and forget the p.e.p.
crap.  Most hams could stay under that without a lot of fancy
measuring equipment.    But they don't so I give it all the attention
it deserves, scaling to its grip on reality.   If there is any tone of
irritation here it is because it is irritating to me when hams prattle
this 375 watt stuff off as if it is just this trivial little thing
like getting inside out of the rain.   I am accustomed to getting the
375 watt baloney from slopbucket operators but I am surprised to see
it here.   Even if you try to do something reasonably accurate like
measure your RF current into a measured 50 ohm load, your current for
375 watts is 2.7386 amps or something and try getting that nailed down
with a 3 or 5 amp RF amp meter.   So it is all ludicrous to me and I
therefore give it all the attention it deserves.

73

Rob
K5UJ