[AMRadio] AM power

[Ron Youvan]

Rob Atkinson wrote:

/*snip*/
> 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.

   If you wish to be legal and push it to the limit you can buy a peak reading Wattmeter.
The 375 Watts is a "guide line" not any limit, it tells you where you should be when setting up your 
output power.  ( B 4 you start yelling CQ CQ CQ CQ)

   The FCC allows broadcasters a +10% and a -20% tolerances, but if your calibration is certain to 
only 5% your limits are -5% and - 15%.

   If the FCC gave HAMs a tolerances factor HAMs would tend to over do everything by that much more, 
it's human nature.
-- 
    Ron  KA4INM - The man who sets out to carry a cat by its tail learns something
                  that will always be useful and which never will grow dim or doubtful.
                                                                     -- Mark Twain.