[AMRadio] AM power

[Bob Macklin]

WHAT'S AM?

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob Atkinson" <ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 5:51 PM
Subject: [AMRadio] AM power


>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
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