[AMRadio] AM power

[Bob Macklin]

Does the FCC still have Field Engineers that can/will go out and check ham 
stations?

Bob Macklin
SAM8
Seattle, Wa
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Youvan" <ka4inm at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] AM power


> 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.
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