[AMRadio] AM Radio

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 1:30 PM, Bob Macklin <macklinbob at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you are using a DX-100 or one of the comparable Johnson transmitters how
> do you know you need more power?

Simple. Many nights on the lower bands are noisy. Atmospheric static
and noise from the neighbor's electronics, street lights, electric
fences, etc. 100 watts only cuts it if you're local, maybe a couple
hundred miles or so. Even then, there are plenty of signals that are
right at the noise level.

As well, you have the ongoing issue of folks who can't properly
modulate their carrier. I see this too much even with folks running
200-300 watt rigs. When it's a 100 watt job, you can barely tell
they're transmitting. This was no doubt the basis for the old adage
"The weaker they are, the longer they talk". Believe me, there are
just as many guys running low power who 'don't get it'.

OTOH, I've worked guys from the NY/NJ/PA area running as little as 25
watts, down in the 80m portion of the band. In particular, Al W1VTP in
NH currently runs a Flex into a Johnson Courier Amp on 75m. Around 52
watts or so output, yet he has great audio and comes into NC like he's
running a broadcast rig. I honestly didn't believe him the first
couple times he told me what he was running. Sure enough, the first
night the band was noisy or a bit squirrely, it was hard to pull him
out.

> Some people don't know the problem is in their antenna, not the transmitter!

Certainly the one area that can make the most difference, though I
wouldn't claim the G5RV is the best antenna you can run for anything
other than a housing development or other compromised location. A
trusty half wave dipole flat and 50-60 feet or more in the air is
simple and tough to beat. Mine is only at 40-20 feet but works out
quite well, far better than any G5RV I've ever used. String up the
biggest wire you can practically fit, feed it with balance feeders and
a tuner. It'll turn your Ranger into a contender. Use the G5RV for
local morning chats or SSB work. They're good little aerials when one
size has to fit all.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4