[Antennas] How can I tell if my signal is getting out?

[Tom Horton]

George,
  This also doesn't take into effect that one guy is using an S-38D receiver.
Just too many variables in this for me. Theory ...probably   Practicality...
probably not... oh ok occasionally!!
73, Tom K5IID

At 11:48 04/11/02 -0500, George, W5YR wrote:
>Dave, try 50 db gain to get from one milliwatt to 100 watts . . .
>
>30 db (x1000) gets you from one milliwatt to one watt
>
>20 db (x100) gets you from one watt to 100 watts
>
>Total: 50 db (x100,000) to raise one milliwatt to 100 watts
>
>That path loss is a little scary, too!   <:}
>
>Again, this model ignores the presence of uncorrelated nosie sources at
>either or both terminals of the circuit. The theorem predicts the same
>signal level at each end, but does not comprehend the S/N which is what
>determines whether or not a signal can be copied. Also, the path loss is
>usually far from constant in HF situations, varying widely with time of
>day, sun state, etc. It can be -300 dB when A transmits to B and -600 db
>when B transmits to A. Another demonstration of the fickle finger of
>science . . .   <:}
>
>73/72/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas
>Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe
>Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
>QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6 SOC 262 COG 8 FPQRP 404 TEN-X 11771 I-LINK 11735
>Icom IC-756PRO #02121  Kachina 505 DSP  #91900556  Icom IC-765 #02437
>
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>
>
>Dave Shrader wrote:
> >
> > It really does !!!
> >
> > Example:
> >         +2.3 dB = dipole on windowsill at first station
> >         -8000 dB = path loss
> >         +6.0 dB = beam at 100 feet at other station
> >         +1000 dBm = Power out either station [100 watts]
> >         ----------
> >         -6991.7 dB either way