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

[George, W5YR]

Ron, I apologize in advance, but you accidently hit one of my "hot
buttons!"   <:}

You stated

	"What is your reflected power?  If it isn't high it IS being radiated."

Just want to make the observation that even if the "reflected power" *is*
"high" all of the power being put into the tuner, transmission line and
antenna system, less the heat loss in each element, is being radiated. With
1000 watts input to a transmission line, the line can show a reflected
power of 500 watts and still be radiating almost all of the 1000 watts
being shoved in at the line input. Of course, the *forward power* will be
about 1500 watts. The difference between the two is the power actually
being absorbed by the antenna - and all of that is being radiated less
whatever losses take place in the actual antenna, such as in traps, poor
connections, etc.

Just wanted to head off any notions by the unwary that "reflected power" is
somehow not  radiated. 

Basic conservation of energy: every watt going into the antenna system -
tuner, line, and radiator(s) - is going to be radiated either as r-f or
converted to heat and radiated in that frequency range. You remember the
old saying "Everybody gotta be someplace!" Same thing here . . .

Thanks for the bandwidth . . .

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


Ronald KA4INM Youvan wrote:
> 
> Hi  Joe N8TI :
> 
> > How can I tell if I have some sort of a signal actually going out over the air?
> 
> 
> 
>    First 100 watts is going somewhere, hold your hand on inch over a 100 watt light bulb
> and `feel the heat', that is about 90 watts of heat, if it isn't going into the antenna,
> where is it going?  (about 10 watts leave as light)
> 
>    What is your reflected power?  If it isn't high it IS being radiated.
> 
> > Perhaps even one of you guys could listen for my signal if we coordinate by email.
> 
>   I usually can get on the radio around 10:30 p.m. Eastern time.
> 
>    OK, but do you say where you live?  (what freq. etc.)
> 
>    The best answer to your question is:
> 
>    Join the nearest, biggest balanced HAM club, go to the meetings, don't
> set with the other `newbees' set with some old coots (like me) and listen,
> make friends with a few, and if you want someone to listen to your signals
> for key clicks or chirps, call a few until someone has the time to listen to
> your signal.  Hopefully someone across town or in the next town.