[Boatanchors] Intelligibility on SSB

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 1:26 PM, jeremy-ca <km1h at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:

I've heard a lot of good things about the rigs that generate SSB via
phasing. I've got some CE gear sitting here that I'll eventually get
to, but it would be interesting to hear some of the other users out
there, to get an idea of the difference. Down on 80m the rule for SSB
seems to be run an amp, turn on the processor, and run the mic gain up
as high as you can. Some of those guys are 20-30 or more mcs wide, and
I'm not talking about ESSB. The only AMers I've heard come even close
are the guys who have something wrong with their transmitters and
didn't know it (yet) or didn't care.

>  For vintage enjoyment these days I use a Viking I that I tailored the audio
>  to fit my voice. It certainly didnt involve  $1000 to do it either! But then
>  again I ignore the 75M crowd that are a bit obsessed with themselves.

Kinda funny Carl, I had a fellow tell me recently that my transmitter
sounded like a 'stock' KW-1 despite having changed the grid input
resistor for the mic, fattened up the coupling caps and electrolytics
a bit, and so on. Later models indeed had more restricted audio, but
having heard many recordings made by the gang, it sounds pretty much
like me. Methinks he didn't know what he was talking about and
probably never heard one in stock configuration. I don't have a
surplus of bass in my voice, so trying to add it artificially doesn't
make sense. I don't run outboard processing either, but some guys do
and sound fine.

Then you've got the few who think they're somehow enhancing their
voice characteristics by twiddling the knobs more, and really sound
like a mud duck. You can't explain it to them, though, so it's best to
just avoid.

BTW, I finally got around to digging out that ART-13 LF Osc parts unit
two weekends ago. It's not the one you need, and it's missing more
than I remember. I'll keep my eyes and ears open, though.

And Ken - I'm still looking for those straight-line caps. Spring is coming!

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ