[Boatanchors] AM linear question

[Rob Atkinson]

>150 watts carrier out? That is about 600 watts p.e.p. output on AM.

"PEP" is a slopbucket power expression that is meaningless in the AM
context because it gives an inflated idea of the effectiveness of the
transmitter's power output.  It's much better to speak in terms of
carrier power and average audio level or modulation percentage--that
is much more meaningful to an AM operator.  It actually is meaningless
on SSB because the peaks are so brief as to be insignificant but most
operators don't think that way.  That this is a power limit
specification is a travesty.  It is meaningful on CW but only because
PEP and keyed continuous power output are the same thing.   That's why
you almost never hear CW ops speak of PEP.  They just give their power
output.  Sadly, many AM operators seem to have drunk the PEP Koolaide.
  Manufacturers of cheap lightweight junk gear in the late 1960s fell
in love with PEP because it allowed them to hype inflated power
capabilities for their crappy little sweep tube linears and
transceivers.  Go look in QST from that time and you'll see ads saying
"2 KW!!!" for some dinky 40 pound box, then in tiny print you'll see
"p.e.p. input power."   Hams should have beat that back but the ARRL
and SSB operators prevailed when FCC wanted to make the power limit
the nonsense 1500 w. PeeEeePeee and pee peeeeed on everyone.

73
Rob
K5UJ