[Boatanchors] AM linear question

[Bry Carling]

Tell us then what is the maximum peak power excursion for a fully modulated AM plate signal with a resting carrier input of 150 watts DC? With 100 % modulation, how many watts? Yes, forget p.e.p. But tell us what input power level that 1 kHz audio signal with steady 100% modulation will produce, if you know!

Best regards - Brian Carling
 AF4K

On Dec 8, 2015, at 6:07 AM, Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 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