[CW] Receiver RF Gain

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi,

I have been doing that for a long time. Like others I have assumed it is 
"common" practice. Not so.

It seems counterintuitive to reduce the incoming signals so as to hear 
the weakest ones but that is how it plays. I have a Kenwood R-599 with 
no RF gain control BUT does have a step attenuator and can turn off the 
AGC. They call it "Monitor" mode. When I tell newer hams about it I get 
those blank, thousand-yard stares as if I had just defined "sky blue pink"!

73,

Bill  KU8H

On 10/30/2018 08:37 AM, Steve WD8DAS via CW wrote:
>
> I don't think it is a common practice.  When I've suggested it to other
> operators I get reactions like "why would you ever want less RF gain?"
> and "I always leave that control all the way up".   When I'm in person
> with someone and can demonstrate, it produces more impact.
>
>
> Steve WD8DAS
>
> sbjohnston at aol.com
> http://www.wd8das.net/
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Radio is your best entertainment value.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron.K3PID <ron.k3pid at sbcglobal.net>
> To: CW <CW at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Mon, Oct 29, 2018 7:55 pm
> Subject: [CW] Receiver RF Gain
>
> I noticed an article in QST explaining that it is better to run a lower
> RF gain on your receiver for weak signals and in noisy conditions. WOW!
> I am thinking that those of us who are seasoned enough to be Elmers must
> have really fallen down on the job.  Just the idea that someone needed
> to write that article is an indication that we failed to pass on the
> basic operating skills. My Elmer taught me ( and a lot of others) to run
> with a relatively high audio gain and then back off the RF gain to drop
> the noise. It works welll and I’ve been doing it that way for 57 years.
> It works on my computerized Yaesu and just as well on my R-390 or my
> HQ-180.  I just assumed it was common practice.
>
> 73
> Ron K3PID
>
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-- 
bark less - wag more