[Elecraft] SSB - Fooie!

Tue Oct 8 22:02:06 2002

On Tue, 8 Oct 2002, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> John - KC4KGU wrote:
> 
> ... If you just enjoy CW, that's one thing but, it's kinda hard to screw
> up pulsing a carrier....  
> 
> --------------------------------
> 
> Then why was it necessary to simplify the CW test so much over the years
> in order for people to be able to pass it?  And once learned... well...
> I guess you haven't had the practice trying to copy some of the "fists"
> that I have...<G>  Bless every one of them though for putting in the
> effort that  learn it takes to send well  -even with the help of a
> keyer.  

Ahhh... I was talking about getting things on the RADIO right... IE; the
RIG generating a carrier vs feeding appropriate audio drive, having the
BFO set properly, being ON FREQUENCY, having enough RF energy and a decent
antenna, having voice characteristics (or generating them with
processing) that lend themselfs to communications audio and make it
through the passband of the radio, etc, etc.

> 
> You are right about there being more variables in SSB transmission -
> starting with a 20 dB or more disadvantage in signal to noise ratio
> compared to CW.

Just to prove that DX *SSB* on the K2 _does_ happen the latest entry in my
K2 logbook is:

WP4UG 18.122 01:25 GMT 5/7 100w 5/7 100w

Callsign: WP4UG   Class: General   Codes: HAI   USA
Name: ALEJANDRO ROLON PARSON
Addr1: HC 01 BOX 12702
Addr2: CAROLINA, PR 00630
Country: USA
Effective: 18 May 1999   Expires: 18 May 2009
FCC: ULS Listing

Coordinates: 18 28' 2'' N,    66 6' 32'' W
County: San Juan County
Grid: FK68wl

That's 1800+ air miles (zipcode to zipcode) and is my first DX contact on
the K2.  (I know, PR is in the U.S. but, it's DX to me!)

I think the DISTANCE record on my K2 is 2106(or so) air miles.  That is
the distance (zipcode to zipcode) from Columbus, OH to Aptos, CA.

73 de John - KC4KGU
K2/100 #2490