[Elecraft] When S-Meters are Useful

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Rick K7MW wrote:

As for not having an S meter with the AGC turned off, I have found that
setting the AF gain to a given position, like mid scale, and using the RF
gain to control AF output,  the position of the RF gain control gives me a
good enough idea of signal strength to give a meaningfull report to the
other operator.  I use this method with simple rigs, like my Sierra or Oak
Hills 100 A.

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At least one receiver from the late 1920's/early 1930's featured an AF gain
control calibrated in "S" units. I believe it was a popular regenerative
receiver made by the National company. You adjusted the gain level for a
comfortable volume, then read the S value for signal strength from the
position of the volume control knob on a scale that ran from 1 to 9.  Of
course the scale was backwards so if the gain had to be run full up at
maximum volume the pointer was on S-1 indicating a very weak signal. 

Back when us Hams were struggling to get a decent signal on the air, it made
great sense to have the RST system that included "Tone". The "T" report was
very useful because many signals were basically modulated CW, with lots and
lots of hum from the power supplies. Some rigs actually ran AC on the plates
of the tubes, making their signal an extremely broad band of keyed hum
compared to a clean d-c note. Others had varying degrees of hum, hence the
value of the T report. 

We don't do that any more. As a result, I much prefer the signal reporting
used on commercial circuits: QSA. It means, literally, "What is the strength
of my signals?"  or "What is the strength of ..... Signals?" if asking about
someone else. The report is given in a scale of 1 to 5 as follows:

The strength of your signals
(or those of ...) is ... 
1. scarcely perceptible
2. weak
3. fairly good
4. good
5. very good. 

So, instead of sending RST 599 a commercial station would send QSA5. 

That makes a lot more sense to me than using RST, especially since "T" is
always 9 unless something is drastically wrong. I notice that some ops are
trying to adapt the T report to signify something relating to the keying
characteristic. All that does is cause confusion. The T report speaks only
to the purity of the note while the key is closed. 

If there are some additional comments needed, such as to report key clicks
or chirp, they can be done with a following letter or in plain language just
as is normally done with the RST reports. 

For example, how about QSD? It means, literally, "Your Keying is Mutilated."


I might hear that more often than I'd like...

Ron AC7AC