[Elecraft] S meters in the USA

[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL <dougzzz at gmail.com> wrote:

> Argh....what a nit-picker's delight.

Quite right!!

> The reason why you get "You're S9 but please repeat everything" is
> that you can be S9 and be covered by QRM/QRN.

I should have said 5 9.

> If they want real measurements, then the person on the receiving end
> should use a calibrated step attenuator and use it to "match" signal
> levels.  But no ham is likely to ask someone else for "an accurate
> measure in uv or dbm" unless they already know that the "other guy"
> has a REAL means of measuring AND has real reason to want to know.
> For most of us hams (99.9%), "stronger" and "weaker" is good enough
> for comparisons that we might want to do.

True. I very seldom look at my S meter - calibrated in dbm -  unless doing 
something with my antenna or if the other guy asks for a comparison in db.

> Sun is up...off to Dayton.

Enjoy yourself!

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD