[Elecraft] K3: Is it wrong?

[David Yarnes]

I think I disagree that a 5/1 report is appropriate.  But I suppose this is 
a matter of interpretation.  Strength "1" is intended to convey that the 
signal is "barely perceptible".  A signal that is truly that weak should not 
equate to one that is readability "5" in my view.  Loosely translated, it 
means to me that "I can tell you are there, but that's it!"  It is an 
absolutely de minimis signal strength report.  I don't even think a 
readability "4" would be appropriate in combination with a strength "1" 
report, since that means you can copy with "almost no difficulty".  The 
highest readability report I consider possibly appropriate with a strength 
"1" report would be perhaps a "3", or "readable with considerable 
difficulty".  But I still think that's a stretch, since a strength "1" 
signal should really convey that the signal is so weak that nothing 
significant can really be interpreted from it.  If you are able to copy 
anything from the other station, a strength "2" report should be the lowest 
report given.  A "1" report for either readability or strength should mean 
that there is no communication occuring.  I know some will disagree with 
this, and the RST matrix is open to considerable interpretation.  But if you 
think about it, it only makes sense that the matrix would provide a range of 
report options all the way from "I copy you perfectly", to "I can't copy you 
at all".  The latter conveyence can be for either a lack of signal strength, 
or a readability problem (due to QRM, QRN, etc.), or both.  Also, I think 
(intuitively perhaps) there is intended to be some correlation between 
readability and strength reports on the RST scale.  A readability "1" report 
clearly states that you are "unreadable".  Accordingly, I would assume that 
a strength "1" report is intended to convey that signal strength is so low 
as to preclude any significant degree of readability.  In other words, real 
communications only occurs at the "2" level for both reports.

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter G3MLO" <peter at g3mlo.fsnet.co.uk>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Is it wrong?


> Peter G3MLO.
> BTW nothing wrong with a 5/1 report
>
> Tom WA6SUS wrote:
>>
>> Is it wrong to give 5x2 signal reports? I was just listening to a 40 
>> meter
>> net last night and pretty much heard everyone. I would say that many of
>> the signals were fully copyable but also clearly weak. (5x2 or 5x1 even) 
>> A