[Elecraft] [K3] 150 watt "boots" for 160m

[Vic K2VCO]

Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
>>From 100 to 150, for 1.7 dB, when Bell Laboratories research (with
> huge capital investment and telephone maintenance dollars on the line)
> determined that 3 dB was the signal strength change discernment for
> most people?
> 
> It's amazing how these slim changes hold on with hams and spend their
> money, when tons of research demonstrates the difference is not
> perceived. We FEEL GOOD running 150 instead of 100, running 1500
> instead of 1200.  Never hear it on the other end.

We hear this over and over, but it is very misleading. It's true that if you have a good 
readable signal, a difference of a db or two is not noticeable. But when the signal is 
right at the noise level or QSBing in and out of it, even one db makes a difference. As 
N2WN said, it can be the difference between "?" and "N2?" -- or even between the guy CQing 
again and "?".
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco