[Elecraft] Driveway Distortion Demolition Derby

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Wes, N7WS wrote:

But the rule is 50 ERP, defined as 50 W into a 0 dBd antenna.  A mobile whip
has a lot lower gain than 0 dBd, in case that's where you were headed.

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Wes is quite right for the USA at least, and to make it easy on us the FCC
defines a 1/2 wave dipole as a "0 dBd" antenna even though most 1/2 wave
antennas show some gain over isotropic. 

It's up to the Amateur to document their antenna's gain if not using a
dipole. From 97.303(s):

"Licensees using other antennas must maintain in their station records
either manufacturer data on the antenna gain or calculations of the antenna
gain."

As Wes points out, that might allow using more than 50 watts output into a
small whip. It also requires running less than 50 watts if using a gain
antenna. 

Another difference between Hams and some other non-commercial radio services
is that traditionally most Hams take following the rules quite seriously,
whether or not any government agency is watching us at the time. 

When one of our members doesn't, we take it upon ourselves to point it out
in the spirit of self-regulation. 

Ron AC7AC