[Elecraft] K3 on AM

[Don Wilhelm]

Fred,

I am not certain whether your question is serious or in jest.

First, an AM station on 7.290 kHz is a commercial; broadcast station, 
and likely has no reception capability - so why would one want to 
transmit in AM on that frequency with any transceiver.

Yes, the K3 can transmit AM  *if* the 6 kHz roofing filter is installed. 
As for AM QRP operation, I have my doubts - SSB is much more effective.  
The power for an AM station is split 4 ways - 1/2 of the power goes into 
the carrier (which carries no intelligence) and 1/4 of the total power 
goes into each of the sidebands,  So if one transmits "QRP" at 10 watts 
AM, the amount of effective "talk" power that goes into each sideband is 
2. watts.  You would have a +3db advantage just by going to SSB at 5 
watts PEP.  If you consider the total power consumed, a SSB signal with 
a PEP rating of 10 watts will produce a much more copyable signal than 
10 watts AM.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/5/2011 7:58 PM, Frank MacDonell wrote:
> I have an Elecraft K3/10 getting great reception on AM using attic dipole
> on 7.290 mHz. Does this mode transmit well for QRP? (I use digital modes
> and do not own a mic.)
> Thanks in advance.
>