[Elecraft] IMD and supply voltage

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Rich. I have been building radios since 1949 and a Ham since 1952. One of
the first things I learned to appreciate is that good Hams operate their
rigs to produce the cleanest signal possible. If it's a factory built, that
means running it as recommended by the manufacturer. But that does not mean
you are running the latest and most sophisticated rig on the air. 

At the risk of starting an O.T. thread, let me point out that it is 100% as
legal and proper to run a 1948 El-tronics transmitter or a E.F. Johnson
Viking I as it is a current K3S. Sure, the newer rig is likely cleaner than
the old stuff, but that is not the issue. The sign of an A-1 operator is in
getting the best out of what he has, not buying the best on the market. 

That has been true since the earliest days of Ham radio.  And the FCC in the
USA has always supported the idea. (The only thing that is NOT allowed is
spark (damped wave) emissions.)

When I was in school and started designing receivers for a hobby in the
1950's one of the first things I learned is that engineering is not about
achieving perfection. It is achieving what is practical. All engineering is
a trade-off - a compromise - between an imagined ideal and what is possible
given the parts at hand, the time and money available. 

Amateur radio is a hobby. It's what we do for fun and in the USA the FCC
supports that too. 

To heck with "phase noise" or other issues. If your rig chirps a bit when
keyed or drifts a bit so I have to ride the VFO, I'll in line to work you
and learn a bit about what you are running. And if it's a rig that should
not be chirping in CW, or drifting a bit, I'll be first in line to offer my
assistance if you want it. 

73, Ron AC7AC




-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rich
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2015 8:35 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] IMD and supply voltage

Guys,

This comment in no way is mean spirited, but truly a concern after reading
all of this tech data.

For those of us who do not have 100K in test equipment and a EE,  I am 
starting to feel like I should not even get on the air.   I get the 
concept, but the best I can do is make good clean connections, do not
overdrive my audio and hope for the best.  I have to have faith in the
equipment builders or find a new hobby.

Rich