[Elecraft] What happened to ALC?

[Fred Jensen]

I can remember, shortly after SSB appeared on the ham bands that "ALC" 
showed up and was immediately inducted into that top category of things 
like canned beer and sliced bread.  It would reduce the dynamic range of 
your signal and fill out your RF envelope with DX inducing energy.  It 
didn't matter if you preferred the James Earl Jones sound by close 
talking your microphone, or the Storm Drain sound with the gain up and 
speaking from across the room.  Not to worry, ALC will take care of it 
for you and you will fully pack your RF envelope.

Tomorrow is the first day of February 2022 and ALC occupies a less than 
coveted spot in the same category that also contains last night's 
broccoli casserole.  One wonders why manufacturers even put connectors 
and meters labeled "ALC" on their radios.  "Four solid bars, and the 
fifth barely flashing because the fifth bar is where ALC starts.  Just 
barely flashing ... you DO NOT want to engage the ALC!"

I realize that while we believe that the rules of electricity don't 
change and none of us ever inspect our electricity very closely ... if 
we did we'd find the power company is selling us used electricity as if 
it was new ... what changed?  If ALC was slicker than snot back then, 
why isn't it now?

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County



-- 
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com