[Yaesu] FT100D AM Operation

[CBoone@Earthlink.Net]

This is very true...the fact is most AM in Jap rigs today is NOT
high level AM mod (mod of the final stage) but low level carrier
re-insertion at the balanced modulator....and no SSB filter...hence
DSB-AM....but low level modulation.....soooo carrier power MUST be
reduced since the audio power is not sufficient to do 100% mod at
100% power out...best way to find this is reduce your power out 
then slowly bring it up while whistling or say FOUR into the mic
(obviusly this should be done into a dummy load)..
Watch your power out on a wattmetter...when it peaks at a max and
cannot go up higher with modulation, back the carrier down
JUST a bit, make NOTE of the spot, and operate AM with confidence.
Just make sure you reset the carrier out to the mark next time
you go from SSB to AM..
(AHHH I do love high level/Plate modulation though....my 10KW AM
xmtrs sure sound GOOD!!! :) and can do 125% pos modulation...of
course they are NOT on the ham bands......)

Chris
WB5ITT

Brian Carling wrote:
> 
> Tony - with most of the Japanese rigs that can run AM, you need to set your
> power level for about 30 watts of carrier output when using AM. That will allow it to
> modulate up to the full 100 watts.
> 
> A lot of guys make the mistake of running full power on AM and then it sounds like
> crap or has almost no modulation.
> 
> I bet you will start getting good reports using this method.
> Your meters will NOT wiggle all the way up to 100 watts on
> voice modulation peaks, of course; they are too damped or that.
> 
> Try starting out under ideal conditions like daytime on 7290 kHz +/-  or early
> evenings on 3880 kHz +/-
> 
> See you on AM!