Some Signals are so Insanely Big...

[ka4koe]

...that you just sit back and say da**. Don K4KYV once again registered 90 dB input on the 100 dB full scale of my receiver on 1890 KC last night.

It must be really nice to pound the layers and make a purdy aurora over one's property.

Big guns (or "Tall Ships")...I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts with regards to having a tremendous amount of latent energy at your command, ready to lash out and silence static in every AM receiver on you frequency.

The feeling must be intoxicating in the extreme. I guess we all need someone to look up to.

Feeling PW this AM.

Philip KA4KOE

[N2DTS]

I think its more about the antenna then power.
Power is easy to do, a good antenna is not.

I think Don has a full size antenna on 160, he loads a tower I think, just like the pro's do.

[W2VW]

It's all about content, just like AM broadcast radio.

[flintstone mop]

YUP Don is very serious about Amateur radio and he makes a great effort to get something worthwhile into the air waves.
Antenna will always be the basis of gettin out or being PW. No matter how much RF you throw at it.
Fred

[ka4koe]

Yep...all about Upping Your ERP.

I went into old buzzard mode for the first time...about 10 minutes....I was in one of my chatty Kathy moods.

[W3NE]

Love those black crackle panels and all them meters!
Is that a 15" woofer back there?

Bob - NE

[K1JJ]

The biggest mawls on the air are the ones doing everything right. If we miss a few things, we lose precious dB.


It's all relative - it's about standing out by having an edge over the AVERAGE  station out there.  Sixty  years ago  (1950's) the average station ran 100 watts, a low dipole, restricted audio, etc.   It was easier to be a big mawl back then. But today there are plenty of broadcast transmitters, big class E rigs and other great homebrew tube AM rigs. Antennas have gotten better, more money to spend on the hobby and there are more towers and serious people.  The audio gear has gone thru the roof.

So it adds up that the loudest stations have always "done everything right" no matter what time era...  


Where do we find the extra dB?

Running higher than average power = 5dB
Higher than average antenna = 5 dB
Well tailored CLEAN audio with  140% modulation = 5dB
Good antenna feedline, good connections, good matches - using the right antenna for the job = 5dB
Good location near the shore, swamp - and antenna away from house/obstructions = 5dB
Good operating practices = 5 dB
Short callsign = 5dB
Good looking wife or girlfriend = 5Db

It all adds up...  


(Oh yeah - tossing the keyboard and actually getting on the air = 120 dB)

T

[N2DTS]

At my location, K1KBW is the strongest station on 80 meters, always is, every time.
The widest as well, but that is another story.

Very strong carrier, LOTS of audio, and its high throughout the spectrum.
He seems to have 150% modulation from 20 to 10,000 Hz at least.

I know he runs a class E rig, but I do not know what the antenna is.

[ka4koe]

Here is Don.

[Opcom]

Frequently Don is loud and clear, and the others are not heard well enough to tell whom they are.

I like that picture. It's worth 3dB more.

[Jim/WA2MER]

Very strong carrier, LOTS of audio, and its high throughout the spectrum.
He seems to have 150% modulation from 20 to 10,000 Hz at least.

My NRD525 performs like  an S-38 when he's on the air.