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G0FTD > AM 29.05.03 01:23l 93 Lines 3617 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 631798G0FTD
Read: GUEST DB0FHN
Subj: Re: Quality AM.
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Sent: 030528/1047Z @:GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU #:3374 [Hastings] FBB7.00i $:631798G0FTD
From: G0FTD@GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU
To : AM@WW
VK6DX (nice callsign!) wrote :-
> Nothing Like good old AM..(Advanced Modulation)
Compared to the mangled overprocessed thin sounding ssb of today - yep !
> Alas its all but a memory. Andy says AM is no good for DX,
Well looking at it in perspective it is'nt. Narrow is better no matter
what anyone says. At this point the word entropy and other funny sounding
terms spring to mind. Picking a signal out the crud and hetorodynes is'nt
much fun.
> As Bob VK6BE says, no AM in Western Australia for many years. As for
> 160m allocation here, a slight breeze on the VFO dial and one is out of
> band
I wonder what is the Aussie allocation ?
It could be worse, we might all live in Japan (1.905 - 1.912Mhz I think).
> Mind you the 1.8 to 2.0mcs in the UK was often unsuable due to
> "loran" taking up most of the band.
Yep, but by the early 90's this had all changed. Loran is no more
chugging away, fish fone has all but gone. Same with 80m, all the
coastal stations have gone too. Not too many utility station left so
the bands are pretty quiet now. (You only come across the odd french
trawler now).
160/80m at least in the UK make good places to use AM now.
Equipment is easily built and makes a better alternative to using 145Mhz
anyday. The only drawback of AM if run with *lots* of power is the audio
breakthrough - oh dear :-(
My interest in AM now stems from the idea to produce a SIMPLE and cheap
way of getting people on the bands whilst being able to do as much as
possible.
For example:-
Build a 5 watt AM/CW rig. 160 and/or 80m.
Now use it with a loop of wire like I use for an antenna which is no
more than an 8ft quad loop stuck to the bedroom wall. With this antenna
(which I use up to 6m !) I can on 160m if I tune it right work local QSO's
in daylight hours upto 50 miles easily. Thats far better than my 10watts
of 144Mhz FM and a slim jim indoors which make 144Mhz redundant.
On 80 using a genuine 5 watts to my loop (using just a t-match to load it)
I can happily work around the UK on CW. No doubt for local natter nets
AM would work well upto 20 in the daytime, again making 144Mhz redundant.
And of course, lets take it further. With a scrap PC and a soundcard,
you can have a receiver with DSP filtering and generate AFSK for the
data modes into the AM tx. Instant RTTY/FAX/PSK31/THROB/SSTV and AX25 !
You can use the PC as a CW keyer too.
All that for the sake of spending about œ10-15 on a rig !
Absolute peanuts to spend, anyone can build them and loads of real QSO's
and practical uses. Just think, not everyone has the money to spends on
a new rig. Newly licenced M3's (a UK thing) who are still trying out
the hobby can try it for the sake of a few beers. The rig can be used
portable/mobile, far safer than dragging a new ICOM/YAESU/KENWOOD rig
outside waiting to be damaged/stolen/waterlogged.
Another often quoted scenario is that many of us discovered amateur radio
by twidding a short wave receiver (good old trawler band etc).
Well these days not many cheapo multiband domestic receivers cover
"trawler band", but you do find them stretching down to 80m.
I suppose this could lead to a few possible new entrants into the hobby.
I know for a fact that it can work this way, I was one of them, plus
some years ago whilst using 80m AM I was heard by a young chap using
his cheap multiband radio and he contacted the RSGB to find out where
I lived, and introduced himself to me afterwards. He never became licenced
but he became an enthusiastic SWL stillmto this day.
Anyway, I'm waffling... :-)
- Andy -
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