Finally some common sense, thanks Luke!
Rich - W4RQ Amateur Radio: The Original Social Media
> On Jan 17, 2021, at 20:26, List Mail <mail10@barefoothorse.com.au> wrote:
>
> I have been using HPSDR in my station for the past ten or so years, and like
> Flex SDR, the S-meter does not change with application of attenuator. The
> signal strength changes between the transmitting antenna and receiving
> antennas of course, so IMO it's absolute value is largely irrelevant.
>
> I also find somewhat bemusing the lengthy signal reports I hear between
> stations "with Preamp 1, with Preamp 2" etc., usually on 40 m SSB.
>
> My on air reports usually pay little heed to what the "S-Meter" is reading,
> apart from noting the band noise strength compared with the signal strength.
> S-Meters are mostly a gimmick, with relevance only in laboratory bench
> testing. My use of the RST is generally in accordance with the verbal
> description of signals, i.e., Readability 1 = Unreadable to 5 = Perfectly
> readable; Signal Strength 1 = Faint signals, barely perceptible to 9 =
> Extremely strong signals. Don't start me on people giving "0 and 1 or 2"
> signal reports, and then conducting a conversation. And where the heck does
> the "Audio Only report, NO Signal strength" come from?
>
> Back to the OT, I often receive very lopsided signal reports, usually with
> FT8 (sometimes a 30 dB lower report received than given) and less often in
> SSB or CW. Sometimes it is in my favour, sometimes my QSO partner. As long as
> we can complete our QSO, with a few of the traditional niceties, I don't lose
> any sleep over the differential. I live in a quiet rural location, with
> plenty of room for antennas, and the nearest neighbour is some 500 metres
> away, so I hear better than most. Sometimes I call a relatively strong
> station, and don't get any response at all, and wonder if my antenna has
> fallen down. I put it down to the other station listening in a different
> direction, and/or having QRM/QRN. I move on.
>
> 73, Luke VK3HJ
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