On Sat,9/17/2016 5:35 PM, Mark Bitterlich wrote:
And if I may, I've always had tremendous respect for FCC rules and
regulations, but that said, comparing a gent who has Rhombics facing each
cardinal direction fed with 1500 watts, compared to some poor soul with a
dipole running his home brew pair of 4-1000's or even a 3CX10000..... No,
it is not legal... but when trying to bust the pile-up, I get it. Just
sayin.
On Saturday, September 17, 2016 11:02 PMJim Brown"
<jim@audiosystemsgroup.com replied:
The FCC Rules say "Output Power", NOT ERP (except on 60M). How can you
say you have "tremendous respect for FCC rules" and then say you run
illegal power when you think you need to? :) The Rules encourage us to
build better antennas. And how many "gents" do you know with ANY Rhombic,
let alone Rhombics in multiple directions? Even one Rhombic takes a lot of
real estate! IMO, this sort of thing is mostly urban legend and rumor --
the "oft-repeated lie" that is taken as truth. Or maybe I've led a
sheltered life.
I've worked a fair number of DXpeditions with 5W, some of them pretty
rare. My highest gain antenna is the smallest 3-el SteppIR. I also run
legal limit in contests where I'm seriously competing. :)
My fault. I should have left that paragraph out. Yes, I know what ERP is
Jim. The FCC effectively says 1500 watts ERP with an isotropic radiator and
unlimited ERP with any amount of antenna gain that can be achieved. So
obviously the way to go is antenna gain. To answer your question, you are
again correct in that I don't know of anyone with four Rhombics. I do know
two fellas's with one, and I have used a 3 curtain version on 40 meters to
work Vietnam reliabily on RTTY back in 1972, so they're out there. But,
they are rare as you point out. You are incorrect quoting me as saying that
I run illegal power. I never said that. Or rather, I guess I never
admitted it. I do remember running 150 watts as a Novice when the limit was
75. I should have guessed the truth when I blew out the 100 watt light bulb
I used to load it up. :-) 3dB over. Bottom line, a lot of folks here are
talking about amps producing 2000 watts or more. ANYWAY, working
DXpeditions with 5 watts is a marvelous accomplishment! Good on ya.
Regardless, once again you are correct as I should have said: "I have a
tremendous respect for *MOST* FCC rules". I'd have even more respect if
they would just start enforcing the darn things. But then, (way off topic)
I'd like to see the code requirement come back, I'd like to do away with
published questions and answers, with an exam that has a goal of testing
for prerequisite knowledge and not memorization, and I'd like to draw and
quarter Dick Bash. :-) Thanks for correcting my mistakes.
Mark Bitterlich
WA3JPY
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