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[TenTec] S-Meters and the Brain

To: kc4atu@hotmail.com, tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] S-Meters and the Brain
From: "Allan H. Kaplan" <w1ael@arrl.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:52:20 -0500
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Signal reports are done with your EARS and the filter between them, not a 
meter.

KC4ATU


Dear Bill, 
I agree, but only for the Readability and Tone components of the RST.  If your 
radio, like mine (OMNI VI)has a relatively flat AGC transfer function, rising 
only about 6dB over the range of signal strengths from "in the noise" to 
"booming in", it would seem difficult to perceive relative signal strength 
except perhaps as a function of apparent signal-to-noise ratio.  Apart from the 
varying AGC transfer functions in different radios, one must also consider the 
important factor of how the receiving station's antenna affects his S-meter 
reading.  While we cannot take S-meter readings too seriously, your statement 
that they should not be installed on radios seems rather extreme!

Sure, I do agree that entirely too much emphasis gets placed on the signal 
strength reports -- probably a VANITY ISSUE!  In these days of clean 
transmitters (Cuban stations excepted!), only the Readability report really 
matters, unless the guy is trying to compare or improve something.
73, Allan W1AEL.

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