In the discussion about "benefits" of higher and higher power...
Broadcasters are not concerned about reciprocity, e.g. two-way QSO's. An
extra 10 db in signal can make use of paths with less reliability for lower
powers and be heard in the distant receiver. The broadcaster does not get
paid to listen for a "R" from the other end. This is only one of the reasons
that propagation predictions based on VOACAP sometimes do not serve amateur
radio purposes.
Particularly on a noisey band -- 160 may be gentlemen's band, but a haven for
QRN -- higher power can open up a path one-way that cannot be reversed even
with the best receiving antennas, unless the return is running at an even
higher power.
In the end the great undiscovered country is how to detect a discreet CW
signal well down into the noise, or another quantum jump in RX antennas. Or
how to apply technology to enhance some aspect of the signal to make it easier
for our ears to detect it.
So far all the noise reduction I have heard drops the almost copiable stuff as
noise, giving the operator no clue that the signal is there or clipping
elements of characters that renders the CW less copiable than without.
The real improvements in 2 way won't come out of my power bill, they'll come
out of my RX and antenna budget.
73, Guy.
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