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Re: Topband: Signal complaints and auto bias

To: Tom W8JI <w8ji@w8ji.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Signal complaints and auto bias
From: Eddy Swynar <deswynar@xplornet.ca>
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:50:37 -0500
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
On 2013-01-29, at 10:07 AM, Tom W8JI wrote:
> 
> Having a K3 does not make all signals clean, and not having one does not make 
> all signals dirty. It is the entire system that matters, and there is 
> certainly more than one clean radio in the world.
> 


That statement alone pretty much says it all, Tom---it is, indeed, the entire 
SYSTEM that needs to be scrutinized in cases of key clicks, which only serves 
to make the ailment just that much more complex to the struggling (and sincere) 
afflicted Ham.

It is my personal suspicion that (A) we're lucky if even HALF of us really & 
truly know how to PROPERLY drive a linear amplifier, and---a VERY important 
point, in and of itself---(B) the vast majority of to-day's Amateurs have no 
clue on how to properly evaluate a signal for clicks. Far too often we've 
heard of guys complaining of "phase noise" on someone's signal, when in fact 
it's a tonal quality that's far less than "T9" they're actually hearing: that 
being the case, how might we expect these same critics to ever be entrusted in 
accurately identifying & defining "clicks"...?!

Education is needed on BOTH sides of the signal, IMHO: and I honestly believe 
that Tree's approach is a VERY good one and merits repeating, i.e.:

1. Find out if other people were having the same issue.
2. Contact the person.
3. Help them "hear" what I was hearing.
4. Have them fix the issue.
5. Help them verify that the problem is fixed.

Snipey / "clever" personal derogatory comments on chat room sites, and 
disparaging remarks about one's fellows both on & off the air, simply does NOT 
cut it. Rather than risk being "part of the problem", one's first instinct 
should really be a sincere effort at being "part of the solution"...

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

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