Ken,
I agree with your statements, but would like to point out that it
doesn't have to be that way. If you borrow a top quality calibrated
signal generator, or spring for one of the Elecraft receiver
calibrators, and borrow or build a calibrated step attenuator, you can
quickly make a table of what your S-meter really means. I've done that
with my transceiver and keep the spreadsheet in the back of the logbook.
It's great to be able to give a difinitive comparison when someone asks,
or know quickly what your F/B is or whether all of your antennas are
working (if you note the difference in level from stations in a few
different directions on all your antennas when the are working!).
OTOH, getting a 30 over report always makes me think something must be
working!
73, Joel Hallas, W1ZR
Ken Waites wrote:
Well , speaking only for myself, I will not worry one second about S-meter
accuracy -- if there is such a thing.
I think S meter readings are as important as the signal report you get during a
contest or DXpedition - everybody is 599. Be happy, but improve your antenna
anyway.
All it does for me is provide a comparison for when the person on the other end switches from A to
B -- "yep that one is stronger", i.e. its only the comparison that matters. If anyone
thinks going from +15 over to +20 over means they got 5 db more ... -- well, I think there may be
better measuring techniques. Only "you are a bit stronger than before" matters.
Q: "Was that with the preamp on or off?" "Did you have your antenna directly on me?" Is the gain linear? Did you have parallax problems reading the meter?
A: "Gees, I gave you a 30 over report -- what else do you want?"
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