02-03-2014, 06:59 PM
True - many own 'scopes too, but the ownership of test gear isn't always an indication of the knowledge and ability to use it. That said, as I mentioned earlier, there are those around who do have the knowledge and are only too willing to assist others wishing to experiment on either side of the law without causing a nuisance or drawing attention to themselves.
In my dealings with Ofcom it became clear that they are disinterested in this and I think that to paraphrase the US Military (in a different vein!) the motto is "don't ask - don't tell" and Ofcom will keep on not minding. I got the impression that Ofcom just see us a tiny band of harmless eccentric 'men in sheds' furtling with bits of wire and soldering irons - at worst, spraying a tiny bit of MW RF over their own curtains. I'm content with that perception!
As to amateur radio, most amateurs these days use solid state 'plug 'n play' commercial transceivers which generally have a maximum output of 100 Watts SSB - well below the legal limit of 400 Watts PEP. Most modern PA stages progressively reduce the output if it isn't into a well-matched antenna system, and with feeder losses etc, I dare say that there will be a lot less than 100Watts at the feed point of the antenna anyway. Few amateurs will have the means of accurately checking their RF output (Bird through-line Wattmeter etc) and just rely on what the makers' spec says.
Ironically, the last bastion of technically and practically minded radio amateurs seems to reside in the QRP community. Ironically, the reason they are keen to measure their power isn’t to ensure that it’s within the legal limit, but to ensure that it doesn’t exceed their self-imposed output power of a maximum of 10 Watts to be considered ‘QRP’ (Low Power). As to how far a few mW will travel when into an efficient antenna system, the QRP community has the ‘Million Miles Per Watt award’. The Wold record, set on January 2, 2005, is 13.4 million miles per Watt, from a beacon with a transmit power of 40 millionth of a Watt! But admittedly the amateur who copied the signal used rather more than a coat-hanger for an antenna!
Quote:
Bill Tippett, W4ZV, of New London, NC correctly copied code word OMAHA from the N2XE beacon transmitting with a peak carrier power of .0000406 watts at 3.5455 MHz on the 80 meter Amateur Radio band. Bill confirmed reception of the beacon at 2328Z, January 2, 2005. The precise distance between the two stations is 546.8 miles, establishing Bill's record reception distance at 13,467,980 miles per watt. Tippett used a Ten Tec Orion Transceiver with a 1,000 foot Beverage antenna (named after Dr. Harold Beverage who invented it in the 1920s).
Unquote.
Source: http://www.eham.net/articles/9982
(My younger son is very pleased with his 'Spitfire' that he uses with his two Ekco A22s - saved me a job of building him something!).
In my dealings with Ofcom it became clear that they are disinterested in this and I think that to paraphrase the US Military (in a different vein!) the motto is "don't ask - don't tell" and Ofcom will keep on not minding. I got the impression that Ofcom just see us a tiny band of harmless eccentric 'men in sheds' furtling with bits of wire and soldering irons - at worst, spraying a tiny bit of MW RF over their own curtains. I'm content with that perception!
As to amateur radio, most amateurs these days use solid state 'plug 'n play' commercial transceivers which generally have a maximum output of 100 Watts SSB - well below the legal limit of 400 Watts PEP. Most modern PA stages progressively reduce the output if it isn't into a well-matched antenna system, and with feeder losses etc, I dare say that there will be a lot less than 100Watts at the feed point of the antenna anyway. Few amateurs will have the means of accurately checking their RF output (Bird through-line Wattmeter etc) and just rely on what the makers' spec says.
Ironically, the last bastion of technically and practically minded radio amateurs seems to reside in the QRP community. Ironically, the reason they are keen to measure their power isn’t to ensure that it’s within the legal limit, but to ensure that it doesn’t exceed their self-imposed output power of a maximum of 10 Watts to be considered ‘QRP’ (Low Power). As to how far a few mW will travel when into an efficient antenna system, the QRP community has the ‘Million Miles Per Watt award’. The Wold record, set on January 2, 2005, is 13.4 million miles per Watt, from a beacon with a transmit power of 40 millionth of a Watt! But admittedly the amateur who copied the signal used rather more than a coat-hanger for an antenna!
Quote:
Bill Tippett, W4ZV, of New London, NC correctly copied code word OMAHA from the N2XE beacon transmitting with a peak carrier power of .0000406 watts at 3.5455 MHz on the 80 meter Amateur Radio band. Bill confirmed reception of the beacon at 2328Z, January 2, 2005. The precise distance between the two stations is 546.8 miles, establishing Bill's record reception distance at 13,467,980 miles per watt. Tippett used a Ten Tec Orion Transceiver with a 1,000 foot Beverage antenna (named after Dr. Harold Beverage who invented it in the 1920s).
Unquote.
Source: http://www.eham.net/articles/9982
(My younger son is very pleased with his 'Spitfire' that he uses with his two Ekco A22s - saved me a job of building him something!).
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
