Return-Path: Received: (qmail 299 invoked from network); 27 Dec 2000 18:07:32 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO warrior-inbound.servers.plus.net) (212.159.14.227) by excalibur.plus.net with SMTP; 27 Dec 2000 18:07:32 -0000 Received: (qmail 23778 invoked from network); 27 Dec 2000 18:02:23 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO post.thorcom.com) (212.172.148.70) by warrior with SMTP; 27 Dec 2000 18:02:23 -0000 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 3.16 #1) id 14BKoo-0006Cf-00 for rsgb_lf_group-outgoing@blacksheep.org; Wed, 27 Dec 2000 17:56:54 +0000 Received: from imo-r04.mx.aol.com ([152.163.225.4]) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 3.16 #1) id 14BKom-0006Ca-00 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Wed, 27 Dec 2000 17:56:52 +0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 Received: from WarmSpgs@aol.com by imo-r04.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v28.35.) id l.79.e2795b3 (16786) for ; Wed, 27 Dec 2000 12:56:08 -0500 (EST) From: WarmSpgs@aol.com Message-ID: <79.e2795b3.277b8737@aol.com> Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 12:56:07 EST Subject: Re: LF: Big/small antennas. To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 120 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group Sender: Walter is quite right, of course, that amateurs are not bound by the 24hr - 365 days/year service requirements imposed upon professional LF systems engineers. However, the examples he cites abundantly demonstrate that the tradeoffs amateurs sometimes have to make are still poor engineering practice, even if not intended for professional ends. The use of kilowatts of transmitter power to produce 1W ERP imposes a burdensome cost on what is fundamentally a hobby activity, results in serious electrical and (potentially) fire safety hazards, and requires extraordinary effort to satisfy the neighbors' aesthetic values and keep their television receivers happy. Let me be very clear: I'm absolutely NOT a big-antennas-or-nothing advocate. I realize that not everyone has hectares of open land, and may have to adapt to their surroundings. On the other hand, I also hold the view that RF egalitarianism is not always feasible, and at some point we have to accept that LF in a garden plot is not likely to achieve 1W ERP unless we can throw almost as much money and/or work into the transmitter as we would into an "antenna farm." Nor does it matter that we radiate 1W if we can't receive as far as we transmit, thanks to urban or suburban noise levels on LF. Our goals have to fit our means. Where I live, I'm surrounded by neighbors who watch a distant TV station on US channel 2. The result is that I cannot reasonably figure to work DX on 6m. By the time I resolved all the RFI issues, I would have to pawn most of my radio gear. Therefore, I must plan the occasional field expedition if I choose to work 6m. We will have a very serious limitation over here, if or when the FCC approves LF ham regulations. The "California kilowatt" stations won't be on this side of the pond. You may be aware that a 2W ERP limit has been proposed. However, out of safety and EMC concerns, a 200W PEP transmitter power limit has also been proposed. There won't be any 3kW transmitters here. We will just plain _have_ to do the job with semi-efficient antenna systems! Hence, not every US ham who wants to participate on LF will be able to do so; at least, not at anything remotely approaching maximum radiated power. Again, let me emphasize: I am NOT advocating big-antennas-or-nothing. I'm happy for anyone who wants to try radiating from a Tesla coil in the garden to do so. I'm only saying that understanding the reasons behind professional practice will let us have more realistic expectations about what we should expect from the resources available to us. 73, John KD4IDY