In a message dated 00-04-02 18:06:25 EDT, Steve writes:
<< If we just strive to mimic commercial installations what is the point? >>
This is certainly a legitimate concern, but I wonder if the nature of the
debate isn't being overstated. There may be a few folks who say it's all not
worthwhile unless we can do it to commercial standards, but I think most of
us who haunt the LF bands know that's seldom practical. (Please, don't
pigeonhole me in any "silent majority" category, though! That still has
uncomfortable political connotations over here.)
American LF enthusiasts don't fit the stereotype of the "California Kilowatt"
amateur. Living where we remain stuck with the limits one watt DC input and
15 metres of total antenna and transmission line, we fully appreciate what
Steve says about experimenters "whose motivation is one of the pure thrill of
the challenge (whether 10km or 2000km) and are competing with the physics,
etc, not each other." That's been us all along, and I hope it always will be.
However, I would argue the other side of the coin to this extent: If we
choose to ignore commercial practice, what is the point? Seems to me _that_
constitutes reinventing the wheel. Wouldn't it be better to understand the
wheel first, then try to improve upon it within our practical limitations?
73,
John KD4IDY
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