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Unread 14-04-2009, 11:51
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Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
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AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
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Re: Interesting speed test

Mr. D et al,
I think it is important here to add a few things that can bend the impression a little. In deference to the new technology,
Radio CW, Morse encoded messages, can be transmitted and received with rudimentary, home built in a day from parts you can obtain at Radio Shack, simple but effective equipment. And this equipment can be built with as few parts as three or four transistors. Such equipment is in use everyday, for world wide communications without the use of local "cells" or repeaters and without special encoding/decoding circuitry. It can be understood even when the noise to signal (not signal to noise) is as high as 20 dB. The codes and abreviations used worldwide can be understood by all foreign operators without translation. In addition, coded morse messages can still be received and transmitted without the need to understand the message or information being passed. This equipment is used at all frequencies currently open to licensed operators. Operators of this "antiquated" mode are also the fathers of modern day techno improvments like the use of microwaves, single side band, digital modes, repeaters and yes even cell phones. Yes, it is sometimes hard to learn, hard to improve to high speed without practice, but it gets the job done. BTW, there is a contest/award for transmitting and receiving a message for the longest distance and lowest transmitted power called the "Milliwatt per Mile" award. As I remember the current record is something like 4000 miles on 0.0005 watts. I currently have three radios that make 5 watts or less output. Heath HW-8 @1.2 watts output max on 80 meters, Wilderness Radio Sierra 3 watts max depending on band @350ma transmit, and a Yaesu FT-817 @ 5 watts maximum. The first two are home built. All of these radios are 4 band minimum and the last one does 6M, 2M and 440 MHz as well.

Don should be able to give us accurate details on milliwatt per mile.
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Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
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Storming the Tower since 1996.

Last edited by Al Skierkiewicz : 14-04-2009 at 11:54.
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