Re: [IRCA] [NRC-AM] QRSS: A idea for future DX Tests.....

["Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brett,

That's a good suggestion. The sweep tones have really been a huge 
improvement
during DX tests, but I have met some who consider them to be less than 
valid. Why, I'm
not sure.

In a perfect world, I think we'd all love to hear voice ID's for every 
station in our log
book, but that isn't going to happen. All of these signals are amplitude 
modulated
tones, and the only issue is what we're doing to "recover" them.

I see using a freeware spectrum analyzer as the next logical step. Many of 
us already
use low noise antennas, phasers, IF DSP's, and other tools...this is really 
just
adding one more.

I'm not trying to alienate anyone, but there is always this resistance to 
anything new
in this hobby. Do you know who I see trying for these DX tests month after 
month,
year after year? It's not the vast numbers of our members who subscribe to 
print
only publications and DX with old equipment. It's the same core group, who 
really
do seem interested in advancing the state of the art. They don't all have a 
lot
of money or fancy stuff, but they're willing to experiment.

But instead of doing things to improve things for the folks who actually 
participate,
we spend a lot of time worrying about the vast "masses" who almost never do.

I don't know about everyone, but if this technique would allow me to log
Alaska or Hawaii or even small New England states from Alabama, I'm all for 
it.

Or we can all sit around complaining about IBOC, I guess...



Les Rayburn, N1LF
NRC/IRCA Broadcast Test Coordinator
Please call anytime 24/7 if your transmitter
will be off the air for maintenance.
(205) 253-4867




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brett Saylor" <bds2@xxxxxxx>
To: <am@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: [NRC-AM] QRSS: A idea for future DX Tests.....


> Les Rayburn wrote:
>
>> We could still include the traditional elements of the DX Test, including
>> sweep tones, Morse and voice IDs...but if time permits, I think including
>> QRSS during a portion of the test makes a lot of sense.
>
> Les, I think that's the key to success - don't eliminate the other 
> components of the tests, but add the new ones. I've personally had very 
> good luck on both the Montana and Utah tests with the sweep tones, which 
> were audible with no processing or computer needed. I had a much harder 
> time making out code, either by ear or with a spectrum analysis program.
>
> If this comes to fruition, it might be useful to stage the morse code 
> portion in ever-slowing rates during the test (e.g. start at 10 wpm, then 
> step down to 5, 2, etc.) to give the listeners the ability to do bandwidth 
> vs. speed tradeoffs - that might help us arrive at the "magic" speed for a 
> crowded AM-band signal,
>
> Brett Saylor
>
> Start planning now for the first NRC/WTFDA joint  Convention!
> Boise Idaho Labor Day Weekend 2007
> Visit http://www.nrcdxas.org for details
> ===============================================
> What?  DX NEWS in pdf format? / DXAS as a MP3? / $15 per year?
> Check out the samples. Then check out e-dxn!!
> Visit http://www.nrcdxas.org Download Sample DXN & DXAS
> ===============================================
> 

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