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Thehobo
Member
Username: Thehobo

Post Number: 65
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 12:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

in referance to using the singal streath meter on the radio while recieving, are the first 1 thru 9 considered s units or maybe dbs?? courious as to the use of how easy the sending radio can use the first 9 numbers, then it gets tough to make the meter read after you hit 10 over?? ive heard people say you 10 over s9?? in my own thoughts, dose it take, say, another 9 numbers to raise the signal i s unit over the 10 mark?? are the meters on the radios calibrated so that once you get to 10 over its harder to raise the incoming signal so that you could give a person a radio recieve report?? i no this is not making to much sence, but i think some of you have an idea of what im looking for??? ya i no???????? lol.. thanks

thehobo
274150 am
monitor ch
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 3641
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 2:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

THE "S" METER !

The "S" meter was set up as follows ...

Collins radio back in the 40's used this as a standard ...... NO METER COULD FOLLOW IT ....

+ 20 DB over "S" 9 = 10,000 UV
+ 10 DB over "S" 9 = 1000 UV
S-9 = 100 UV
S-8 = 50 UV
S-7 = 25 UV
S-6 = 12.5 UV
S-5 = 6.75 UV
S-5 = 3.38 UV
S-4 = 1.17 UV
S-3 = .56 UV
S-2 = .28 UV
S-1 = .14 UV

So a "S" meter is USELESS .......
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 3642
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 2:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The voltage for the "S" meter was derived from the AGC loop or in some cases from the diffrence between the cathode of the 1st if and the audio output tube. THE PROBLEM IS it's not linear even remote cutoff pentodes commonly used as IF tubes can go that far signal wise......
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Moonraker
Intermediate Member
Username: Moonraker

Post Number: 176
Registered: 3-2005


Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 7:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"So a "S" meter is USELESS" Bruce, I couldn't disagree more. I can't count how many people I have found (for one reason or another ) by using that wonderful little meter. Also it has kept alot of people from finding me. But I guess it's what you use it for that determines how useful it is. I can always look at an S meter and even though it has little accuracy, it brings back lots of memories.
But that was a long time ago, GOOD TIMES
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 3644
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Moonraker

if you have a good generator feed a signal into a cb radio and see how close it reads ill bet not close at all .....
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Moonraker
Intermediate Member
Username: Moonraker

Post Number: 178
Registered: 3-2005


Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 11:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bruce, I agree 100% that an S meter is not an accurate tool. I wasn’t saying you were wrong and apologize if you took it that way. I was just reminiscing of my younger days...
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 3645
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 4:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I understand your using it that way we all do my problem is they COULD be more usefull but instead the new bar ones are TOTALY useless....
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Thehobo
Member
Username: Thehobo

Post Number: 66
Registered: 2-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 12:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

say hey, want to thank yaall for the input?? sort of figured something along that line, but forgot were ive read it!! old age i think it's called!!
huummm.. agin thanks..

thehobo
274150 am
monitor ch
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 1085
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 12:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Whenever someone ask me to look at my s meter they say "How many pounds?" I usually lie to them cause I feel no 2 radios will read the same, worthless in my opinion. Hey they are fun to look at and the guys who are infatuauted with swing love them!
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 3681
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 2:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Whenever someone ask me to look at my s meter they say "How many pounds?"

Thats ANOTHER BEEF i have about making up things ....
When you read a meter how do you get pounds ?
And what is a POUND UNIT .... a PU ??????
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Wolverine
Advanced Member
Username: Wolverine

Post Number: 615
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 8:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

if they're hitting S-5 on the meter, tell them "I got you with a solid 5 Lbs" (Lies, and Bull). Remember, you're appealing to the man's ego. If he hits you in the red (Strawberry patch), then you're on your own (Make up some more Lb).
Wolverine.
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 1093
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 9:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

My radio is metric so I measure signals in kilograms!
I wonder how the pound thing got started? Gotta love it! Good ol American cb'ers! 73
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Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445

Post Number: 1143
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 4:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Actually, I have an idea where pounds started. Amateurs are notoriously frugal, and they make use of used or surplus equipment whenever possible to keep the price of their projects down. That includes meters which are expensive. I would imagine someone used a meter that was marked with PSI or some other unit that was shortened to just pounds when signal reports were given.

That's a good idea Hotwire. I think I'll give future signal reports in Newton-Meters and totally confuse everyone.
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Ak3383
Member
Username: Ak3383

Post Number: 59
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 9:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Actually the term "pounds" came from a lack of knowing what "db" symbol on the s-meter stood for, so these unimformed ones associated it with "lb" hence pounds.
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 5109
Registered: 9-2003


Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 5:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Never heard that before but it makes sence .....
MUCH of CB fokelure is because of hear say ....

EXTRA CHANNELS, EXPORT RADIOS, ANTENNA STORIES and RULES AND REGULATIONS Every one has a life of it's own.

So why not not understanding DB ?

And lets not forget the people tring to SELL Radio stuff ...... Yep a 9.9 DB gain 1/2 wave vertical comes to mind .....

Bruce
On 6 since 66
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Keithinatlanta
Advanced Member
Username: Keithinatlanta

Post Number: 837
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 - 11:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey guys. I do not know how I missed this one, but it is funny!! I also used the term #'s back in early 70's because that is what I heard everyone else use. Bruce, don't you know what a "Pound Unit" is??????????????????????????
Don't worry, cause I don't either!! :-) Sorry sir, I could just not resist!

Keith in Atlanta
CEF 150
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 5117
Registered: 9-2003


Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - 5:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Keith .....

You sound like some one who could use a GRID LEAK PAN ......

Yep I empty mine every time I finish with my tube type linear .......

Much better than just dropping them over the floor ...
On 6 since 66

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