This will be the last update from me on the speech compressor. Had several good chats this afternoon with airfields on the air stations and a portable station in Ireland. Tried with compressor on and off, all stations preferred the compressor on, they reported better, stronger audio and increased S meter readings. Typically I am heard first call with no-one asking for a repeat of callsign.
One station had me at 59+ and couldn't believe I was using a 817, he was particularly impressed with the sotabeams compressor, although he had heard of it he had never heard one on air until now.
On a pep meter the compressor gives increased wattage. I have mic gain set to give 3 bars of ALC with compressor on and both pots set halfway, only regret is not buying one earlier, it has transformed ssb on the 817.
Andy
M0RON