Tracy wrote:
Also, as pointed out, 1 S-unit is not gonna make a discernable
difference.
On lower HF frequencies, due to atmospheric QRN and other noise, that
extra 6dB above QRP can really make the difference between a Q-5 QSO
& a Q-3 in-the-noise QSO, especially on SSB. It's fairly well
established, and is one of the reasons for the defacto 20W standard
for HF military manpacks. (My own experience in the field supports
this). For those who still need to use HF SSB for serious
communications purposes, the power level is a significant issue for
us. 50Watt backpack systems would be optimum, but older technology
backpackable batteries have not previously been practical for higher
than 20W. Recent commercialization of battery technologies such as
Lithium-Ion now gives us the ability to run 50W backpacks. Take a
look at the new QMAC HF-90 for instance (a 50W unit).
OTOH, for the optional fun QSO when the band is good, power is not a
concern at all (ie. "Look Martha, I'm 5/3 in Samoa on 20"). Don't get
me wrong, I still get a kick out of that fun stuff!
For backpack operation, my practice has usually been to start at
5Watts to conserve battery, then increase power as needed. I've
rarely been satisfied with 5W results on SSB backpack, especially
when working NVIS. In many situations, I have wished so much for just
a few more dB to alleviate the need for phonetics and repetition when
getting a message through. So my mini 50W linear will be an integral
part of my 817 backpack setup, because that's what I need for my
application. Other operators may be not be so demanding, and for
them, 5W SSB is adequate for occasional contacts.
the Yaesu at 5 watts is gonna outperform the SG-2020 at 20 watts.
Respectfully, Tracy, I seriously have doubts about that. 6dB higher
power output level simply does result in 6dB better signal/noise
performance on the receive end. As much as I like Yaesu gear, they
have not yet cornered the market on audio clarity and compression.
There is only so much that can be done to slice and dice SSB.
I'm not a defender of the 2020, but someone in this group probably
can put your premise to the test after the 817 arrives...
BTW- My 2020 had a Heil element :)
73---Bonnie KQ6XA
