Now we know a date, February 13, 2026 (which is February 12 at 5pm MST where I am located.) I've decided I'll stick with the current frequency and drop my power to 9.15 Watts ERP, which for my 43 foot vertical means 15 watts from the transmitter. I've been practicing that power for the past few days and it is more of a challenge. I will also monitor Channel 2 to see if there is 100 watt ft8 activity.
How did you calculate that 15 watts into your antenna would equal 9.15 watts ERP? Your 43 foot vertical is just about a quarter wavelength long on the 60M band, it has gain over an isotropic source! Unless you have 2dB of loss in your feed system, you will be over the 9.15W ERP limit. See my post #237
ERP is in the real world. EIRP is the isotropic figure you are talking about. The zero line is a 1/2W dipole with ground reflective gain, which is 8. something dB. Best 1/4 wave you are going to get is about 2-3 dB below that. I think he is calculating it that way. I kind of figured 20 watts into a really good vertical is just fine.
Here is a quote to help your confusion. "As of February 13, FCC-licensed amateur operators holding General Class or higher licenses may operate on a secondary basis anywhere between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz, subject to a maximum bandwidth of 2.8 kHz and maximum transmit power of 9.15 watts ERP (effective radiated power). For the purpose of computing ERP, the transmitter PEP (peak envelope power) is multiplied by the antenna gain relative to a half-wave dipole antenna. A half-wave dipole is presumed to have a gain of 1 (0 dBd). Amateurs using other antennas must maintain in their station records either the antenna manufacturer's data on the antenna gain or calculations of the antenna gain." It is not EIRP it is ERP. If you have modeled any antennas, then you would know that a half wave dipole has a gain of about 8 dB. That varies a little depending on height above ground, so I apologize not exact numbers. A quarter wave vertical has a gain figure of around 5-6 dB. Therefore 2-3 dB below a dipole. 3 dB is half power. Is this starting to click a little bit?
Do you know what you are talking about? You are obviously the one who is confused. For the purposes of this rule, the ground reflection is not considered in the gain of a horizontal antenna. 20W into "a really good vertical"? I guess "a really good vertical" has less gain than an isotropic source, LOL. I'm not going to discuss this with you any further, you need more help than I can give you. 73
Ok I will. It isn't in comparison to an isotropic radiator. It is in comparison to a halfwave dipole above ground.
BTW I just looked at your QRZ page. You say that W8JI is a good source for information. I suggest you go there and he has a writeup of exactly what I am saying! lol
Those were two different comments, taking rather different views. As a general rule, the Commission is supposed to acknowledge the diverse viewpoints expressed in Comments when it writes its Order. It can decide to ignore or disagree with any of them, of course. It is clear, though, that FT8 and other digital modes are legal on that band.
There's no mention of ground gain. The rule is 15 W dbi period. So if you're using a half wave dipole (theoretically has gain of 2.15db) then your maximum power is 9.15 W (i.e. 10 log (9.15 /15) = -2.15). See footnote 119 in the report. Jim, W2JTM
Correction : There's no mention of ground gain. The rule is 15 W EIRP period. So if you're using a half wave dipole (theoretically has gain of 2.15db) then your maximum power is 9.15 W (i.e. 10 log (9.15 /15) = -2.15). See paragraph 34 in the report. Jim, W2JTM
Maybe I don't get your point but in defense of W5ESE, he's FAR from a "no code FT8 only operator". He's a long-time very proficient CW op. Dave W7UUU
