What the Heck is a 59? - Ham Radio - TheSmokinApe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- What the Heck is a 59? - Ham Radio - TheSmokinApe
In this video we discuss Signal Reporting and the RST System / Scale used in Amateur Ham Radio.
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Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I'm like the kid in class afraid to raise his hand to ask the question for fear of being ridiculed. I feared contesting by voice because I had never understood the 5/9 issue. Now I do, thanks to you. I really appreciate this video, most of them take for granted that everyone is an expert, when in reality there are just a lot afraid to ask the question.
Hey Soup, glad the video was helpful. I think the whole 5/9 thing is silly 👍
Contests.....everyone is a 59! I think the ionosphere knows there is a contest going on as well as everyone's antenna suddenly becomes resonant. Love it. Edit-so many factors....each receiving station has a different antenna, different location...signal reports should vary!
Silly isn’t it 👍
Hahahaj."ionosphere knows" hahahah that was funny xD
Nice: I write “edit” too
I'd appreciate the honesty! I was wondering why I always hear 59, that's like everyone being a winner. I like the sound of a report more along S/N. I am a new technician and appreciate this video!
Everyone gets a trophy 🏆
@@TheSmokinApe first bump 🤛
I recently got an unsolicited "great signal, armchair copy " signal report from a 3rd party listening to a qso I was having where I mentioned my new home brew antenna. One of my favorite RST of all time. Lol
That’s awesome 👍
I don’t feel slighted in the least if someone gives me an honest low number signal report. I’m happy they took the time to reply. I keep an RST cheat sheet close to my radio so that I can give a more accurate report. Great video as usual. Thanks man, Kn4eqg
Thanks for watching KN4EQG, glad you liked it!
Thanks for saying what needed to be said. I got my licence when S meters were an optional extra or didn't exist for a lot of receivers, so reports were given by ear and were more honest than they are now. The most amazing report I heard given out by a local recently to a DX station was "You are 5 and 0". Yes, five and zero. He couldn't manage to give a report unless his S meter was showing a value.
S meters are best used to give relative reports - "You are 10db stronger on that aerial compared to the other" for example. They are not to be taken as definitive.
Cheers from a snowy England - G3WNR
Thanks Steve, glad you liked the video!
sorry to be so off topic but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account?
I was dumb forgot my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me!
@Finnegan Yahir instablaster =)
@Canaan Brixton I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Canaan Brixton it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thank you so much, you really help me out!
Thanks, so often I think Hams forget the this is a hobby for many, and take themselves too seriously.
Agreed, thanks for watching Charles 👍
Excellent subject! You are absolutely correct. 59 is overused. Another incorrect use is the reporting of "Q" Signals. The overuse and incorrect use of "QSL" over the recent years is now worldwide. Although QSL is a confirmation of receipt of your transmission, it was always followed by exchanging a written receipt on a QSL Card. QSL was not intended to be used in place of a verbal acknowledgment. I just stick with "Roger" or "Roger-Roger". However, I was taught old school ways by my elmer in the 1970s and 80s.
Best regards.
Thanks for watching Greg, and QSL nonsense drives me crazy...
Great information, thank you Ape!
Thanks Andrew 👍
This is a great video. Thanks for all you do!
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching 👍
I was out on a mountain road turn out with a tape measure yagi overlooking SoCal. I told a contact who was 50 miles away he was 46 and he was super pissed. It was pretty funny actually because I want an honest signal report to.
I don't get it, thanks for watching Robert 👍
Good Video, good explanation!
Thanks for checking it out Iain!
Thank for this - you tackled a topic, i was wandering about - now i understand better.
Glad it was helpful 👍
Ape,
I totally agree with you in this respect.
If there is a problem with your radio or antenna, you need to know about it, from others
that are receiving your signal.
Giving out stock standard 59 signal reports are BS and helps no-one at all.
Secondary to this, the two numbers are meaningless without some sort of back-up information (especially with voice modes) as to why you're giving this particular rating to another ham.
I will say (where applicable), things like there is a whistle in behind your audio or your signal fluctuates, or whatever as the case may be.
A very good video.
Thanks Mike, glad you liked it 👍
Thanks. Very helpful
Glad you liked it, thank you for watching 👍
Very helpful to me. Thanks
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching 👍
Great video, straight to the point, Thanks.
Thanks for watching Electro, glad you liked it!
Fantastic video on a subject that is rarely talked about. Great job!
Glad you liked it!
Suggestion. A disclaimer not to drink fluids while watching your videos. Almost spit twice. 😂
The bs stands for….
I’m sure there’s a bunch of experts watching….
Love your content sir! Thanks for all the effort you put into your videos!
Haha, glad you enjoyed it 👍
I attended my first net last night. Near the end, I asked one guy specifically what equipment he was running because his “RST was by far the best at my location”. The language used by the rest of the group changed after that as though they were offended they weren’t “the best”. I sure hope I didn’t make any enemies as a brand new ham! 😅
Eh, you will be fine... BUT hams can be overly sensitive 👍
Thankyou for the FUN-Enjoyable-happy factor🎉
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching Kevin 👍
Great simple explanation!! Being new, I have been trying to understand this better.
Awesome Bob, glad it was helpful 👍
Couldn't have found a better more succinct video. Thanks
VE2BKT
Thanks Penz, glad you liked it!
Thanks for the RST bare-bones details
I totally agree with you SmokinApe ,
Truth be told 👍 thanks for posting this video. 73
Glad you liked it VK5FUSE 👍
I hate it when i get 59's and I'm at home and on any band except 20m....I'm talking through a G5RV that's wrapped around the inside of my attic with the ends overlapping, in the middle of a neighborhood. I KNOW you're not hearing me at a 59. By that same token, if I give you a 59, BELIEVE IT! I have such a high noise floor at home, that if I can hear you enough to work you, you're no worse than a 57, but usually a 59. After my first ever portable operating this last Memorial day weekend out away from all the noise.....It gave em an all new appreciation for the signal reports. I now get that you can be a 53, where I can hear you perfectly, but you are VERY quiet.
Totally agree, in most cases it’s totally meaningless 👍
I really appreciate the content. Good refresher and good best practices reminders. Most of my signal reports will likely change as I will be less lazy and more accurate to the intent. I honestly needed to see cheat sheet again!
Hey Jeffrey, to me the whole signal report thing is just silly...
This seems like a simple topic, but you hit all the things about it that I've never really understood. I mean, I understand the system, but not how people are actually using it. Because, well, they kind of aren't using it. Thanks for the vindication!
Thanks man, glad you liked the video 👍
"Your RST is 336" "What do you mean 336!" "You have a fair signal, fair power, but I don't like your tone!!!!!" LOL. Thank you! A steady 59 may be easy for logging and contesting but I prefer an honest report. Yes people do get upset if they don't get a steady 59. Thanks for the video and keep at it. 73 de ke5es
Thanks for the comment Steve! LOL @ "but I don't like your tone!"
What a great topic, and well put also. It can be confusing for new hams. I'm still somewhat new to HF and still learn stuff all the time.
When I got back into the hobby and started doing HF I was scratching my head over my S-meter to try and give an honest signal report, but over time and with making more contacts learned similar stuff you outlined here in your video.
73 de N2NLQ
Thanks Mike! It can be confusing for folks, hopefully this will help some of them out 👍
Thank you !
You're welcome!
Thank you. Not a new ham only a tech for 10yrs but I'm studying for my General. And always wondered if it was based on the S meter. Was very helpful
Hey WV, glad to hear it was helpful 👍
I'm a long time Ham and I really liked your video. People get way too uptight about giving an RST report. Actually Ham sometimes can way too uptight about everything. It mostly just fun and it should be treated as such.
Thanks Josh, glad you liked it bro 👍
Thanks for this video, was at the Houston Ham fest and made my First HF contacts at the get on the air station there. As I was making contacts and I asked about the whole 59 thing and what was the guide. The person running the station told me to just give everyone a 59. I'm new so I didnt question it there. Glad I found your video explaining it.
Hey Rudy, the whole thing is silly these days...
Thank you for clarifying this in a very honest way. I'm still new to HF and was wondering about this for a while. You also answered my question about the S-Meter, I can manipulate my sound floor which in-turn changes the S-Meter reading. Thanks again.
Yeah, the way folks give these reports makes zero sense. Thanks for watching 👍
I get it for contests because it is about speed and efficiency. If I get a 59 after I ask I will sometimes quiz the person about how I sound.
FM signal reports are fine even through repeaters especially when using HTs.
I get, just seems silly to be required to give a report and not do it correctly. Thanks for the comment!
I wish I had seen this before I started giving signal reports. This makes so much more sense to me now.
Glad it was helpful, thanks for checking it out 👍
Thanks, this video needed to made.
Glad you liked it!
Great video! Glad to see this. Personally, I like to give a true signal report as well as receiving one. It tells me what my radio is doing. I guess I’m old time lol. Even when I’m activating POTA, I give the actual signal report. It all depends on lots of variables. And your very right, meters vary.
Hey Bill! Glad you liked the video, I agree with you completely 👍
Thanks! This video has cleared up all the questions I have ever had about signal reports. Occasionally you get the nice guy on the other end telling you it is not you or your radio, it is the band conditions when you really know that your equipment sucks and I have to invest $50K into the best radio, amp, tuner, cable, tower and antennas money can buy!
Glad it was helpful, thanks for the comment!
I get what you're saying. I work a lot of QRP and and higher powers. About 50/50. I am constantly getting 599s from DX and contest stations when I'm running 2.5 or 5 watts. They just have that programmed in their button box because they don't want to take the time to consider the signal report and just move on to the next station as fast as possible. As long as they get your call letters you're a 599. But I give them the cherry or the dirt accordingly. The way I do it is I go by the meter and you may say well all meters are different but that really doesn't matter since all signals are different on my end. But most meters will fairly accurately distinguish the difference between other signals on the band. I used a Ten Tec Century 21 which has no s meter for 16 years and nothing else. I Was always wrestling with what strength to give them. I don't think many ears can really tell the difference between a S4 and an S6 without some kind of indicator. I try to be objective when giving the readability. That and the signal strength go hand and hand. But from a 1 to 7 meter reading on strength, I give them a 1 to 7. From 7 to 9 I give them an 8. That is a little broad but I think it's fair. Any thing over S9, I give a 59 or 599 Because that is your extremely strong signal area. K4JTP
Good explanation. I had pretty much figured out that contesters were , uh, less than helpful with signal reports., but you covered the complete spectrum of how well meaning hams are giving RTS that are less than helpful for us personally.
Thanks for the comment 👍
Sometimes, I give a "59" even if I needed them to repeat their call sign. In those cases, the problem was with the discriminator between my ears and not their signal at all. And I have given a "52" to someone who was perfectly readable, but had a weak signal. Later, I might don my headphones and suddenly a "52" is a "59." It's magic! HAHA! Thanks for the video! 73! -Scott, KE4WMF
lol @ discriminator! Thanks for the comment!
in the military, we had 5x5 as loud and clear. there was and is not a nine scale in that world. Weak but readable was acceptable. great video and content
Thanks Woodie, glad you liked it. As you can guess, I have zero interest in getting an RST.
5 9 here, The Smoking Ape, but I missed your call sign.
Lol, thanks as always for watching Jim 👍
Lol
Great video. I usually give honest reports. I have however, given a 59 and needed them to repeat their call. Usually because either 1. Another guy with a strong signal walks over the first 2. There is a quick static crash right during a single letter of their call, or 3. I am daydreaming when the person gives their call and I need them to repeat, even when they are perfectly readable. So just because someone needs to repeat the call, doesn’t mean its not a 59.
Fair points, thanks for the comment 👍
Great video.
59 loud and clear to me.
Motters M7TRS 🇬🇧
73
Thanks for watching Motters
#ThNHR
Team replay for the win.
Been into this game for about a year, thanks for doing this.
Thanks No Code 👍
@@TheSmokinApe You are the only one who calls me No Code, I guess that's what friends are for.
Friendship is magic.
I’m here for you bro 👍
New to the channel and yes I know it was years ago but.....thanks for doing this. I too have heard people get upset over the numbers given. It is almost like a " status symbol " to be given a 5/9. Your signal may be the best but the signal I am receiving may not be due to many variables. Great video and explanation.
Yeah, the whole thing is silly IMO 👍
This is how “best practices” (which is really for non-hobby endeavors) can be taken to an extreme. This often makes the hobby unpleasant for new operators as well as those of us who are more seasoned. I usually describe a signal or audio check qualitatively, or in the digital world in terms of packet loss and modulation. A 5-9 colloquially just means you are being heard by the receiving station “loud and clear.”
Agreed, thanks for watching Ron
Thank you.
Now i know👍👍👍
Glad it was helpful 👍
I was happy to get a 46 the other day because I was on Mt Umunhum VHF with a 5W HT and the other station was a mobile 60 miles away in Downtown Oakland.
Also the N6NFI repeater in Palo Alto will give you your S-reading into the repeater if you key up and enter 699 on the DTMF. It’s fun to stand in the front yard and test different antennas to see the difference at the repeater.
That does sound cool 👍
@@TheSmokinApe it was a fun day, I had contacts in all directions. Monterrey, Salinas, Oakland, and San Jose. Sunny sky and no fog so you could see all the way out to the coast and up to San Francisco. Lots of fun summits around here where a SOTA activation can be done no problem with an HT.
That does sound fun, I appears that California has a strong HR community 👍
My favourite 5&9 is: "You're 5 & 9, what are the last three of your callsign? I think you said your name was Jack and that you are in Wisconsin, or it might be Washington, or possibly Wyoming." You think I'm joking, I heard something very similar last night, but it involved a GW station and an IT9, on 20 metres. 5 & anything means I can copy every word.
Haha, totally agree 👍
First of all thanks for the video. Here are my thoughts. I was on a very popular WAS type Net tonight I'm also a NCS. There were people in the AIM saying the second number is the reading off your meter. I have never thought that and never will. I tried to tell these old guys maybe that's how it was back in the day when you took your test but I took my test a few years ago and there was nothing said whatsoever about a meter. personally I think the reason why using a meter is bad is because they're not all the same yes we hear different but the meters really can be very different from one another. You tell these old guys that and they just don't get it and think they're right so I just let it go.
Agreed, it's gotten to the point that a signal report is useless IMO. Thanks for watching!
Ape 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅. Great video. Again you have taught me something I didn't know. Your videos are really helping me to be a better have and also trouble shoot things. You are a God Send my friend. Plz keep these types of videos coming. Thank you. 73 de KG7LOI.
Awesome Clark, I’m glad they are helpful 👍
@@TheSmokinApe also where can I get that chart so I can give true signal reports?
@@user-mt2qn4yp8w google “rst reports” and that should do it 👍
@@TheSmokinApe 👍
Roger rubber ducky. Loud an clear.heres another 59 for ya video explanation. I heard the ducky saying from a work site of first time users, that thought the 888 was kowl..yes indeedeham radio.out.
I've often wondered how to use an S meter for giving signal reports since on my radio (Xeigu x6100) the s meter changes significantly with the RF gain, and I change the gain a lot to deal with noise. So I have just been giving people subjective reports based on how strong it appears relative to the noise floor. Interesting to learn that this may have been the "correct" way to do it all along.
You were doing it right 👍
SWL here... LOL! Heard this yesterday... Ham took several tries to get the DX signal call sign, and when he finally does, he says back, "Yeah we got you 5 by 9!" I call BS!
Hey Ron, right... you always here that stuff 👍
Thanks for this video. New ham (tech for now) and I was wondering what this meant, I thought it was something totally with the S meter
Glad you like it CB 👍
Whenever listening to contesters on HF my Signal Report BS meter doesn't budge from 9+60dB.
I used to think it was broken but since have found that it functions perfectly when working VHF or UHF aircraft scatter.
I'm a QRPer so I'm just happy if they get my call sign right lol. In a contest (which I don't generally participate in myself) I think 5/9 and move on is perfectly acceptable as it's about collecting as many contacts as possible. Everyone can tell when they're weak or not heard well by the other station if they're asked to repeat over and over. My rig's S-meter seems to undershoot what I'm hearing so I often go by ear and compare it to other stations I hear. Most operators give honest reports so I do my best as well to be honest. DXers seem to be the most consistent with actual reports in my experience. I think it's ok to give a signal report on FM simplex I usually just give the S-meter reading and describe the readability as best I can instead of giving a number. On repeaters a description is all that's needed because the repeater is what your rig's S-meter is registering.
Thanks for the detailed comment, it sounds like we are pretty much on the same page. Take care and be safe 👍
Signal reports are inherently subjective and heavily influenced by the setup of the RX station as well as the TX.
Using the S-meter removes some of the human subjectivity even if they’re not calibrated the same - but the meter calibration matters less than the antenna sensitivity and related factors.
In contest situations, few stations really want to give or receive “true” RST due to the high turnover rate. But in casual rag chewing, you can do better than numbers, you can give true descriptions of the signal: “fading in and out” or “sounds like your mic gain is too high” etc. And in POTA, “true signal reports” are encouraged because a substantial part of that activity involves experimenting with portable setups in a way that established contest stations really don’t care about.
Thanks for the great video!
Edit: grammar/spelling
Thanks for the perspective Mike 👍
One of the biggest deficiencies I hear is low deviation (modulation). Strong carrier with minimal information. If I mention that, you'd be surprised how many operators have no idea what I'm talking about.
Folks want that 59, not a bunch of jibber jabber! Thanks for the comment!
Wow.. I’m giving you a 59 on this video.
Lol😂
Lol, thanks Mike 👍
Anyone who passed his or her amateur radio test, should have been around an "Elmer" or another amateur and have this knowledge. I used to teach classes, and I covered this because I felt it was important. It's fine to have this little chart near your rig, and there's no need to memorize it, per se, but it's not much to remember anyway. I think in the days when CW was a requirement, more operators were apt to memorize this reporting system.
Thanks for the comment Bill!
I give this video a 5 9 +10
Thanks for this. As a new ham, I thought I had an idea of what this was about, but not completely sure. I will say that I've had people that seemed annoyed with less than a 5 9, I don't get it. It's not a threat to your manhood. It's propagation.
Thanks for the comment Greg, glad you liked it 👍
I do, from time to time, give a "10 over" or "20 over" but I indicate that they are 5-9 with a '10-over on the S meter'.. even though it is somewhat irrelevant, as the Smokin Ape says.. if you think about it, it IS relevant in a way. Gives the recipient something to ponder.. like, am I that loud there because we're a perfect distance apart? Because of atmospheric conditions? Lots ot things to think about. Yes, I know, MY S-meter and yours only have the name S-meter in common. So, relevant signal strength is just that.. 'relative to my radio, my antenna, my feedline, etc' I do completely agree that basing a signal report solely on the S-meter is wrong. But I don't see where giving that little bit of extra information is any kind of issue.
I clicked on the buttons and all I got was a happy algorithm.
Might take a while to kick in, thanks for watching the video Benjamin!
Question: I’m certainly not a seasoned ham. General Class - June 2020..
Most times when a signal is strong and, readable I may say again - again, but it’s not from poor (signal) modulation, etc, it’s because Of accent. Myself personally, have big problems making out certain words because of the Person’s accent. I feel horrible giving a lower report on readability for the simple reason that I’m finding it difficult to understand what may be considered broken English. I can’t speak any language other than English but if I could, I’m sure it would be with a western Pa (Pittsburgh-ish) accent.
Thoughts???
That makes sense, it's OK to ask someone to repeat to make sure you got it correct.
The Spinal Tap radio shack goes to 11.
Yes it does 🤘
59 !😎
Haha
If I don't use the S Meter for the signal strength, how do I differentiate between a lower readability vs a lower strength? If I can barely tell what someone is saying, how do I know if that's a low readability or just a low signal strength?
Cant find your downstairs lol. I use the neadle for what it is fore..
Lol, thanks for the comment Thode 👍
I'm about to be giving hf reports, soon as I upgrade my license, and you are all getting 12, 1 and 2 here in northern mi...qsl? 😬
If we really want to be honest, then we give them a signal report as shown on your S meter. Yes, calibration may vary but at least you are honest on how you are seeing him on you s meter rather than making something up based on how you hear them. Later in the day, he may make some adjustments on his station and calls on you again and ask if there's any difference.
Where can I find a printable version of the chart at 1:20? I'd like to print it off and share it with a friend of mine who is just getting started in the world of ham radio...
Hope this helps: www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~maxwell/RSTInfo.html
@@TheSmokinApe Perfect, that's exactly what I've been looking for!
The Digital Modes should determine and send their on signal report issue
I think that the S meter is better than the RST method which is extremely subjective, where the S meter is a real signal level for every specific station of course.
I think rst is more for cw
I don't mind low reports, I depend on other ppl reports to know how bad or good I'm getting to the air so accurate report is essential for me, sometimes I ask about S level signals if they give me rst subjective values
I'm an electronic technician , have proper calibration equipment (service monitor) so my s meters are properly calibrated, but of course that's just half the story, when we take into consideration antenna and cable losses
Thanks for the post, even with a calibrated S meter your RF Gain settings can impact the reading. Additionally, I’ve seen where the calibration is for S9 but other S levels may not be consistent. The RST report was created for CW and later adopted for SSB or phone modes. Anyway you slice it, a signal report is pretty useless…
New here, but another thing that I haven't quite figured out is why do some operators use non-standard phonetic-alphabets? "Kilowatt" instead of "kilo"?
They sure do, I have no idea why… maybe it’s just a bad habit 🤔
I'll give you a 5/9 on your youtube video
Awesome 👍
The difference between 4 and 5 - 4 might have flutter, static, or other interference, but do not have any difficulty hearing the transmission. A report of a 5 should indicate there wasn't any problem receiving the signal and there was no interference.
The S meter - kind of tricky, or can be. HF and simplex operations has meaning, if you get someone who gives you an honest report. S meters have division that at a certain microvolt, that is a S unit. There is room past the 9 on the S meter, and that's measured in decibels - with marking for +20 and +40. Half way between S9 and +20 is +10, so saying 10 over 9 means a signal that is strong enough to go into the extended scale by 10 decibels. As far as the meter calibration, older rigs (or even home brewed rigs) might have a knob to calibrate the meter. So yes, the caibration can be off. In modern rigs, the meter is calibrated to the microvolts of the signal.
Lastly, a signal report is used as a conformation. If you check into let's say an OMISS net (check that out at www.omiss.org), the calling station will gave an honest report like "W2ACB I read you at 33" and the other station will respond with "K9XYZ I roger your 33, and I have you at 47". The first station will reply, "I roger your 47, thank you." This confirms both stations heard each other, and in the OMISS situation, the net control can confirm that.
Also, on QRZ's logging program, the time, date, frequency/band and signal reports have to match to be confirmed. When you send out QSL or eQSL cards, you put the signal report you received as a conformation.
On repetaers, a little bit different. Seeing as the R and S of the report would be of the output of the repeater, there are someother terms used. Picket fencing is where the signal has short bursts of static (caused by the polarization changing from vertical to horizontal and back), and full quieting (meaning no noise, no interference). You may even try to pick them up on the input frequency (pressing the REV button swaps the input and output frequencies), and give them a report on that signal.
Great info, thanks for sharing 👍
I once gave a station I know a 5.8. report and he said nobody had ever given him that before, He seemed very put out, even offended. I gave a true report: I heard stronger signals on the band that day. It depends, as you say, it's subjective, his signal strength to my noise, my aerial efficiency meaning signals could always be lower: my h/b mag. loop is not as good as my inverted vee but it can cut down some noise if I position it right, local QRM affects readability, my receiver sensitivity and selectivity not great if I use my 76 year old 19 Set. I guess nobody had ever given him a real report.
I've never heard 599 given on ssb.
5.9. reports then asking to repeat the call sign are heard regularly in contests.
I look at the S meter on my FT817 but if I don't agree with it I don't give that report but give what I think he sounds like to me for the above reasons. An S meter is not a laboratory grade instrument, it's just an indication of one signal strength compared to another.
My h/b tx/rx has never had an S meter fitted in 22 years as I didn't see the need for one. I also never got round to putting sidetone in.
G4GHB.
Thanks for the comment Bill, I agree there's no point in giving fake reports 👍
Readability is 5 and signal strength is 9. During contests everyone is 59. They can't be bothered to actually measure. It's RST in CW readability, strength and tone.
With a small yard, I use an end-fed, and the RS also depends on the receiving antenna. So, the same signal on your Yagi might be a 59, but a 55 on my shitty wire - whatever your method. Your shitty signal report might not depend on your signal, but my antenna, and also propagation outside the control of either. I'd rather get the real report (in contests, it was inevitable 59 would become the default). It's childish to be upset about a 'bad' report. It's a report. Not an assessment of your character. Great vid.
Awesome comment, thanks for posting!
I don't contest as it ruins the art of conversation. I do however give R/S reports for people I talk to and try to be accurate including sometimes using the +20 etc. As I regularly talk to the same people often it gives a way of tracking conditions etc for past and future reference.
Thanks for the comment and checking out the video AJ 👍
Thank you. This was very helpful as I'm just trying to figure out getting started on HF. I agree, I'd rather have honesty so I know what I need to do with my setup. K7AIO
Thanks AO, glad you liked the video bro 🍻
Great video! de W2CSI
Thanks NCP 🍻
Maybe it's a CW thing, but I always give an honest signal report and I'm pretty sure most CW ops do. It's also probably easier because they are tones. I had 3 qso's earlier tonight, conditions were a bit rough. From MD, I was 529 in CA, 569 in TX, and 599 in the next town over from me. I gave them 539, 579, and 599. That would be insane if someone came back 53? 53?! lol wtf!
But in CW the last number will always be 9, and if it isn't you need to explain why it isn't a 9 so the op can specifically know what's going on. I think I have only done that maybe 2 times ever, and they come usually back "old rig hi hi."
Maybe it is, great context and thanks for the comment 👍
I've had some like that, 339 each way and we're both QRP and even 229 but that's where cw works and the QSO made. My one valve tx can be chirpy if I don't adjust it right and one guy runs a Paraset which is always chirpy.
G4GHB.
@@bill-2018 Folks getting upset about signal reports is silly
I giggle when I hear people on D-Star or DMR give a 59 report.
Yeah, it’s a little silly 👍
@@TheSmokinApe lol
I agree with you. I'd much rather have an honest signal report than have my ego stroked! 73 de W1NLJ
For sure, thanks for the comment Norm 👍
During contests especially, a signal report's meaningless--ur either being heard or not; it's like hearing on the air, "You're 5 by 9, but please repeat my report!" There's just NO WAY one single station's gonna cpy EVERYONE "59." Glad I'm all CW, dit dit
Wow, 3 hours ago? What a find. Still waiting to see my name in the database :|
Glad you liked it 👍
If you can’t read what someone is saying because they’re down in the noise or because the band is up and down And they’re dropping in an out, does that reflect in their signal? Or is that just the band?
I would add that in the signal report.
@@TheSmokinApe Perfect, thanks
Never heard such...
Give them a sinpo code! I’d find that really useful. But seriously for fm and such use plain language like at en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language_radio_checks
Thanks for the link 👍
59 +3db (because of Ape logo).
ROFL
I don’t do Q codes nor RST stuff. Plain English.
Umm, no, signal strength is not subjective. An S9 is defined as 50uv at 50 ohms, or -73dBmW. Each S-unit lower is a drop of half voltage or -6dB power. Meters may not be calibrated the same (but should) and some do think S units are subjective, but there IS a definition. Since S-units are defined to a specific voltage/power, it DOES make sense to have a reading greater than S9 in terms of dB.
Why might you get a strength report in a range, e.g., S4 to S7? Fading. There can be some pretty rapid fading on HF. Signal strength is not always constant.
Why would you get a readability report of R3 or R4 with a strength of S9? Interference or burst atmospherics (static crashes). Just because you have a strong receive signal does not mean perfect reception.
This is of course if the person giving the report is being honest. Throwing around "59" is lazy and useless indeed. However, there is a lack of understanding about what RS(T) is today as evidenced by your video.
You could give an S-unit report for FM given the definition above, but usually your just reporting the strength of the repeater. It's better just to report they are reduced by the repeater with "full quieting", i.e., full capture.
S-unit could be used for digital, but not in the way amateurs implement digital modes as modulated audio on SSB. That digital signal does present voltage/power at the receiver just like any other signal would. It's just that you don't have access to the voltage/power of only that digital signal as there may be many present in the pass band.
Let's be honest, tell the truth, it is much more helpful.
Yep, thanks for the comment 👍
I Hate it, when I’m on SSB and someone asks for a radio check. Then someone comes back to him and says “your 59 to 9” but you can tell there using a export radio and it’s off frequency. Sometimes whey off frequency from the one he’s trying to talk on. Just have to laugh at that point.
Lol, true 👍
You are 5/9/9 on talkgroup 91
I've clicked all the buttons.
I'm happy.
...
de Manny-2E0HJN
Thanks Flat Twin!
my biggest pet hate is contests where everyones a 59 even though they have been asked several times to repeat callsign .one reason i wont join in on them the rules change according to the contest i know but most require callsign ,maybe a locator ,and you got it a signal report .Why? if your log dosnt match theres then it dont count I dont know why they not drop the signal report in the 1st place as its a usless bit of information if everyone is 59
Agreed