I just tell em, "You are getting out, I hear ya on at least 10 channels"

hahahhahaha

But down here around Houston, those guys usually speak Spanish.... on 5-6 channel either side of the channel they are on...

In that case:

I just tell em, "Usted está saliendo, yo oye ya en por lo menos 10 canales"

the 4:1 ratio for 100% modulation applies to symmetrical AM.
Where symmetry means the peak reduction in power (due to modulation) is the same as the peak increase in power.
Because with AM, modulation is alternating reduction and increase in total power.

Where you get into trouble is when the reduction in power attempts to go past zero power. This hits like a hammer on a nail, meaning its abrupt and wide in bandwidth. This is splatter.
On the opposite end of the cycle, the increase in power, the modulation can exceed 100% with a only tiny increase in distortion. To be loud, you dont want more on the negative side, only more on the positive.

Over negative modulation is a problem with radios and swing kits.
Positive side modulation becomes an issue with power amplifier transistors only able to put out limited power.

__________________
"Y'all mind hanging back? You're jamming my frequencies" -- Tangina in Poltergeist

dudmuck,
You're right, as far as you are going with it. But, the fact remains that that dip into the 'zero power' portion of the 'negative side' is still a result of over modulation. It might be more noticeable than a slight excursion on the 'positive' side. But so what, it only indicates that the whole thing is being over modulated, driven too hard, and you still lose quality or fidelity of the signal. No real benefit to a 'single sideband with carrier' signal. Might as well go that extra step and make it 'single sideband with no carrier'. Imagine that!
- 'Doc

DSB mode...

Or ISB.

__________________
No trees were harmed in the sending of this post; however, many electrons were inconvenienced.

73 de K7KBN

i have a cobra 29 that dead keys at 8 watts and swings to 32. i've had it scoped and i've been on the recieve end of my radio and it sounds great!! I am thinking about adding a 1 pill so i will be bringing the dead key down to 1 or 1.5 watts.

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just a countryboy from wisconsin

mobil rig: cobra 29 peaked and tuned and a 2sc1969 final, astatic 636 mic, 102" whip.

Then it sounds as if your 29 is right on the money as far as carrier to peak ration is concerned but what will the radio do from 1 to 1.5 watts carrier to peak after you have it detuned so to speak?

If it continues to peak at 32 watts then you've gotten away from your 4 to 1 ratio and it should sound awful with or with out the 1 pill section turned on or at least show to be awful on the same scoped you mentioned earlier.

A more realistic way of measuring is to measure carrier to peak average power so at a carrier of 1 watt the radio should peak at 2.5 watts average power which is 1 and 1/2 to 1 of the resting carrier which would insure a modulation level of 100% which would not endanger the final output stage of being over driven and assure a nice sounding signal.

i was kinda worried about haveing 32 watt peaking radio hooked up to an amp! how do i bring that peak down? go back to the stock final?

__________________
just a countryboy from wisconsin

mobil rig: cobra 29 peaked and tuned and a 2sc1969 final, astatic 636 mic, 102" whip.