"Craig Buck" wrote in message

Another way to consider it: Mobile operating is unique in that signals had
better be pretty strong to begin with or you won't hear the station over the
cab noise, QSB from moving past a truck and RFI from the cars around you.
To say the full size screwdriver is two S units better on 40 means nothing
because you couldn't understand an S2 signal on the full size either. If
the signals are strong enough, an S9 on the full size is just as copiable at
S7 on the ATAS and is enough to get the job done.

Of course. The receiving s/n ratio *should* be about the same on
anything you use, being you have way more signal than you need with
even the worst antenna. Or at least on the lower bands. But that 2 s
units can mean a lot to whoever you are talking to, if the noise
levels are high. I wouldn't say it means nothing. Thats like switching
on an amplifier. MK