Kim W5TIT wrote:

Hmmmm, Jim/N2EY made that observation also. Then, I see the comment that
spark was a transmission method--not a mode. I think that's splitting
hairs, isn't it? I'm asking--I wasn't around for spark

and

Whoooohooooo, I know a few of those "forever" gang down here--and they are
as passionate about AM as any ardent CW fan! Dems would be fightin' words
in this neck 'o the woods. At any rate, so you're bringing up the scenario
that someone outside the FCC would bring up a petition to ban a mode.
Hmmmmmm, hadn't thought of that--but why? Why would anyone want to have a
mode banned? I mean, seriously, what would be gained?


Spark is very, very wideband. This was probably a good thing in th
early days of radio, since the transmitter and reciever didn't have to
be tuned too closely to each other.

A modern day example might be a failing transformer on a power line. If
something is arcing inside it or to a connection, it can put out a lot
of rf noise that extends over a lot of bandwidth. It would mess with
almost any rf device in the house.

That's why spark was banned.

As for AM, I have no problem with it. It does use more bandwidth
though, and that is why some hams and others don't like it. But to me
it's a cool "retro" mode. Not very efficient, but who says it has to be?

- Mike KB3EIA -