"Roy Lewallen" wrote in message
...
It sounds like a technique I remember calling "controlled carrier". The
carrier power was reduced when you weren't talking, then was increased
with the audio in an AGC-like manner. Sounded a little weird, but not
badly distorted. The objective was to reduce the average dissipation of
the final stage, so smaller tubes and a lighter duty power supply could
be used.

But I don't see why you'd use a method like this with a low power
transmitter, since it's trivial to make one that easily handles the
power requirements of standard AM. So I don't really think that's what
is meant by "swing". I'd bet good money that whatever "swing" is, it
doesn't improve quality or signal strength, and very likely introduces
distortion that causes splatter. If the transmitter was designed for
100% modulation of a 4 watt carrier, and you reduce the carrier without
a proportional reduction of the audio, you'll be overmodulating and
consequently distorting and splattering.

What are the supposed benefits of this "swing"?

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

CBers are very susceptible to urban myth and legend. Not understanding the
"normal" nature of an AM carrier, often they won't see the needle move very
much (assuming some cowboy jockey hasn't been in the rig snippin' and
clippin'), they get kind of excited. "HEY! I ain't got no "swang", so
therefore, they think they
aren't "gittin'" out. Voodoo techs have been able to take advantage of this
by monkeying around with the sets and/or using funky, cheap meters to show
the unknowing how much their radio is "swangin'". "LOOK! Ya got 8
watts o' carrier and 40 watts of 'swang'"! The CB guys eat it up! AND
willingly part with $$$ to get this "Swang". Swing is fully embedded in CB
psyche and, like the "coax length" (18 FEET! 18 FEET! Ya gots to have 18
feet of coax!!!!!!) bullsh--, it is part of the "holy" grail of CB radio!
LMAO!


J