Epiphany on modulation and swing

So, I've begun my reading and learning for my license. I think I finally figured these two things out, and why I though my radio was putting out more than 4 watts stock.

You pros correct me if I'm wrong it confirm if I'm right.

I was playing with the power adjustments I had installed in my radio for the linear. I realized that adjusting my dead key didn't stop it from swinging higher than the KL 203 was rated for. I noticed when I dropped the setting for the dynamike, it stopped swinging so high and everyone said I got a lot clearer. That's when I got it on modulation. The mike gain is causing over modulation with the power from the amp and setting off my antenna warning. That explained to me what the swing actually is and why cb shops whistle or use a high pitched tone to test swing. It's not actually more power, it's just more modulation. I now see why some people think cutting the limiter is cool, because it swings a meter more. But it's not actually more power. It's louder and probably sounds like crap, but the carrier never increases, so range doesn't increase. Am I right?

I figured out kinda what it looks like in a scope. Bad over modulation would have the big flat top peaks, right? And it would bleed over to other channels because the modulation in the wave is so extreme.

Finally, I think I understand the theory behind increasing S readings. So, fit each half S increase at any given range, you need to double the carrier power, correct? As in. If you were reading me at S2, and I wanted you to read me at S4, I'd have to turn my 4 watt radio into a 64 watt radio. If I then wanted to be heard at S5, I'd need to turn that radio into a 256 watt radio. Am I on the right track? If so, people really are getting scammed by peak and tune jobs for a few extra watts. You would hardly notice. And getting huge range gains would take a whole helluva lot of wattage. More than I ever realized.

And even if you have a big 45 watt swing on your radio, that's only if you have a really loud high pitched sound. Average talking likely would swing that high, would it? Meaning your actual average swing would be probably in the 20s.

 

Thanks for the read. That helped a lot. The S units on different radios may actually be less decibels apart, depending on what radio it is. But 6 decibels would be the standard, right?

 

What's real funny is I now sit and listen to the radio and can hear modulation problems. Guys will tell someone they sound good when they sound like total ###.