[1000mp] Stingy S-Meter?

[Thomas Beltran]

Phil, ON4VP stated:

> The only right way to check your S meter is to insert a signal generator.
> Set the generator to the exact voltage in �volts and read your S meter.
> Why take up your time to 'compare' to other rigs.  All this is very
> subjective.
>

Well I took your advice, and warmed up my HP 606A.  I also compared with the
only receiver I have - a Drake R-4C.  The results are not good, so I'll be
back on the Drake while I send the Mark V back to the Yaesu.  Before doing
this test, I went into the service menu and kicked up the RF gain to 15.
That helped, but it did not seem to be good enough.  Also, I am in the
"flat" position instead of tuned, that also seemed to help.  Here are the
results:

40 meters:   a 0.003 volt (that's right - VOLTS) signal did not even show on
the S meter (a few more microvolts just registered at the first bar).  A
0.03 volt signal was S9.  A 1 volt signal was 20db over 9.  Now by
comparison, on the Drake, a 0.3 volt signal is 60 db over 9.  I couldn't
even get a 60 db over 9 signal on the Mark V.  I could not hear a 100
microvolt signal (by comparision, I could hear a 1 microvolt signal on the
Drake, but it was low).

20 meters:  Here, a 0.01 volt  signal did not even show on the S meter.  A
0.3 volt signal was S9.  This is much worse than on 40 meters.  I couldn't
even get a 20 db signal.   I could just hear a 1000 microvolt signal.

I also did a listening test.  The antenna: an inverted vee up 45 feet at the
apex.  The antenna coax was connected to a Tee connector, with two 3 feet
RG-58 patch cords, one to the Drake and one to the Yaesu.  I tuned around on
20 and there was quite a bit of difference.  Signals that barely registered
on the Yaesu, were 10 and 20 over 9.  Then, I went down to 40 meters, right
at the top of the band, and took a listen.  A 40 db over 9 signal on the
Drake did not even register on the Yaesu S meter!  Tom W6EIJ