[Elecraft] low-noise 40m RX antenna

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Gene, N7YW, wrote: 
	...try this: leaving the AGC on FAST, lower your RF gain until
the S-meter needle rests at the same level as your noise. (Easiest done
by going past the noise, then cranking the knob back up a hair.) Your
noise will be gone, and you'll still have AGC action on signals louder
than that level.
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Dunno which K-rig you have with an "S-meter needle", Gene, but I WANT
one! (Still threatening to put my K2 in a decent desk-sized box with
decent human sized controls and a real "meter", Hi). 

EXCELLENT point, although I suspect that Wayne is all-too-aware of the
problem with AGC. The AGC in newer rigs like the K2 seduces us into
using it, and it works very well to ensure that the NOISE is as LOUD as
the SIGNAL!  Makes the bands sound much noisier than they really are,
and I find it very tiring over time compared to hearing the band fall
"quiet" between signals or when a station stops sending. 

I run with the RF gain turned down much of the time, but those fiddly
little tiny knobs aren't friendly to fingers designed for the big ol'
knobs of the boatanchor days, and the RF gain control squashed in
between the main tuning and the Audio Gain knob just isn't very
appealing. What I never use is the RIT, since we have SPLIT on the K2.
At least running SPLIT I have the main tuning knob to twiddle to adjust
my receive frequency during a QSO.  Too bad I can't conveniently move
that RF gain control over where the RIT knob is...

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289