[Elecraft] RF vs. AF gain (was: KX1 vs K1)

[Darwin, Keith]

----- Don W3FPR said -----

... one can leave the AGC on to help protect the ears from the really
loud ones.

-------------------------


THIS, I think, is the best of both worlds.  The AGC is, after all, just
an automatic way to adjust the RF gain.  I prefer to use a mix of the
two.  Turn the RF gain down until the background noise is just a bit
above the receiver noise floor and then let the AGC do the rest from
there.

If I'm rag chewing with a strong station, I'll turn the RF gain down so
the AGC is just kicking into action on the weak part of his signal.
Then, I get the benefit of AGC handling the QSBs of this signal (whether
fast or slow) plus I get the nice high S/N ratio that you get with
turning the RF gain down.

RF gain control is ESPECIALLY useful in a rig with an audio derived AGC.
Back the RF gain down and most of the initial pop of a strong signal
disappears.

When I had my K1 (which convinced me to get a K2 BTW) I did miss the RF
gain control.  And with my K2 in the process of becoming a K2/100, I'm
beginning to think about getting a K1.  Clearly the disease continues
:-)

And, yes, I believe the K1 sounds even better than the K2.

73!

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411 -