[Elecraft] When S-Meters are Useful (WAS: When do you use fastAGC?)

[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Ron, AC7AC wrote:

> That's the difference between one who tinkers and an engineer <G>.
>
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I had never thought that there was any difference. 'Develop' is a posh word
for 'Tinker' is it not? <g>

An AGC controlled IF which provides drive for a S meter that can be
calibrated in signal microvolts or dbm was developed by Bill Carver W7AAZ
and described in QST May 1996.  Using a pair of AD600 dual op-amps,
something like it could be useful in the K3 or to homebrewers. Gain is
controlled by attenuators inside the op-amp ICs not by changing bias, and
based on almost ten years of using the design I can highly recommend it.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD