[Elecraft] K3 Transmit IMD

[Bill W5WVO]

Wes Stewart wrote:

> So I humbly propose a new transceiver "composite"
> test.  Receiver performance shall be measured by using
> two other like transceivers, operating at full output
> power, as the signal sources for the measurement(s).

Wes, I understand what you're saying, but IMO this idea doesn't fly. There is 
nothing anyone can do about transmitted IMD products in the passband of your 
receiver, so doing this simply isn't testing the receiver scientifically. 
Bench tests are designed to measure very carefully defined parameters; field 
operational superiority involves so many uncontrollable variables that it 
cannot be tested on the bench. Does this mean that bench tests are not the 
be-all and end-all of transceiver evaluation? Absolutely.

Transmitter IMD output is again a separate test, and questioning the the 
outcome of those tests is entirely valid. But you have to control ALL 
variables in a lab environment -- or at least try very hard to do so.

Bill W5WVO