[Elecraft] Bigger K3 S-meter

[David Cutter]

Agreed


> A calibrated S meter could be useful tool in many other ways.
>
> - Measuring  field strength and patterns of antennas.
>
> - Reporting on things like BPL and other radiated and conducted 
> measurements that seem to be a daily threat on HF. Just knowing they close 
> to  S9 plus plus minus 20 db is not a professional way to build an 
> argument against such pollution in professional circles. Having a 
> calibrated S meter  and adding something a like calibrated loop with a 
> known antenna factor would make collecting and surveying potential RF 
> pollution data very easy. While we don't need 0.1 db accuracy 1 db of 
> accuracy is easily achieved in SDR radios.
>
> http://www.vk1od.net/bpl/QueanbeyanBplTrial2.htm
>
> - Using a good S-meter would also be a reliable  way of surveying a 
> potential new QTH. The data could be used to compare signal noise levels 
> to the thermal noise floor, or even compare what you are measuring to the 
> surveyed ITU noise levels on HF.  It would be nice knowing that your 
> potential new QTH  is in a QRM silent location. It would also be good 
> comparing noise floors amongst hams for various locations.
>
> - It would also be useful knowing how accurate and reliable propagation 
> programs are on a daily basis since they do predict signal levels.  This 
> might come in handy if one wanted to build a DSP  based DF system which 
> relies on ionospheric data.
>
> - As a general level meter around the shack, it could even be used as an 
> accurate power meter.
>
> So to me a well calibrated S-meter can take  the place of many expensive 
> instruments that most hams dont have access to on a daily basis. It is a 
> very useful tool. When  we use some sort of absolute reference our 
> understanding of what we are  measuring on a daily basis  increases our 
> understanding of what we are doing in our hobby.
>
> While we on this subject if further work is carried out on the K3's 
> s-meter  you might as  well follow the IARU's recommendation for S-meters 
> and make it quasi peak in nature.
>
> Besides these days, with the  competition increasing in the new radio 
> market with radios like the Perseus, ADAT and the newly released cheap 
> Flexradio models, all which offer a very accurate S-meters as a feature. 
> It would do no harm to the K3's reputation  having a feature that some 
> consider desirable, that's marketing not  rocket science.
>
>
> 73
> Craig
>