[Elecraft] K3: S meter

[Paul Christensen]

> "If everybody is using K3´s and the difference is smaller
then 5 dB you can´t see it on the S-meter and since the
AGC is so darn good you can´t hear it either."

Reading the Rx voltage scale is one option, but IMHO, a better solution for 
signal comparison purposes is to use the K3 with either LP-PAN or SDR-IQ.

Based on feedback from other users here, I have been testing the K3 with 
SDR-IQ and SpectraVue software, and the results have been most impressive. 
I performed the N8LP I.F. buffer mod on the K3 and have its I.F. ported to 
the SDR-IQ.  Up to 192 kHz of display resolution is possible and no external 
sound card is required.  So far, anything I can hear on the K3 will display 
on the screen.  CPU utilization is low and both the software and interface 
have been rock-solid.  Performance is independent of the PC and its sound 
card.  This makes it convenient to use the K3 with my desktop PC or laptop 
when I want to go portable.

When observing signal strength on the display, there's ample resolution for 
signal comparisons.  SDR-IQ is powered from the PC's USB port, so only two 
connections are made (I.F. and USB).  SpectraVue supports the K3 and using 
the "point 'n click" feature has been great.  Click on the display and the 
K3 instantly moves to that frequency.  The only shortcoming I've found is 
that SpectraVue needs to poll the K3's mode offset data so that changing 
modes does not require an offset change in SpectraVue.  Not sure if that's 
handled automatically when using LP-PAN and PowerSDR.

Paul  W9AC