[Elecraft] Bigger K3 S-meter

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> Anyway, since you do external software for the K3, can you 
> confirm that an S-meter displayed on the PC could get signal 
> strength data from the K3 that has a fine enough granularity 
> to show a change of 1 or 2 dB?

No.  The SM; (and BG;) reports from the K3 are one S-unit 
increments from S0 to S9 and 5 dB steps above S9. 





> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of K7TV
> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:02 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Bigger K3 S-meter
> 
> 
> 
> Julian, 
> 
> I tend to use S-meters more for purposes other than for 
> giving signal reports, but when I do give a signal report I 
> prefer to make it an honest one and update it later in the 
> qso. When I get a non-real report of 599 e.g. from a dx, it 
> kind of neutralizes the joy of having made the contact. I 
> think Elecraft and TT (and in the past Collins) deserve 
> credit for providing meaningful S-meter scales. I think the 
> biggest problem today with the existing S-meter standard is 
> that the same standard is applied to each HF/MF band, with an 
> abrupt change for VHF. A separate S9 definition for each band 
> would make more sense because of different average noise 
> levels. Sometimes in the past I have gone by the standard for 
> 40 and down, and deliberately inflated the readings on the 
> higher bands by switching on the preamp consistently for 
> those bands. Of course if one uses a separate receive 
> antenna, one may need to adjust reports for that. Given all 
> possible adjustments, one might want to be able to set a dB 
> offset individually for each band, and I am sure that the K3 
> could do that, although I would not push for it as a priority.
> 
> Anyway, since you do external software for the K3, can you 
> confirm that an S-meter displayed on the PC could get signal 
> strength data from the K3 that has a fine enough granularity 
> to show a change of 1 or 2 dB?
> 
> Thanks,
> Erik K7TV
> 
> Julian, G4ILO wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > K7TV wrote:
> >> 
> >> Are you referring to the K3's ability to display audio 
> output level 
> >> in mV or "dbV"? While mere signal reports can reasonably 
> be given by 
> >> ear, I have measurement in my blood and really appreciate that K3 
> >> capability.
> >> 
> > I think signal reports are more politics or psychology than 
> science. 
> > If someone gives me 599 it's only good manners to send 599 
> back. It's 
> > just the way I was brought up. :) If they send something other than 
> > 599 then I realise that they are actually giving me a real 
> report, so 
> > I try to give them a real one back. But since signals can 
> often vary 
> > from S7 to S9+20 over the period of a QSO I think the idea 
> of giving 
> > realistic signal reports is actually unachievable anyway.
> > 
> 
> -- 
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