[Elecraft] K3 S-meter

[Don Rasmussen]

The S-Meter is important to my operation, it tells me if the band is going out when the frequency of s-Meter dips below some minimum level increase greatly in a short period of time.

So absolute accuracy as compared to any other standard is not important to me, but I -must- be able to see the device.

As my K3 is configured now (maximum range CONFIG SMTR SC = 10), the first -darkened- mark indicates the level at which I probably could not make it back to a station I'm receiving given equal power on both sides of the QSO. This is the normal S5 mark. 

>From that mark to the next darkened mark (marked S9) indicates the range where I can talk, under "marginal to good" signal levels. 

The next darkened mark after that would be strong copy. This is the normal +20db mark.

The mark after that (normally +40db) indicates contest station signal strengths, or peaking band conditions (happens just before you lose the band). 

The maximum range of the scale offers 1.5 bars per S-Unit, which is just enough for my eyes. Having all that same information squeezed into the left 50% of the meter face just does not allow enough room for me to see what's happening. 

This is just one opinion, it seems to be a way for me to enjoy a digital meter when I always preferred analog. 

I've also rescaled the meter face to emphasize it. Works for me...