[Elecraft] [K3] K3: SWR meter adjustment

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Is that on all bands? 

How long is the coaxial cable between the K3 and the external meter? 

Both of those things will have a pronounced effect on the SWR. Even though
the K3 has found a 1.0:1 match, that says nothing about the SWR on the
coaxial line. The readings you see on an external SWR meter may vary widely
if the system is not terminated in a 50-ohm non-reactive load. An antenna
seldom presents a 50 ohm non-reactive load. 

First put a known good dummy load on the rig. That will keep the SWR on the
coax low. Now compare your external meters with the K3 using a very short
piece of coax (a few inches) and do the comparison at a fairly low frequency
- 160 or 80 meters - to reduce the effects of any remaining stray reactance.
Check one meter at a time since the SWR meter itself adds a little
reactance. They should agree fairly well under those conditions. A range of
0.2 is pretty common (i.e. 1.0:1 and 1.2:1), but I'd start to question the
meter if one read 1.5:1 and the other 1.0:1 under those conditions. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
I just noticed that the SWR meter readings on my K3 do not match my IC-7000
or my Palstar antenna analyzer. The Icom and the Palstar both read the same
but the K3 reads lower.
The K3 reads 1.0:1 the others read 1.5:1.
Is there an adjustment for the K3, or am I just being too critical here?
Larry
N0SA
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