[Elecraft] K3 Assembly Tools

[Don Wilhelm]

Phil,

Those optional tools are for those who are not satisfied with the 
default settings - in the case of the 50 uV signal generator,  it will 
allow you to set your S-meter at the S-9 point.  My K3 was 'right on' 
with the default settings, but since I have an XG2, I checked it anyway.

The 1 mW, 5 W power meter is for calibrating the wattmeter - if you do 
not have the KXV3 option, the 1 mW output is not available.  Again, the 
default settings will be very close.

So, the question becomes - What degree of accuracy in power output and 
S-meter reading do you wish to achieve?  The default settings will be 
very close, but with the added instruments, one can achieve a higher 
degree of confidence in those parameters.
Warning - power measurement instruments normally available to hams can 
vary a lot (up to 20% of full scale), so unless you have something 
comparable to the Elecraft DL2, Elecraft W2 or a calibrated LP-100 from 
TelePost, the K3 default setting for the wattmeter are likely to be as 
good as or better than your ability to read power output.

73,
Don W3FPR

Phil Hystad wrote:
> Don,
>
> Thanks for the pointer to the XG2 -- yes, that is what I was trying to think of.  About them being optional, I did see that but I was curious as to what what gains by the "precise adjustments".  If the default settings give you a fully working K3, what is being done by those who are making precise adjustments?
>
> phil
>
>
> On Dec 11, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>   
>> Phil,
>>
>> Note that those are optional - not required, but they are useful if one wants to do the precise adjustments - the default settings will give you a fully working K3.
>>
>> The Elecraft XG2 has a 50 uV output level, look at the Mini Kits.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> Phil Hystad wrote:
>>     
>>> The K3 Assembly guide says that you would need a accurate power meter measuring 1 mW to 5 W.  Also, a signal generator calibrated 50 microVolts output at 20 or 40 meters.  I have a signal generator that goes up to 5 MHz but I am pretty certain that the voltage adjust does not go down to 50 microVolts (it is pretty cheap).
>>>
>>> So, where does one get these things.
>>>
>>> I thought I remember someone telling me that there was a signal generator kit for generating the test signals needed for K3 assembly but I just can grab enough of that memory to do anything with it.
>>>
>>> Also, these tools are marked optional.  Why are they optional and if they are useful for a particular purpose why would it not be a required tool to achieve the best of whatever they are being used for.
>>>
>>>       
>