[Elecraft] "Hot" K3 [comments and suggestions]

[wayne burdick]

Just to provide a counter-example....

I almost never back the RF GAIN control down on my K3. It has huge 
dynamic range. Unless I'm besieged by multiple S9+30 or greater signals 
within the crystal filter passband, I don't find it necessary. (Note: 
We're getting close to a new firmware release that provides additional 
DSP AGC tools that will make riding the RF GAIN even less necessary.)

The K3 is not substantially different in overall RX gain from other 
modern radios, although it may, as some observed, have a more accurate 
S-meter at the low end. During the design process we measured the 
antenna-to-AF OUT gain of several radios to make sure we were in the 
right ballpark.

I do turn the preamp OFF most of the time below 15 m.

I sometimes use the attenuator with monstrous AM broadcast signals (in 
the 0.5-1.6 MHz band), but rarely other than that.

I'm using all of the AGC defaults, and have CONFIG:AF GAIN set to HI.

NR is handy in many cases if you have high atmospheric noise. Try a low 
setting first.

If you think there's too much gain, you can set AF GAIN to LOW (making 
it more like a K2), turn off the preamp, and adjust the AGC controls.

Also, I suggest using only very low values of CONFIG:FLx GN, as well as 
small (+) values of MAIN:RX EQ, if you use these at all.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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