[Elecraft] K3 - SWR Indication

[Phil & Debbie Salas]

"Take any SWR meter and insert it at different locations along the length of 
the feeder
and you will get different readings."

Other than SWR reduction due to cable loss, the SWR meter should read the 
same SWR regardless of where it is on the coax.  Picture the constant SWR 
circles on a Smith Chart where the SWR stays constant as you change the 
length of the transmission line.  If you add feedline loss, the SWR circle 
will spiral in towards 1:1 as you continue to increase the feedline length. 
However, the K3 and an external SWR meter are both electrically so close 
that they should read the same (assuming comparable quality and properly 
calibrated SWR meters).  I have the same issue in that my K3 SWR reading is 
always better than the reading I get on my in-line Array Sollutions 
PowerMaster.  Not a big difference though.  My K3 may read 1:1 when the 
PowerMaster reads 1.5:1.  I haven't really worried about it since I'm 
comparing the K3's internal SWR meter to an external $400 meter - and the K3 
is happy.

Phil - AD5X