[Elecraft] [K3] RF gain calibration and S meter

[Joe Planisky]

I agree.  Something is not right here.

I just tried the RF gain calibration (3 times) with the Mac K3  
Utility.  I followed the instructions presented by the program to the  
letter.  I then proceeded to do the S-meter calibration as specified  
in the manual.  Immediately after RF gain and S-meter calibration,  
everything seemed fine.  Sensitivity seemed normal, s-meter responded  
to signals as expected, turning RF gain full CCW resulted in an s- 
meter reading of S9+50.

After turning the rig off and back on, however, things are about like  
W7TEA reports: sensitivity seems reduced, turning the RF gain fully  
CCW gives an S-meter reading of S3, and a 50uV signal now gives an S5  
reading (with preamp on.)

I borrowed a Windows computer and repeated the exercise.  This time,  
all was well even after a power cycle.  It seems like the problem is  
with the Mac version of the K3 Utility.

73
--
Joe KB8AP

On Oct 31, 2009, at 9:48 AM, W7TEA wrote:

>
> Just ran the RF gain calibration with the new Mac K3 Utility and an  
> XG2.  I
> did it
> a few times because I would get an ERR DSE error message when
> calibrating the SUB rx on occasion.  I then went back and re- 
> calibrated the
> S meter.  I've noticed three things.
>
> 1) The rx seems considerably "quieter."  The PRE is needed now where I
> seldom
> used it before.
>
> 2) Turning RF gain to minimum quiets the rx but the S meter only  
> advances to
> S-5
>