[Elecraft] Attenuator and RF Gain Settings

[Don Wilhelm]

Lance,

CW or SSB?  Similar conditions do not exist here on SSB.  I can't say 
anything about CW performance right now.

Right now, I am listening to a net on 80 meter SSB with both strong and 
weak signals in the mix.  The Preamp is off and ATT is on - and the RF 
Gain is backed off to about 2 o'clock.  The RF Gain position was 
determined by listening with no signals and reduced until the 
atmospheric noise was not bothersome.  All signals are quite clear, 
including the weak ones.

My AGC settings are THR = 008 and I have moved the SLP up to 004 for 
listening to a net - I normally run it at 002 which makes a greater 
difference in audio volume between strong and weak signals.

With those settings at this particular time, it is almost (but not 
quite) like having squelch on when there is no signal present.

73,
Don W3FPR

Lance Wilson wrote:
> This is a very interesting thread. I am seeing a similar RF gain/AGC issue on
> my K3 (I posted a description of this effect on 1/31). While I have also
> defaulted to presetting the AFG and use the RF gain to control receiver
> performance, I have noticed issues with the AGC on the K3 that make it
> behave differently than other radios that I have tried. The K3 has both
> hardware and DSP/firmware AGC. 
>
> Strong signals (over S9) cause the AGC to behave normally but weak signals
> (DSP/firmware) behave oddly with an apparent, and I say apparent, noise
> issue. Audio quality of weak signals with the AGC on also seems to be
> slightly compromised as compared to operation with the AGC off.
>
> Perhaps weak signal performance of the K3 with AGC on needs some
> DSP/firmware modification. In the meantime, I am using the rig in a similar
> fashion as Barry and other have described.
>
> Lance, NR7N
>   
>