[Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior

Thu Jul 15 12:08:07 EDT 2010

What a silly question.. Again, some of you guys just have to be so over technical about EVERYTHING.  I'm certain that sometimes being TOO smart can be a detriment to your own self.  This is an S meter, it's used by some to give an S report.  Part of an RST.. This isn't a scientific calibration device.. If you're talking to someone in XYZ QTH and you have your antenna pointed at XYZ's location, or you have an omni directional antenna and it's receiving XYZ location at 4 S units, and You can hear them clearly and their tone is correct.. They have an RS(T) of 54(9).

Sorry dave, it's really just that simple. If you've set a "standard" for your S meter during it's calibration then S 4 means 4.. Not oh my goodness is there gain on my antenna, do I need to factor in his azimuth and the arrival angle of his signal to my antenna.. JUST STOP, and enjoy your hobby for a change, don't over think it. Or even worse, try to be technical to impress people on the reflector.  We all know that there are a lot of guys on here that know a LOT about a LOT of things... But they don't need to try to impress nor answer EVERYONE with their knowledge EVERY time. Save it for when it really counts, not on how to read an S meter.

> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:27:40 -0700
> From: xdavid at cis-broadband.com
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior
> 
> 
> Just curious ... how do you factor in the uncertainty of the gain/loss 
> of your antenna and any impact of its pattern, both bearing and azimuth 
> relative to the actual arrival angle, while you're trying to accurately 
> tell the guy on the other end how strong his RF is as it crosses your 
> property line? I'd be willing to bet that there is more variability in 
> that than there is inaccuracy in the K3 S-meter. You're just kidding 
> yourself if you think differently.
> 
> 73,
> Dave AB7E
> 
> 
> On 7/14/2010 11:03 PM, The Smiths wrote:
> > I'm sorry Don, I know that you're trying to be helpful here. And your advice about turning on the Attenuator, and turning off the pre is all good advice for sure. But honestly.. Let's be serious.. We're not all contesters, and there are actually some of us that really hate that whole 599 5/9 report when it's not warranted.
> >
> > I for one would like to be able to count on my meter to tell me the actual signal level of a station I'm talking to. I'm sure that Wayne intended this much as well. This is a $1900 plus rig, it should be accurate based on the 50uv that you suggested that he set it to with an S9.
> >
> >
> >
> > Sure we can all GUESS at what a persons RST is, and of course I've done it too..
> >
> > But giving advice to ignore the S meter is just a way of saying you don't know what to tell the guy.
> >
> > If that's the case, then just don't say anything, or tell him what you can to fix the problem. Your answer was no better than someone that gets directions from a person that has no idea where the address he's been asked for is, but he just feels like he HAS to help, so he guides the people asking in the wrong direction.
> >
> >
> >
> > The answer is, I've never seen this issue before where turning down the RF gain will cause a signal to Improve in S meter strength. Especially not on my K3. If that were the case I would keep lowering my RF gain all day long until everyone was an S9. There's SOMETHING going on with your rig.
> >
> >
> >
> > Check your RF gain calibration using the Elecraft Utility, check your S meter calibration. Make sure that you don't have something else like the Pre-amp on causing an error in the reading. Make sure that you don't have the Sub receiver on and the Sub AF audio up, or RF up causing it to look like it's getting stronger. These are some of the things that I can offer you. None of them may be the case, but at least it's a starting spot, not just an "Ignore" your 2,000 dollar rig's S meter.
> >
> >
> >
> > 559 still MEANS Receive Excellent, Signal 5 S UNITS, Tone Excellent.
> >
> > 
> >> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:30:07 -0400
> >> From: w3fpr at embarqmail.com
> >> To: n9ef at comcast.net
> >> CC: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior
> >>
> >> Robert,
> >>
> >> You are relying on your S-meter too much IMHO.
> >> Yes, all that has nothing to do with the actual reading of the S-meter,
> >> but it is just good operating sense.
> >> 
> > just ignore the reading and give signal reports as you hear
> > 
> >> them - 59 (or 599) for a good strong signal, S-7 for perfect copy from a
> >> not so strong signal and S-5 for all the others that you can copy with
> >> some difficulty. For those below that level, you are not copying them
> >> anyway, so a signal report number is a moot point.
> >> 
> > 
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