[Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior

[Gary Dezern]

As this drifts further from the original topic...

I find it amusing that a station will ask me to repeat my callsign and name several times, and then give me a "59" report. 

I think I messed up several people over the weekend contest by giving them "5-7 08" reports instead of what they expected.  One station actually lost their "contest tempo" when I came back with "45 zone 8."  

Working back toward the original topic...

I generally give signal reports based on what I think the signal would be with the RF gain fully clockwise, and attenuator and preamp both turned off.  To me, that would be the "natural" and unmodified smeter reading.  (I've never given better than 57 on 10 meters.)   This best meets my understanding of what that portion of the signal report should be:  A report of signal level as it is received by my rig (and not a signal level as my rig has modified it.)

Of course, I'm a "newbie" ham, so I'm probably doing it all wrong.

73 - Gary / k3wow

On Jul 15, 2010, at 1:21 PM, The Smiths wrote:

> 
> Exactly!  
> 
> Regardless of the fact that in 1934 (as was indicated to me in off reflector email) we used to not use the meter for the S report, at some time (1970's when proper calibration and standardizations' came about) we were able to shift that OLD antiquated 1934's definition over to a STANDARDIZED S meter reading as part of the RST.  
> 
> Now R is  just that, Readability. How well can you copy someone.  S is Strength of the meter, which everyone should have set to the same approximate level, and T for quality of tone.
> 
> Some old habits die hard.  Not everything first invented in Ham radio has to be forced until the world ends.  Much to some peoples Chagrin, we DO evolve as ham radio operators.
>