[Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior

[The Smiths]

I don't know about your rigs, but My Icom 706, My Ten Tec Omni 1, Yaesu 767GX circa 1980 and my Yaesu FT-2000D all seem to match my K3's S meter reading all within one S unit.  That's close enough for me....  This is a Hobby, not an exact science.  At least if someone on the air gives me an S3 reading I know approximately how well I'm doing at his QTH given the idea I know HIS antenna set up, and Mine.  That's good enough for me.  
 
> From: w8ji at w8ji.com
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:52:29 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior
> 
> > 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.
> 
> 
> There may be a "standard" some people believe in, but it is a "paper 
> standard" that never took hold. Drake used 5 db per S unit as a goal, ICOM 
> about the same. Collins was down around 3 dB per S unit as a target.
> 
> Most receivers are around 1 dB or so per S unit down around S 1, and very 
> few prior to digital processing were ever remotely linear over the S range.
> 
> My FT1000MP MKV, sitting in front of me now, is 2 S units per 6 dB at S8 and 
> the very same 6 db pad drops it from S5 to S0 (it has that scale point, even 
> though there is no such thing).
> 
> I've never measured the K3 for many reasons. S meters historically have been 
> very poor, absolute signal level at a receiver is not an indication of field 
> strength in volts-per-meter, volts-per-meter is not a constant indication of 
> S/N ratio or even how "loud" a signal is, and so on. This whole thing is an 
> exercise similar to arguing how to measure plate milliamps using #47 light 
> bulb.
> 
> How would Elecraft or anyone else measure the meaningless S units of an S3 
> signal when RF gain is set so the DSP only sees an S5 signal at the lowest 
> signal sensitivity? Why work to know what isn't even important, and what is 
> never useful?
> 
> 73 Tom
> 
> 
> 
> 
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