[Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior

[Edward R Cole]

In some areas of ham radio having a fairly accurate measure of signal 
strength is more than "nice".  On HF "who really cares" is what I am 
getting here on the list.  But if you design, construct and try to 
get the optimum performance from your station, measurements become 
more than "nice".  Of course most of you must realize I am talking 
about eme or moonbounce for my passion.  Knowing if you are 0.5 dB or 
1.0 dB over noise or under makes a big difference.  (In fact I 
regularly copy eme signals that are -22 dB below noise).  MY software 
measures the signal to provide me an exact level, frequency, and 
timing - its a synchronous digital mode).

Elecraft already admits to setting S9 = 50uV on the K3.  The standard 
is 6-dB/s-unit.  I have not measured or know how close this is 
observed in the K3, but I have a receiver that goes one better...it 
is calibrated in dBm and I have measured it with professional 
-calibrated signal generators to less than a dB accuracey.

Guess what? It is a software defined radio *in fact it is a 
SDR-IQ*.  Interestingly, it will display signal steps from 10-dB/div 
down to 0.01 dB/div.  So I would maintain that any SDR, including the 
K3 can do this.  However, this resolution can not be read on the 
linear s-meter scale in present use.  Maybe some day there will be a 
numerical readout offered in the menu reading dBm or uV?  It is all 
just software.

No more from me on this - seems to be pretty thrashed already ;-)


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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