[Elecraft] S-Meter Calibration

[Don Wilhelm]

  Bill,

I agree, and I am glad to see that the K3 has included ABS mode for the 
S-meter.
If you are using ABS mode, calibrate the S-meter with the preamp off.  
If you are using NOR, then do as the manual says and calibrate it with 
the preamp ON.

OTOH, if you are more interested in the bands where you run with the 
preamp OFF, then you may want to vary from the manual instructions even 
when using S-meter NOR.  Take your pick, but at the same time, be aware 
of the consequences.  If you calibrate with the preamp off, the S-meter 
will read too high when you activate the preamp should you be operating 
with S-meter NOR - the reverse will happen if you calibrate with the 
preamp on and operate with the preamp off.  Take your pick, the K3 
offers several choices - as the guardian Knight of the Holy Grail said 
in "Raiders" - choose wisely (and accept the consequences of your choice).

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/20/2011 11:30 PM, Bill Conkling wrote:
> When I built my K3 last summer, I elected to have the S-meter set to
> Absolute, so that it doesn't change when I turn off/on ATT/PRE.  It is
> supposed to be a measure of signal strength to the radio, is it not?
>
> ...bc
>
>