[Elecraft] K3 RF Gain control reduced range after RF gain calibration

[Nate Bargmann]

This is strange.

In an effort to better align the P3's idea of signal strength with that
of the K3's, I performed the K3 RF Gain Calibration, then the S-meter
calibration and finally the P3 level calibration.  I did the
calibrations at 7040 kHz using a service monitor as the signal source
for 50 uV and 1 uV sources following the procedures in the manuals.

This evening after tuning to 75m for the section nets, I set the RF Gain
control to its usual 2 O'clock setting and realized the background noise
was still quite pronounced.  I found that I have to turn the RF Gain
control to between 9 and 10 O'clock to reduce the noise as before at 2
O'clock.  Also, the S-meter level no longer reflects the change as the
RF Gain is reduced.  Before putting the RF Gain control fully CCW
resulted in the S-meter reading full scale (changine the S-meter mode to
NOR or ABS and resetting the calibration values had any effect).
Switching to a dummy load reveals that as the RF control is reduced that
the S-meter bars light to about S4 and no higher regardless of how far
CCW the knob is turned.  I've also noticed that with the control fully
CCW that the receiver is not completely muted (I think it was before,
but not sure).

I did goof on the first run through the RF Gain calibration by having
the control reduced slightly--around 4 O'clock--and not fully CW as
stated in the manual.  Yup, my error from being in a hurry.  I realized
the mistake and ran the routine again with the RF Gain control fully CW.

I used the Linux K3 utility 1.4.1.8 and had the P3 inline and on while I
performed the calibration.  Was having the P3 on at the same time a
mistake?  I also reloaded all of the firmware--MCU 4.39, FPF 1.14 and
DSP1 2.73 with no change in behavior.

Thanks!

73, de Nate N0NB >>

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