[Elecraft] P3 S meter variance

[Don Wilhelm]

  Bill,

Alan may provide a better answer, but are you making that comparison on 
the amplitude of a single signal that is substantially greater than the 
ambient noise level?

If you are comparing the ambient noise level, the s-meter reading on the 
K3 will vary by bandwidth, and will be lower at narrow bandwidths - 
because the total noise depends on the bandwidth.  For the P3, the 
bandwidth of each sample is quite narrow, and the noise level will be 
lower than shown on the K3.

The same phenomenon applies to a SSB signal, but to a lesser extent than 
noise.  The K3 is looking at the entire SSB signal where the P3 is 
looking at smaller slices of the frequency spectrum contained in the 
signal.

Bottom line, compare the two at a CW signal peak and they should agree 
more closely.  It is just the way the math works out.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/15/2011 11:16 PM, bill wade, sr. wrote:
> Newly installed P3. Noticed S meter reading on K3 will be 2-3 units
> higher than that displayed on P3.  I've tried lengthening the signal
> heights, but results are unsatisfactory:-( .
>
> Is there another method for bringing the two more in balance?
>
> 73
>
> Bill Wade, Ai4PF
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>