[Elecraft] RF gain sweet spot

[K7WIA]

I found something interesting when I was working the CQ VHF contest this last
weekend.
I live in the city in which my noise level stays around S3.
while searching for weak signals, I started to reduce the rf gain. as I
reduced the gain I watched the S meter go down  and as I contuned to reduce
it more the S meter would start to climb back up.
I found if I set the RF gain to where I got the lowest S meter reading ( S1
) and then Increase the gain ever so slightly just to the point to where I
would get the 2nd bar on the S meter to flicker was the sweet spot. as the
RF gain is reduced my noise floor dropped, but it had no effect on the
signals, so it seems to improve the Sig to noise ratio.
so I now I reduce the gain to the lowest S meter bar ( S1 ) and then add
gain just untill the 2nd bar just wants to flicker.........so I guess this
is called Dip the S meter
I don't know how well this works on hf as I work mostly 6 meters.
I thought I would pass this tip along. it might now work for everyone but it
sure helped me dig out the weak ones..... maybe someone in the know can
explain what is going on.......

Ed K7WIA

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