[Elecraft] RF gain sweet spot

[Edward R. Cole]

K7WIA's experience with his 6m receiver got me to try this with my 
K3.  I have an ARR P50VDG preamp installed and see typically S4 
flickering up to S5 for noise connected either 6m yagi.  Reducing 
RFGain immediately increases s-meter reading with the ARR preamp so I 
switched it off.  Noise is almost not readable on the s-meter and 
reducing RFGain does not result in increase in s-meter reading until 
I rotate the RFGain less than 3-oclock postion.  There is not enough 
s-meter resolution to tell if there is any reduction in noise (none 
detectable by ear until s-meter begins to rise).  Finally, I tried 
this with the internal K3 preamp turned on.  Normal noise reading is 
S3.  Reducing RFGain exhibited the same as not using any preamp 
except s-meter stays at S-3 until I rotate below 3-oclock position 
whereby the reading climbs above S3.

Considering that I am in rural Alaska I should have less ambient 
noise floor than K7WIA but do not see the behavior he is 
seeing.  Comments?  I would be interested to know if he is using a K3 
(radio was not specified) and whether that was running with a preamp 
and what kind?

My take on my readings is that the ARR has more than enough gain 
(maybe too much) and I am seeing amplified noise.  But I do not get 
the s-meter behavior seen by K7WIA when reducing RFGain?


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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