[Elecraft] K2 S meter indications

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

First make sure you have the RF Gain set fully clockwise, and then 
adjust the AGC Threshold to 3.8 volts or a little lower (never higher).
The adjust CAL S-LO with no antenna connected just to the point where 
there are no bars illuminated in any mode.
Now, if you have a source of 50 uV RF (-73dBm) like the Elecraft XG1, 
XG2, or XG3, tune in that signal and adjust CAL S HI to indicate S-9.
If you do not have such a signal generator, you can adjust it "like the 
book" and turn the RF Gain to minimum and adjust CAL S HI to illuminate 
all 10 bars (or the 10th bar if you have graph in dot mode) and let it 
go at that.
Alternately, if you have a steady on-the-air signal that you believe 
should register S-9, adjust CAL S HI until that signal does read S-9.

The K2 (and K3) S-meter can be calibrated to the S-9 equals -73 dBm 
"standard", but for a long time, many receiver and transceiver 
manufacturers designed their S-meters to get a LOT of "needle swing", so 
if you are comparing with other transceivers that you are accustomed to, 
you will find the K2 s-meter "stingy".  As I indicated, you can "perk it 
up" by setting CAL S HI to a lower number.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/30/2011 11:55 AM, vicki glover wrote:
> GM OM,
> I have gone through the S meter Zero and Sensitivity a couple of times and am sure I'm doing it BTB, but indications of incoming signals seem low to me.  Signals that I think should be a least a 7 or even a 9 are indicated as a 2 or 3?  I even put the DSP in bypass before calebrating the S meter the last time wondering if that might have something to do with it.  No joy!  Any thoughts out there?
> 73
>