[Elecraft] K3. RX too sensitive for me - S-meter/RFgain/absolute mode...

[David Gilbert]

Can someone explain for me this recurring fixation on the K3 S-meter?  I 
honestly don't understand why it is such a big deal for some folks.  If 
you need accurate relative readings, such as when plotting antenna 
patterns or something, you just pick some settings and leave them 
alone.  Absolute readings are meaningless for signal reports because of 
the much greater variability of antennas, feedlines, matching networks, 
etc from station to station, and the guy on the other end has no way of 
knowing where you fit into that continuum.   What you see on the meter 
doesn't really mean anything, and the resolution on the scale isn't very 
high anyway.

So what am I missing?  Some kind of misguided peace of mind?

Dave   AB7E



On 5/18/2011 4:50 PM, VK7JB wrote:
> "If one has chosen "absolute" s-meter performance which is already
> un-analog, it would be nice to see the input level regardless of the
> RF gain setting, and perhaps just slow "plink" only the top segment
> that would be "covered" with the analog convention. "
>
>
> Exactly my view, Guy.  "Absolute" on the K3 is only partly "Absolute".
> My point is that other designers have implemented true "absolute" S-meter
> function and it works well.  On my TT Eagle 599, I can ride the RF gain,
> play with ATT and PRE to my heart's content and still see the input level on
> the s-meter, uninfluenced by my fiddling.
>
> I'm looking forward to being able to do the same in "absolute mode" on my K3
> one day.
>
> 73,
> John
> VK7JB
>
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