[Elecraft] K3 - Power Meter

[Don Wilhelm]

Rich,

Let me echo what Bill NR4C told you - that information has been posted 
several times by Lyle Johnson (the DSP designer).
Power "creep" when using digital modes is the usual result of attempting 
to use the much publicized 'set the transceiver power to max and adjust 
the audio to bring the power to the chosen level'.  That works for 
transceivers that control power by controlling the drive to the PA stages.

The K3 does not control power that way - it measures the actual power 
output from the PA stages and then attempts to adjust the drive to 
produce whatever power level you have chosen.

The way to adjust the K3 audio drive is to set the audio input level 
(using either the K3 Line-in gain (or Mic gain) or the soundcard output 
setting (or a combination of both) to produce a full 4 bars on the ALC 
meter with the 5th bar flickering.  You can (and should) make that 
adjustment in TX TEST mode so you do not disturb your fellow hams.

After making that adjustment, set the Power knob for the power level 
desired.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/5/2011 1:09 PM, rich kennedy wrote:
> My setup is a simple resonant dipole, HRD/DM780 software, and a K3/100 with latest firmware.  I often operate PSK or RTTY, using the DM780 software and running approx 35 watts.  I've noticed that for the first couple of seconds after I key the rig that the K3's power meter will display only 1 bar (~10w), a few seconds later the power meter displays 2 bars, a few seconds later 3 bars, and finally after about 6 to 8 seconds total the power bar displays 4 bars (and never goes higher).  The SWR bar displays zero or one bar (sometimes flashes between the two).  I'm careful not to overdrive the radio and other stations say that the signal looks 'good'.  QUESTION: what's up with the power bar?  Is this normal or something to be concerned about?  thanks, 73, Rich, K3VAT
>