[Elecraft] K3 S-Meter

[drewko]

Don,

I always seem to have my RF gain adjusted by ear to below where the
s-meter will deflect on a particular signal. So I will most always
have to readjust the gain to see an s-meter reading. The RF gain can
be adjusted much lower than the signal's meter deflection point but
still have an audible signal. A moderate strength signal can still be
heard when the RF gain has been turned down to the point where the
s-meter incicates s9+40 db. 

The more I think about it the less useful it seems to have the meter
deflect upward with a lowered RF gain setting. Does anyone find this
action useful for tuning in a signal? 

I know that I would be fiddling around with the RF gain control a lot
less if the s-meter display was not affected by the gain control. Why
not make the s-meter "absolute mode", which is independent of the
attenuation setting, also independent of the RF gain control? That
seems more consistent and logical to me.

73,
Drew
AF2Z



On Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:55:32 -0500, you wrote:

>On the contrary, one can give an honest report even with the RF gain 
>reduced (but only under certain circumstances).
>If one has reduced the RF gain to the point (just) where the S-meter 
>deflection is at the noise floor, then the S-meter readings should still 
>be valid - you are simply reducing the receiver gain to keep from 
>hearing the noise.
>
>For instance, if your local noise floor is S-3, then reducing the RF 
>gain so the S-meter reads a low of S-3, you will find an S-4 signal 
>still " moving the meter" at S-4 - he is 1 S-unit higher than your noise 
>level.  Would you want to report that signal strength at S-1 (if the RF 
>gain did not increase the S-meter reading) or report him to be a 
>realistic S-4.
>
>Each to his own, but that is the way I see the picture.
>
>Yes, reducing the RF gain to greater than the band noise level will skew 
>the S-meter readings, but I do not use the RF gain control for that, I 
>reduce the gain just to the point where the S-meter matches the band 
>noise.  Signals stronger than that band noise will still be indicating 
>at the level indicated on the S-meter.
>
>73,
>Don W3FPR
>