[Elecraft] [K3] RX Gain Calibration

[Don Wilhelm]

Travis,

The real measure of any receiver in the ability to hear weak signals is 
not in the S-meter deflection.  Within limits both the K3 and KX3 
S-meters can be calibrated to read most anything you want to see.
The measurement of actual sensitivity is in the MDS measurement. That 
indicates how weak a signal can be heard at 3 dB above the receiver 
noise floor.
When you get your XG3, I encourage you to follow the instructions in the 
XG3 manual for determining the MDS of a receiver.  With the XG3, that is 
a number inferred by the response at -107 dBm rather than a measurement 
using a well shielded signal generator and switching in attenuation, but 
the approximation should be within 1 dB of the actual MDS if you do the 
procedure (and math) as instructed.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/19/2013 7:26 PM, Travis Brown wrote:
> Thanks Stan.  I ordered a XG3 yesterday and I hope to have it here this
> week.  I wasn't expecting such a huge discrepancy between the KX3 and K3,
> and it really surprised me.  If I figure out the secret sauce, I'll
> definitely let you know.  I am curious, with did you put the KX3 and K3 on
> the XG3 and see a discrepancy in the  S-Meter reading?  If so, how much?
>
>