[Elecraft] K3 S-meter question

[Arlen Fletcher]

Ah!!! That makes sense. Thank you Matt, and all those that responded. I appreciate your attempts to educate me. :-)

73

Arlen AA7F

On Apr 5, 2014, at 7:38 AM, Matt Zilmer <mzilmer at roadrunner.com> wrote:

> As you  back off the RF Gain (CCW), the minimum signal that can be
> copied and that registers on the S Meter is a higher value.  With the
> RF Gain set fully CW (greatest gain), you're copying the weakest
> signal the rig is capable of.  These differences are shown by the S
> Meter.
> 
> You should run RF Gain at a level that gives you best dynamic range,
> though this setting may change band-by-band.  I run RF Gain at 2
> o'clock most of the time and normally use it as the main volume
> control as well.
> 
> What you are seeing is normal behavior.
> 
> 73,
> matt W6NIA
> 
> On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 21:24:15 -0700, you wrote:
> 
>> I’ve just completed building my K3/10 (S/N 8115)!!! The PA3 and sub-receiver are sitting here but not built/installed yet. Everything seems to work fine - completed the TX gain calibration successfully, and the filter setup too, of course. However, I’m puzzled by the how the S-meter is behaving. It seems to be inversely proportional to the RF gain. With the RF gain all the way CCW, all segments of the S-meter are lit. With the RF gain at 12 o’clock, half of the segments are lit. Changing bands has no apparent effect on the S-meter reading, and it’s rare that any but the strongest stations has any effect on the meter. And, with the RF gain fully CW, a few segments are lit (depending upon the noise level in the band). This seems backwards to me, but this is my first HF rig, so maybe it’s supposed to behave this way? Maybe I have some config setting messed up?
>> 
>> Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this!
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> 
>> 73
>> 
>> Arlen Fletcher, AA7F
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> Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
> --
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