[Elecraft] K3 Receiver S meter calibration

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

The K3 S-meter response will vary with the pre-amp and attenuator 
settings from band to band unless you have SMTR ABS set on in the menu.
If you are using SMTR ABS I suggest you calibrate the S-meter with the 
PreAmp off rather than the PreAmp on.

If you still have variation from band to band (using the XG3 for the 
signal input), then you may have to set the S-meter calibration to a 
compromise point.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/9/2014 11:32 AM, Mike Sullivan wrote:
> I purchased a used Elecraft XG3 at the Shelby Hamfest and couldn't wait to check it out on Spectrum Analyzer (SA)(Rigol DSA815 w/ tracking gen). The XG3 markers amplitudes and frequencies we spot-on according to the SA which gave me a lot of confidence for aligning the K3 S-Meter and RF Gain control. However,  the procedure on page 51 for alignment did not give me confidence that I followed it correctly.  I ended up with a sort of callibration on 40 meters,  but that did not hold for any other band.  Also,  the K3 Utility (Calibration tab) while it completed ok, did not specify if it should be done for each band.  Yes, I completed it for 40 meters and 20 meters,  but was not sure if it made any difference to the manual settings.  I ended up doing calibration on 40 meters alone but the indications were not followed across to other bands.
>
> Is there another procedure, or should I settle for the inability to follow the receiver S meter and RF gain control.  That doesn't seem quite right, so I assume I must be doing something wrong!
>
>