[Elecraft] K3 Attenuator Turning Itself On

[Don Wilhelm]

Dennis,

The attenuator (and preamp too) setting is per band.
If you have the attenuator on for 160 meters, then leave that band, it 
will still be set on when you return to 160 meters.

While switched to 160, turn the attenuator off - change to another band 
and then go back to 160m - the attenuator should be off.

Similar for your preamp statement for 80 meters.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/15/2015 2:06 PM, Dennis wrote:
> I have a situation where a K3 with the attenuator off, when 
> bandswitched to 160M, turns the
> attenuator on.  I know this is the correct behavior for the K3 if the 
> Rx signal level is in the range
> of +13 to +20dBm.  That signal level, by the way, is on the order of 
> S9+90dB!  And, yes, you
> would be correct, the receiver is severely blocked and the S-Meter 
> reads a solid S9 and the
> band is mostly intermod.  A scan of the MW band shows a dozen stations 
> that are S9+20,
> with the strongest stations being S9+45.  I haven't ruled out a very 
> strong signal that may be
> there, but it wasn't in the MW and I have yet to find it..  One of the 
> first things I intend to do
> when I get back to the station is to use a spectrum analyzer (with a 
> step attenuator in line) to
> see if that very strong signal exists.
>
> If I don't find a very strong signal, what conditions, in your 
> experience, would create a signal
> strong enough to turn on the K3 attenuator?  Or are there other 
> circumstances that would cause
> the K3 attenuator to turn itself on?
>
> As additional info, if the preamp is on and the radio is switched to 
> 80M, the preamp will turn
> itself off.  This indicates an RF signal of +3 to +10dBm- or S9+80 or 
> so- when the radio
> is switched to 80M.  In both cases, there are no known transmitters 
> operating within 500 yards
> of the antennas in any direction.
>