[Elecraft] [K3] ALC In DATA A

[Lyle Johnson]

Hello Joel!

In the K3, the first 5 bars of the "ALC" bargraph indicator are just 
audio level.  Traditional ALC - reducing drive to to transmit strip to 
control power level - does not occur until somewhere between the 5th and 
6th bar.  So the directions to have 4-5 bars of ALC just means that the 
audio drive level to the DSP is at the correct level for the transmit 
power control loop to work properly without introducing distortion from 
the audio leveling control logic.

Underdrive it and you'll likely get creeping power levels as the MCU in 
the K3 attempts to control peak power by adjusting the RF drive level in 
the transmit path.  Overdrive it and you may get some amount of 
distortion from the transmit audio gain control loop within the DSP code.

The DSP code in the K3 that monitors, limits and reports audio drive 
levels has not changed in years.

On 10/16/15 4:18 AM, Joel Black wrote:
> ...I have owned my K3 for several years. In that time, when using data modes in DATA A, I have been told consistently to set ALC so that the fifth bar just flickers...
>
> I have read other groups / boards where folks are adamant about setting *every* radio so that ALC is zero.

With the 5th bar flickering the "ALC" in the K3 *IS* zero in the sense 
they are being so insistent about.  ALC in the traditional sense does 
not being until the 6th bar comes on.


73,

Lyle KK7P