[Elecraft] Best way to make comparative antenna signal strength measurements using K3 (and P3)

[drewko]

Well, this is not quick and dirty, but FWIW...

WSPRnet is great for antenna comparisons. Write a script to switch your 
K3 between the two antennas at frequent known intervals. Run it over the 
course of days or weeks and you will have literally thousands of signal 
reports which, if you know what times each antenna was switched in, you 
can compare as you like in a spreadsheet. Compare signals strengths; 
number of stations worked with each antenna; geographics areas, band 
performance, etc.

I did this when switching from an outdoor antenna that I would soon have 
to take down to a multi-band indoor antenna, wondering what deficit the 
indoor ant might have on various bands and how much increase in power I 
might need to overcome it. (I had a K3/10 at the time and was 
considering the 100 watt PA).

Anyhow, you can't beat WSPR for antenna comparisons.

73,
Drew
AF2Z




On 09/28/15 10:39, Bill Conwell wrote:
> I'd like to do some quick and dirty comparing of antenna output signals
> using my K3 (and/or P3).
>
>
>
> (I've got two antennas I'd like to compare using different received carrier
> signals - e.g., from a neighbor's TX, W1AW RTTY bulletins, etc.)
>
>
>
> I see that the K3 can display the RMS value of receiver AF output (mVp-p),
> unaffected by AF GAIN control.  And after that stabilizes, I can also get
> dbV to display.  (How long is the stabilization period?  Does the display
> sample and hold a single value, or is it averaged and continuously updated?
> It seems like the former.)
>
>
>
> Is this the way to go, or is there something I can do with the P3 that will
> give a readout in dBm?  (I guess I could make a rough graphical measurement
> by setting the P3 display threshold to match the weaker signal, then
> switching to the stronger signal, and seeing how far above that threshold it
> rises - with Scaling maximized.)
>
>
>
> I know there's also W8WWW's S-Meter Lite, with which I've also dabbled -
> presenting a digital S-meter, or relative dB, output.  (Or I could do a step
> attenuator approach, but then I couldn't compare by simply flicking the
> antenna switch, and QSB would be a problem.)
>
>
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
>
> Tnx,
>
>
>
> /Bill, K2PO
>
> Portland, OR
>