[Elecraft] [K3} Setting K3 and WSJT-X levels?

[Richard Ferch]

You don't want either control to be too close to either end of its range.

If the sound card level is so high that the gain control in the rig has to
be set to only 1 or 2, the granularity of the rig's control becomes a
problem (e.g. set it to 1 and get zero or one bar, set it to 2 and get six
bars, with no way to reach a setting in between). Also, some sound cards
might become non-linear at or near the top of their control ranges, and too
high an input level into the rig might also cause non-linearity introduced
at the rig end of the link before the level control.

If the sound card level is too low, the granularity issue might appear at
the sound card end, and the signal to noise ratio at the input to the radio
might become a problem. You want the audio signal at the input to the rig
to be well above the level of any hum or noise picked up anywhere along the
way, but not so high that it drives the audio circuits into non-linearity.

Ideally, then, you want the rig's Line In level control to be in a
comfortable range (say 6-10 or so) with the sound card's control somewhere
in the middle of its range.

73,
Rich VE3KI


NA6Z wrote:

I know about how to use the S-meter to set transmit audio level (4 bars).
What I've yet to find anywhere is a discussion on whether to favor the
sound card output or the mic gain. In other words, is it better to have a
lower sound card output and a higher mic gain, or vice versa, or does it
matter? And why?
73 and Happy Thanksgiving!
Don NA6Z