[Elecraft] K3 / RF gain - S meter issue - Similar issue

[Dan Atchison]

I have a similar - but different! - issue on one of my Elecraft's.

I own both a K3 and a K3s.  Both are configured equally with the K3 
having been upgraded to the highest level to achieve near K3s equivalency.

My K3s RF Gain control works exactly as expected, i.e. as the control is 
rotated counter-clockwise the "S-Meter" increases to a point at almost 
full scale.

On the K3, however, as the RF Gain control is rotated counter-clockwise 
and the "S-Meter" increases to about the "40-over" point at the 
control's 10 o'clock position the "S-Meter" then inexplicably drops to 
the "S9" position where it remains for the remainder of the RF gain 
control counter-clockwise rotation.  This shouldn't be but like N1LN's 
issue, the radio does otherwise perform correctly.  I have done 
everything that N1LN has done including the RF Gain calibration using a 
signal generator.

Very strange, indeed.

Dan -- N3ND

*************************************

Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2017 16:25:20 -0500
From: "Bruce Meier"<bemeier at bellsouth.net>
To:<elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 / RF gain - S meter issue


Looking for suggestions here from someone that might have experienced this
same issue - -

  

I have (2) K3 units (not the S model) that are acting different when the RF
gain adjustments are turned fully counter clockwise.

?  Unit one ? s/n 1062: When the RF gain is decreased to full counter
clockwise position the S-Meter registers full scale (60db over S9) as
expected.

?  Unit two ? s/n 1193:  When the RF gain is decreased to full counter
clockwise position the S-Meter registers only S8.

  Facts:

?  With the exception of the S-Meter readings with RF gain settings, both
units are working fine

?  Both units have ?almost? all mods installed.  If not all, they are at
least both the same.

?  Both units are running the same version of microcode (5.54) (2.88) (2.88)
(1.26)

?  Both units seem to register very close actual RF gain of stations when
connected when tested on the same antenna

?  Both units have the new synthesizers.

?  Both units have second RX

?  In both cases (both units) I can hear the audio level decreasing linearly
as expected as the RF gain is turned counter clockwise

I have tried to initialize the K3 and reload the firmware resulting in no
change to the RF gain / S-Meter readings.

  

Elecraft Tech Support suggested:

?  Calibrating the s-meter ? did nothing

?  Next suggestion ? send the rig to California.

  

Anyone have this issue and fixed it??

  

73,

Bruce N1LN