[Elecraft] [K3] low audio volume and low s meter readings

Gary Slagel gdslagel at yahoo.com
Sun Feb 25 18:12:46 EST 2018


I took my k3 to Belize for ARRL DX CW and pre contest worked a few contacts all of which told me I had a great signal while I could barely hear them.  A couple I knew were KW stations and I was concerned I wasn't hearing well.  Performance during the contest seemed to  confirm that I was being heard better then I was hearing.  I had the af gain at max for most of the time.
At home I've set up my k3 next to my k3s for comparison testing.  The k3 definitely has lower volume and the S meter is reading low.  
The K3S has an ambient noise level of about s6 on 20M while the K3 S meter shows an ambient noise level of 0.The K3S has a comfortable af gain level of about noon while K3 is comfortable with af gain fully clockwise (both with rf gain at max)Signals seem to be stronger on the K3S.
I've been through the 'Receive:Receive signal level too low' section of the troubleshooting guide in the manual and all seems good (didn't try to change config:REF CAL but its value was very close to the default).
Would appreciate any wisdom before I resort to sending it in for a tune up.
Thanks,
Gary KT0A
 


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