[Elecraft] Elecraft K3s, etc. bonding

[Edward R Cole]

Interesting statement.  How did you determine this?

I brought home from work my professional service monitor and checked 
my K3 (SN-4340) s-meter.  Except from S0-S1 all other steps were 
exactly 6-dB.  S9 = -73 dBm as advertised.  I didn't bother much 
measuring above S9 so cannot comment on linearity in that region.

I also measured both K3 and KX3 preamps on ON/OFF on 50 & 28 MHz:
<http://www.kl7uw.com/HF.htm>http://www.kl7uw.com/HF.htm

Note K3 sensitivity using -73 dBm on 50-MHz with internal preamp off 
was S8 and S9+5 with internal preamp on.  This was using my XG3 as 
signal source so it might be slightly inaccurate (+/- 1 dB).  I 
checked the XG3 with my mw power meter for accurate output at 0 
dBm.  Subsequent to these measurements Elecraft came out with the PR6 
to help K3 sensitivity on 10m & 6m and I have not checked whether 
that effects s-meter readings (probably).

You might note that I tested 50-MHz sensitivity using an ARR Gasfet 
preamp that has 24-dB gain.  It raises baseline noise due to the gain 
but I use it for 6m eme.  Slightly better than the PR6, but I use 
just the PR6 for non-eme use.  Built-in bypass connectors on the PR6 
make using the ARR easy to switch in/out.

73, Ed - KL7UW

Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2020 07:48:58 -0400
From: John Stengrevics <jstengrevics at comcast.net>
To: Morgan Bailey <mbaileycrna at gmail.com>
Cc: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K4 S-meter characteristics
Message-ID: <7373A874-0E11-493C-B404-4315EF3AF39E at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=utf-8

Agree completely.  I find all S meters to be totally inaccurate and 
next to useless, including my K3S?.


73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com