[Elecraft] K3 RF meter behavior has me confused - help please?

[Adrian Smith]

Hi all. I'm new to HF, new to the K3, and relatively new to ham radio so
please go easy on me.

I only have my Technician so I've been listening a lot more than
transmitting. I completed assembly of the radio about a year ago but left
out the KPA3 until I was sure the radio was working correctly. (Did I
mention this was an old kit I got from a SK auction a year ago?)

I decided this past weekend to install the KPA3. Installation went
perfectly, the radio passed its TX calibration and I started looking at
more power. Now something odd seems to be happening. I've included the
power calibration results below for complete information.

K3 TX Gain Calibration data written on 2022-12-14 at 17:04:45
K3 Serial Number 00746
K3 MCU version 05.67 on COM9 at 38400 bit/s
Elecraft K3 Utility Version 1.20.1.15
1900 kHz TXGain LP  36
3750 kHz TXGain LP  21
5336 kHz TXGain LP  28
7150 kHz TXGain LP  35
10125 kHz TXGain LP  30
14200 kHz TXGain LP  16
18110 kHz TXGain LP  19
21200 kHz TXGain LP  14
24930 kHz TXGain LP  13
29000 kHz TXGain LP  21
52000 kHz TXGain LP  19
1900 kHz TXGain HP  30
3750 kHz TXGain HP  36
5336 kHz TXGain HP  48
7150 kHz TXGain HP  56
10125 kHz TXGain HP  38
14200 kHz TXGain HP  18
18110 kHz TXGain HP  13
21200 kHz TXGain HP  10
24930 kHz TXGain HP  08
29000 kHz TXGain HP  18
52000 kHz TXGain HP  05

I'm running the output to a wattmeter from there to a 50W dummy load. When
I key my paddle no matter how much power I set the amp to all I get as
output on the onscreen RF meter is between 10 and 20W. The wattmeter seems
to be registering correctly - as I increase power the output watts increase.

If I transmit voice the onscreen RF meter will display up to 100W depending
on the volume of my voice and the wattmeter appears to be reading correctly.

Please note: I've made sure all my CW CONFIG settings are correct, and I'm
sure I've got the radio set to the RF meter and not the ALC meter.

Is there something I'm not understanding about the onscreen RF meter
operation, or am I doing something wrong? Are there other tests I should be
running?

Thanks in advance for your patience!

73, Adrian
KJ7SOY