[Elecraft K3] ALC readout

[kd1na]

Greetings everyone,
I am a bit confused about the exact number of bars in the ALC meter that is used for VU.  Both 4 bars and 5 bars have been mentioned. When I am on PSK I run the audio on 5 bars with no report of distortion.Setting the line input level to less than 5 bars have resulted in a relative long period of time for the power out of the K3, where as with 5 bars the K3's power out sets up very quickly.

73
Dave KD1NA
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Don Wilhelm-4]

  Dave,

Lyle's the designer and he has stated that for data modes, 4 bars with
the 5th bar flickering is correct.

The 5th bar indicates the onset of ALC.

For voice modes, go up until the 7th bar flickers (turn off compression
first).  After setting the audio level, then add back compression as
desired.

These steps can be done in TX TEST so no RF is transmitted.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/2/2011 12:33 PM, David Robertson wrote:
> Greetings everyone,
> I am a bit confused about the exact number of bars in the ALC meter that is used for VU.  Both 4 bars and 5 bars have been mentioned. When I am on PSK I run the audio on 5 bars with no report of distortion.Setting the line input level to less than 5 bars have resulted in a relative long period of time for the power out of the K3, where as with 5 bars the K3's power out sets up very quickly.
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[ac0h]

Four solid bars with a barely flickering 5th.
The first four bars are a VU system of sorts. Once the 5th bar more
than flickers occasionally your getting some ALC action and need to
back off a skosh (scientific term of the day).

On Wed, 2 Feb 2011 12:33:52 -0500
"David Robertson" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Greetings everyone,
> I am a bit confused about the exact number of bars in the ALC meter
> that is used for VU.  Both 4 bars and 5 bars have been mentioned.
> When I am on PSK I run the audio on 5 bars with no report of
> distortion.Setting the line input level to less than 5 bars have
> resulted in a relative long period of time for the power out of the
> K3, where as with 5 bars the K3's power out sets up very quickly.
>
> 73
> Dave KD1NA

--
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Kok Chen]

On Feb 2, 2011, at 2/2    10:23 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Lyle's the designer and he has stated that for data modes, 4 bars with
> the 5th bar flickering is correct.
>
> The 5th bar indicates the onset of ALC.

When I measured the transmit IMD from my K3 (using a dummy load and a  
directional coupler that feeds into a second rig's receiver), I found  
that the best transmit IMD for a PSK31 signal occurred when the 5 bar  
just turns on, but is solid and not flickering.

73
Chen, W7AY

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html