Elecraft P3 signal intensity

[IK4EWX]

I have understood that it is normal that P3 with his extremely narrow IF give
lower S-units that the K3/K3S, but is it possible to adjust the P3 to give
same S-meter readings than my K3S?
Is there any way to give coherent signals intensity both K3 and P3?
On My P3 I read S6 a CW signal that is S9 on my k3S with his if 500hz wide.



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[Cady, Fred-2]

Hi,

"Why doesn’t the P3 signal strength agree with the K3S’s S-meter?  You would think the S-meter on the K3S and the signal displayed on the P3 would be the same. There are several reasons why this might not be the case that have to do with your display choices.
1.            When the K3S SMTR MD menu is AbS, the K3S S-meter shows the absolute signal at the antenna and does not change when the preamplifier or attenuator are engaged.  The signal at the antenna has an absolute power and thus isn’t, nor should it be, affected by the K3S signal processing preamplifier or attenuator.  If the K3S SMTR MD menu is nor, changing the preamplifier and attenuator will change the signal displayed on the K3S.  This shows you the affect of the preamplifier and attenuator.  Meanwhile, if the K3S and P3 serial ports are connected, the P3 knows the status of the preamplifier and attenuator and adjusts its display accordingly.  That is, the P3 always operates in absolute mode showing you the power at the K3S antenna.  So, when SMTR MD menu is nor changing the preamplifier and attenuator will affect the K3S S-meter but not the P3 display.
2.            The signal level on the K3S and P3 depends on their respective effective bandwidths.  In the K3S the bandwidth is set by the pass band tuning control.  In the K3S the S-meter gives you a measure of the signal within the K3S bandwidth.  In the P3 the effective bandwidth is approximately the span divided by 450 (there are 450 pixels  displaying signals across the P3 display).  In the P3 each pixel gives you a measure of the signal within the effective bandwidth of the pixel.  If the two bandwidths are different, the K3S and P3 signal displays will be different.
This will particularly be evident with wideband signals such as SSB.  Even when the P3 span is 200 kHz its effective bandwidth per pixel is 440 Hz and it does not contain the full signal that is seen on the K3S S-meter.
As an exercise, change to a relatively noisy band and change the width of the pass band tuning.  You should see less noise on the K3S display when the bandwidth is narrower.  While doing this you shouldn’t see any change in what the P3 is displaying.
The bottom line here is “Don’t worry overmuch about the signal strength readings.”  Each display serves a different purpose.  The K3S S-meter shows you the signal strength of the signal(s) within its passband and the P3 shows you the relative strengths of a number of signals shown in its span."

(excerpt  from "The Elecraft K3s and P3").

Cheers,
Fred KE7X

For all KE7X Elecraft books, see www.ke7x.com<http://www.ke7x.com>



________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of IK4EWX <[hidden email]>
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2018 1:00 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft P3 signal intensity

I have understood that it is normal that P3 with his extremely narrow IF give
lower S-units that the K3/K3S, but is it possible to adjust the P3 to give
same S-meter readings than my K3S?
Is there any way to give coherent signals intensity both K3 and P3?
On My P3 I read S6 a CW signal that is S9 on my k3S with his if 500hz wide.



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[IK4EWX]

Thanks Fred of your great analysys, those that we can have from a University
Professor as you - a true gift for us, amateur radio ops.
I have read it from your great book about K3S-P3, that I own, but it is very
interesting even reading replica.
Anyway I asked hoping exist a setting for alignement of both units.
Now i undestood it doesnt exist, and I can only hope in a new firmware (a
long time have passed from last release of firmware for P3 by Elecraft).
A new P3 firmware that could take care also of this problem would be great.
Many thanks Fred for your great work on your Elecraft manuals.
73,
Ian IK4EWX




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[IK4EWX]

Thanks Fred of ypur great analysys, those that we can have from a University
Professor as you - a true gift for us, amateur radio ops. I have read it
from your great book about K3S-P3, but it is very interesting even for
reading replica. Anyway I asled hoping exist a setting for alignement of
both. Now i undestood it doesnt exist, and I can only hope in a new firmware
(a long time have passed from last release of firmware for P3 by Elecraft).
A new P3 firmware that could take care of this problem. Anyway, many thanks
Fred for your great work on ypur Elecraft manuals. 73, Ian IK4EWX



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