Elecraft

K3 - Preamp gain

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k6dgw

K3 - Preamp gain

Can someone tell me how much gain [like in S units] I should see from
the preamp? This will sound weird but with the preamp on, the band is
full of sweepstakes signals, many very strong. With it off, it is
almost silent. 15 is quieter than 20 with the preamp off, 20 and 40 are
about the same -- preamp off = just discernible signals.

I've probably set something wrong in one of the menus, just don't know what.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2009 Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2008
- www.cqp.org
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 - Preamp gain

Fred,

The real answer depends on your antenna system, and not on the gain of
the preamp.

You should try each band with the preamp off and then on. If attaching
the antenna results in an increase in received noise, you have the K3
set for the best usable sensitivity. If that condition is met with the
preamp off, then for that band, you should run with the preamp off.

73,
Don W3FPR

Fred Jensen wrote:

> Can someone tell me how much gain [like in S units] I should see from
> the preamp? This will sound weird but with the preamp on, the band is
> full of sweepstakes signals, many very strong. With it off, it is
> almost silent. 15 is quieter than 20 with the preamp off, 20 and 40
> are about the same -- preamp off = just discernible signals.
>
> I've probably set something wrong in one of the menus, just don't know
> what.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2009 Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2008
> - www.cqp.org
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
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>
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>

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Nelson Moyer

RE: K3 - Preamp gain

In reply to this post by k6dgw

I asked the Elecraft service technician this question during a
troubleshooting session on the phone last week, and he told me the built-in
preamp has 10 dB gain. That's approximately two S units. My listening
experience on 160 meters with a preamp with 17 dB gain suggests that 10 dB
is about right, because I hear approximately one S unit difference between
the two preamps. I didn't ask which frequencies it was optimized for, e.g.
low bands or all bands.

Nelson, KU0A

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Fred Jensen
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 10:55 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - Preamp gain

Can someone tell me how much gain [like in S units] I should see from
the preamp? This will sound weird but with the preamp on, the band is
full of sweepstakes signals, many very strong. With it off, it is
almost silent. 15 is quieter than 20 with the preamp off, 20 and 40 are
about the same -- preamp off = just discernible signals.

I've probably set something wrong in one of the menus, just don't know what.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2009 Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2008
- www.cqp.org
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.4/1792 - Release Date: 11/16/2008
10:04 AM

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Bob Cunnings NW8L

Re: K3 - Preamp gain

In reply to this post by k6dgw

According to the schematic, the preamp gain is 11 dB. Roughly 2
S-units, which agrees with my experience when using it.

Bob NW8L

On Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 9:54 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Can someone tell me how much gain [like in S units] I should see from the
> preamp? This will sound weird but with the preamp on, the band is full of
> sweepstakes signals, many very strong. With it off, it is almost silent.
> 15 is quieter than 20 with the preamp off, 20 and 40 are about the same --
> preamp off = just discernible signals.
>
> I've probably set something wrong in one of the menus, just don't know what.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2009 Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2008
> - www.cqp.org
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>