K3 S-meter on sub-Rx

[Edward R Cole]

I am installing a new 2m transverter to my K3 and ran into an issue
with the s-meter on the K3.

The transverter has two Rx circuits so both the main and sub-Rx in
the K3 are fed with converted 2m signal.  I was adjusting the IF gain
in the transverter so that the noise level would read S2-S3 on the
K3.  These are two separate gain pots one controlling the input to
KVX3 Rx input and the other the aux input.

All that was going well, but I discovered that the s-meter only
indicates signals from the main-Rx.  I have the sub-Rx input coming
from the  aux antenna and not being fed from ANT1.  I can hear the
change in noise level in the sub-Rx when I connect/disconnect to the
aux antennas jack, but it is not showing up on the s-meter when the
sub Rx is selected.  I discovered this after a lot of confusion,
thinking I had a problem in the sub-Rx.

Is this normal (no s-meter reading from the sub-Rx?).  It is not
really a big issue as I can adjust the level by looking at my two
LP-Pan displays.  Just very surprised by the lack of s-meter function
on the sub-Rx.  I wonder if this is an issue when running in
transverter mode (CONFIG: XVN ON)?


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
======================================
BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter?
DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
======================================
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[Guy, K2AV]

While tuned into a signal on the Sub RX, do a hold on BSET.  This will
give you the S meter reading for the Sub RX tuned to the frequency in
VFO B.  This is also how you do other Sub RX settings, such as
ATT/PRE.  See page 37 in the manual, available in PDF format on the
Elecraft site.

You should be sure that you did the (separate) RF gain calibration and
S meter calibration for both main and Sub RX, before you set your
Transverter RX feed levels.

73, Guy.

On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 5:05 AM, Edward R. Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am installing a new 2m transverter to my K3 and ran into an issue
> with the s-meter on the K3.
>
> The transverter has two Rx circuits so both the main and sub-Rx in
> the K3 are fed with converted 2m signal.  I was adjusting the IF gain
> in the transverter so that the noise level would read S2-S3 on the
> K3.  These are two separate gain pots one controlling the input to
> KVX3 Rx input and the other the aux input.
>
> All that was going well, but I discovered that the s-meter only
> indicates signals from the main-Rx.  I have the sub-Rx input coming
> from the  aux antenna and not being fed from ANT1.  I can hear the
> change in noise level in the sub-Rx when I connect/disconnect to the
> aux antennas jack, but it is not showing up on the s-meter when the
> sub Rx is selected.  I discovered this after a lot of confusion,
> thinking I had a problem in the sub-Rx.
>
> Is this normal (no s-meter reading from the sub-Rx?).  It is not
> really a big issue as I can adjust the level by looking at my two
> LP-Pan displays.  Just very surprised by the lack of s-meter function
> on the sub-Rx.  I wonder if this is an issue when running in
> transverter mode (CONFIG: XVN ON)?
>
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
> ======================================
> BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
> EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter?
> DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
> ======================================
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

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[Edward R Cole]

Thanks to K2AV and G0AFH for how to get the sub-Rx s-meter
readings.  Also advice on RF gain Calib. on both Rx.

This was just a preliminary set up to get things close for a starting point.

As it turns out I got the two Rx within 1/2 s-unit of equal using
ambient noise: Main Rx (Vpol) = S7; sub-Rx (H-pol) = S6
And that can be a difference in noise polarization at the antenna.

I will have to do a very thorough RF calibration with all components
connected in the system for getting the dual-polarity diversity
system set up properly.  This includes preamp gains, cable losses, K3
IF gain variation, LP-Pan variation and soundcard levels.  Both
channels need to be made equal in amplitude using a single signal
source. Only then will the Linrad sw indicate polarity angle accurately.

See more of what I am doing:


73, Ed

At 06:00 AM 3/30/2011, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:

>While tuned into a signal on the Sub RX, do a hold on BSET.  This will
>give you the S meter reading for the Sub RX tuned to the frequency in
>VFO B.  This is also how you do other Sub RX settings, such as
>ATT/PRE.  See page 37 in the manual, available in PDF format on the
>Elecraft site.
>
>You should be sure that you did the (separate) RF gain calibration and
>S meter calibration for both main and Sub RX, before you set your
>Transverter RX feed levels.
>
>73, Guy.
>
>On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 5:05 AM, Edward R. Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:
> > I am installing a new 2m transverter to my K3 and ran into an issue
> > with the s-meter on the K3.
> >
> > The transverter has two Rx circuits so both the main and sub-Rx in
> > the K3 are fed with converted 2m signal.  I was adjusting the IF gain
> > in the transverter so that the noise level would read S2-S3 on the
> > K3.  These are two separate gain pots one controlling the input to
> > KVX3 Rx input and the other the aux input.
> >
> > All that was going well, but I discovered that the s-meter only
> > indicates signals from the main-Rx.  I have the sub-Rx input coming
> > from the  aux antenna and not being fed from ANT1.  I can hear the
> > change in noise level in the sub-Rx when I connect/disconnect to the
> > aux antennas jack, but it is not showing up on the s-meter when the
> > sub Rx is selected.  I discovered this after a lot of confusion,
> > thinking I had a problem in the sub-Rx.
> >
> > Is this normal (no s-meter reading from the sub-Rx?).  It is not
> > really a big issue as I can adjust the level by looking at my two
> > LP-Pan displays.  Just very surprised by the lack of s-meter function
> > on the sub-Rx.  I wonder if this is an issue when running in
> > transverter mode (CONFIG: XVN ON)?
> >
> >
> > 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
> > ======================================
> > BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
> > EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter?
> > DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
> > ======================================
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
> >

73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
======================================
BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter?
DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
======================================
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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[Edward R Cole]

My reply got sent before inserting the link:
http://www.kl7uw.com/DEMI144-28DRX.htm


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
======================================
BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter?
DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
======================================
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Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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