Elecraft

K3: S meter

Classic

List

Threaded

9 messages Options

DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL

K3: S meter

I am so blessed to be a contester. Everybody is S9. Of course, if
the guy is really, really weak and I need several repeats, then he
only gets a 599.

:-)

de Doug KR2Q
_______________________________________________
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

Jan Erik Holm

Re: K3: S meter

Don´t you ever like to compare two antennas? Or someone you
have a QSO with likes to compare antennas or something else,
amplifiers or what ever.
If everybody is using K3´s and the difference is smaller
then 5 dB you can´t see it on the S-meter and since the
AGC is so darn good you can´t hear it either.
Oooh, I forgot, then we have to buy test equipment!!!

73 Jim SM2EKM
--------------------------------
DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote:
> I am so blessed to be a contester. Everybody is S9. Of course, if
> the guy is really, really weak and I need several repeats, then he
> only gets a 599.
>
> :-)
>
> de Doug KR2Q

_______________________________________________
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

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: K3: S meter

Administrator

Lets let this topic rest for now. :-)

73, Eric WA6HHQ
Elecraft list moderator

_______________________________________________
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

S Sacco

Re: K3: S meter

In reply to this post by Jan Erik Holm

Notwithstanding Eric's request to let this rest...

For testing, the K3 has the very excellent feature whereby it can
measure the receive voltage. That would be an FB way to compare
signals.
_______________________________________________
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

P.B. Christensen

Re: K3: S meter

In reply to this post by Jan Erik Holm

> "If everybody is using K3´s and the difference is smaller
then 5 dB you can´t see it on the S-meter and since the
AGC is so darn good you can´t hear it either."

Reading the Rx voltage scale is one option, but IMHO, a better solution for
signal comparison purposes is to use the K3 with either LP-PAN or SDR-IQ.

Based on feedback from other users here, I have been testing the K3 with
SDR-IQ and SpectraVue software, and the results have been most impressive.
I performed the N8LP I.F. buffer mod on the K3 and have its I.F. ported to
the SDR-IQ. Up to 192 kHz of display resolution is possible and no external
sound card is required. So far, anything I can hear on the K3 will display
on the screen. CPU utilization is low and both the software and interface
have been rock-solid. Performance is independent of the PC and its sound
card. This makes it convenient to use the K3 with my desktop PC or laptop
when I want to go portable.

When observing signal strength on the display, there's ample resolution for
signal comparisons. SDR-IQ is powered from the PC's USB port, so only two
connections are made (I.F. and USB). SpectraVue supports the K3 and using
the "point 'n click" feature has been great. Click on the display and the
K3 instantly moves to that frequency. The only shortcoming I've found is
that SpectraVue needs to poll the K3's mode offset data so that changing
modes does not require an offset change in SpectraVue. Not sure if that's
handled automatically when using LP-PAN and PowerSDR.

Paul W9AC

_______________________________________________
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

Joe Subich, W4TV-3

RE: K3: S meter

> The only shortcoming I've found is that SpectraVue needs to
> poll the K3's mode offset data so that changing modes does
> not require an offset change in SpectraVue. Not sure if
> that's handled automatically when using LP-PAN and PowerSDR.

Yes, LP-Pan/PowerSDR handle the mode offset automatically.
You could probably use Larry's LP-Bridge to allow Spectraview
to work with other software.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Paul
> Christensen
> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 4:40 PM
> To: Jan Erik Holm
> Cc: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: S meter
>
>
> > "If everybody is using K3´s and the difference is smaller
> then 5 dB you can´t see it on the S-meter and since the
> AGC is so darn good you can´t hear it either."
>
> Reading the Rx voltage scale is one option, but IMHO, a
> better solution for
> signal comparison purposes is to use the K3 with either
> LP-PAN or SDR-IQ.
>
> Based on feedback from other users here, I have been testing
> the K3 with
> SDR-IQ and SpectraVue software, and the results have been
> most impressive.
> I performed the N8LP I.F. buffer mod on the K3 and have its
> I.F. ported to
> the SDR-IQ. Up to 192 kHz of display resolution is possible
> and no external
> sound card is required. So far, anything I can hear on the
> K3 will display
> on the screen. CPU utilization is low and both the software
> and interface
> have been rock-solid. Performance is independent of the PC
> and its sound
> card. This makes it convenient to use the K3 with my desktop
> PC or laptop
> when I want to go portable.
>
> When observing signal strength on the display, there's ample
> resolution for
> signal comparisons. SDR-IQ is powered from the PC's USB
> port, so only two
> connections are made (I.F. and USB). SpectraVue supports the
> K3 and using
> the "point 'n click" feature has been great. Click on the
> display and the
> K3 instantly moves to that frequency. The only shortcoming
> I've found is
> that SpectraVue needs to poll the K3's mode offset data so
> that changing
> modes does not require an offset change in SpectraVue. Not
> sure if that's
> handled automatically when using LP-PAN and PowerSDR.
>
> Paul W9AC
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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

_______________________________________________
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

Jan Erik Holm

Re: K3: dBV meter

In reply to this post by S Sacco

S Sacco wrote:
>
> For testing, the K3 has the very excellent feature whereby it can
> measure the receive voltage. That would be an FB way to compare
> signals.
>
No it would not.The dBV meter is only useful on a constant and
steady carrier.

/ Jim SM2EKM

_______________________________________________
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

S Sacco

Re: K3: dBV meter

The same could be said for an S-meter reading, no?

On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 12:12 AM, Jan Erik Holm <[hidden email]> wrote:

S Sacco wrote:

For testing, the K3 has the very excellent feature whereby it can
measure the receive voltage. That would be an FB way to compare
signals.

No it would not.The dBV meter is only useful on a constant and
steady carrier.

/ Jim SM2EKM

_______________________________________________
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

Jan Erik Holm

Re: K3: dBV meter

I think the S-meter issue has been muted, we
better give it a rest for a while.

/ Jim SM2EKM
------------------------------
S Sacco wrote:

> The same could be said for an S-meter reading, no?
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 12:12 AM, Jan Erik Holm <[hidden email]
> <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
> S Sacco wrote:
>
>
> For testing, the K3 has the very excellent feature whereby it can
> measure the receive voltage. That would be an FB way to compare
> signals.
>
> No it would not.The dBV meter is only useful on a constant and
> steady carrier.
>
> / Jim SM2EKM
>