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K3 S meter

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charliedelta

K3 S meter

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Is the K3's S meter calibrated, or is there some provision for
storing a S meter calibration table?

Craig
VK3HE
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wayne burdick

Re: K3 S meter

Administrator

<[hidden email]> wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> Is the K3's S meter calibrated, or is there some provision for
> storing a S meter calibration table?

There are S-meter ZERO and SCALE menu entries, although the default
settings will usually result in 50 microvolts = "S9", the most
widely-accepted standard.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

---

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Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO

Re: Re: K3 S meter

Wayne,

Just as a data point, in case you don't know -- the Omni-VII features a
calibrated S-meter (50 uV = S9, 1 S-unit = 6 dB) on all bands, and it always
reads the same for a given signal level regardless of the state of pre-amps
or attenuators switched in/out. IOW, the calibration is based (always) on
the nominal signal level at the 1st mixer. I personally think this is the
"right" way to do an S-meter, but the market hasn't spoken on this. :-)
Don't know if Omni-VII owners will like this or not. My guess is it will
produce "low" (by comparison to other current radios) S-meter readings on
6M, for example.

Bill / W5WVO

wayne burdick wrote:

> <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: SHA1
>>
>> Is the K3's S meter calibrated, or is there some provision for
>> storing a S meter calibration table?
>
> There are S-meter ZERO and SCALE menu entries, although the default
> settings will usually result in 50 microvolts = "S9", the most
> widely-accepted standard.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ---
>
> 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.):
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

wayne burdick

Re: K3 S meter

Administrator

I think 3.5 to 4 dB per S-unit is closer to operator expectations,
Bill, but I'm sure TT has their reasons.

We do agree on 50 uV = S9. Whether the S-meter compensates for the
preamp and attenuator is an interesting subject; we might provide a
menu entry to turn this on/off.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Apr 29, 2007, at 5:15 PM, Bill W5WVO wrote:

> Wayne,
>
> Just as a data point, in case you don't know -- the Omni-VII features
> a calibrated S-meter (50 uV = S9, 1 S-unit = 6 dB) on all bands, and
> it always reads the same for a given signal level regardless of the
> state of pre-amps or attenuators switched in/out.

> ---

http://www.elecraft.com

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Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO

Re: K3 S meter

Hmmm... I just went back through my reflector mail as well as the published
Omni-VII literature, and I can't find anywhere it says 6 dB per S-unit. I
could have swore that I read that. Could be I assumed it, though... That
used to be one of the "standards" in days gone by... LONG gone by...

Just did the math based on S9 = 50 uV, and if you figure 1 uV for S0, you
get 3.775 dB per S-unit, pretty much what you said. If you use 6 dB per
S-unit, a 0.25 uV signal (nominal minimum detectable) would be between an S1
and an S2. Is this "right"? On the face of it, it doesn't seem so -- but if
you go by the old-time verbal strength descriptions for the S scale, an S1
is a "barely perceptible" signal. Neglecting any atmospheric noise floor for
the moment, a barely perceptible signal in a modern HF receiver would be
about 0.25 uV, so by these lights, maybe the 6 dB per S-unit isn't so far
off.

Maybe 5 dB makes the most sense, since this places the minimal detectable
signal near S0, and anything above that would move the S-meter (including
the atmospheric noise floor). I think that would be my vote.

Bill / W5WVO

wayne burdick wrote:

> I think 3.5 to 4 dB per S-unit is closer to operator expectations,
> Bill, but I'm sure TT has their reasons.
>
> We do agree on 50 uV = S9. Whether the S-meter compensates for the
> preamp and attenuator is an interesting subject; we might provide a
> menu entry to turn this on/off.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> On Apr 29, 2007, at 5:15 PM, Bill W5WVO wrote:
>
>> Wayne,
>>
>> Just as a data point, in case you don't know -- the Omni-VII features
>> a calibrated S-meter (50 uV = S9, 1 S-unit = 6 dB) on all bands, and
>> it always reads the same for a given signal level regardless of the
>> state of pre-amps or attenuators switched in/out.
>
>> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com

srife

RE: Microphones for the K3

Wayne, are we going to be able to use the existing microphones for
the K3? I have the mobile mic for the K2, as well as the desk mic and the
Heil headset all wired for Kenwood.

Stan Rife
W5EWA
Houston, TX
K2 S/N 4216

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill W5WVO
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 12:05 AM
To: wayne burdick
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Re: K3 S meter

Hmmm... I just went back through my reflector mail as well as the published
Omni-VII literature, and I can't find anywhere it says 6 dB per S-unit. I
could have swore that I read that. Could be I assumed it, though... That
used to be one of the "standards" in days gone by... LONG gone by...

Just did the math based on S9 = 50 uV, and if you figure 1 uV for S0, you
get 3.775 dB per S-unit, pretty much what you said. If you use 6 dB per
S-unit, a 0.25 uV signal (nominal minimum detectable) would be between an S1

and an S2. Is this "right"? On the face of it, it doesn't seem so -- but if
you go by the old-time verbal strength descriptions for the S scale, an S1
is a "barely perceptible" signal. Neglecting any atmospheric noise floor for

the moment, a barely perceptible signal in a modern HF receiver would be
about 0.25 uV, so by these lights, maybe the 6 dB per S-unit isn't so far
off.

Maybe 5 dB makes the most sense, since this places the minimal detectable
signal near S0, and anything above that would move the S-meter (including
the atmospheric noise floor). I think that would be my vote.

Bill / W5WVO

wayne burdick wrote:

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: Microphones for the K3

Administrator

Yes. The K3 8 pin mic connector is wired the same as the K2 using the
Kenwood pinout. Plus we added a lot more mic pre-amp gain (adjustable)
in the K3.

73, Eric WA6HHQ
---

Stan Rife wrote:

> Wayne, are we going to be able to use the existing microphones for
> the K3? I have the mobile mic for the K2, as well as the desk mic and the
> Heil headset all wired for Kenwood.
>
> Stan Rife
> W5EWA
> Houston, TX
> K2 S/N 4216
>
>

Jeff Stai

Re: Microphones for the K3

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
> Yes. The K3 8 pin mic connector is wired the same as the K2 using the
> Kenwood pinout. Plus we added a lot more mic pre-amp gain (adjustable)
> in the K3.
>

Ah. My first K3 rework - my K2s are wired to match Yaesu. Please don't hide the traces!

thanks for putting up with me in the booth at Visalia! - jeff wk6i

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Ken Kopp

Re: Microphones for the K3

In reply to this post by Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Can the K3's connector be configured for other microphones
at the time of assembly? My K2 is set up for my Icom mics,
since I have seven of 'em, including a Heil HS ... and no others.

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
[hidden email]

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