K3 SWR error

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K3 SWR error

NZ0T
I have K3-100 kit 1502 with the internal tuner and FW 3.76.  I know there have been many posts about the meter SWR error but I really haven't seen a resolution posted.  Before I bought my W2 I used a cheap SWR/Power meter and I thought the error was in it.  Now that I have the W2 (which appears to be very accurate) I see that the K3 SWR indication can be very different than my W2, Ten Tec tuner, analyzer and my other HF rigs with or without the internal tuner in line.  My concern is that if the K3 reads SWR incorrectly that the power may not fold back and there may be a risk of damage to the finals.  Is there any procedure to correct the error?  I understand that stray capacitance can cause differences but I would really like to have a more accurate measurement by the rig.
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Re: K3 SWR error

N5GE
On Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:19:28 -0800 (PST), NZ0T <[hidden email]> wrote:

How much inaccuracy are you experiencing?

How did you determine that the K3 is inaccurate?  How did you
determine that the W2 is very accurate?

>
>I have K3-100 kit 1502 with the internal tuner and FW 3.76.  I know there
>have been many posts about the meter SWR error but I really haven't seen a
>resolution posted.  Before I bought my W2 I used a cheap SWR/Power meter and
>I thought the error was in it.  Now that I have the W2 (which appears to be
>very accurate) I see that the K3 SWR indication can be very different than
>my W2, Ten Tec tuner, analyzer and my other HF rigs with or without the
>internal tuner in line.  My concern is that if the K3 reads SWR incorrectly
>that the power may not fold back and there may be a risk of damage to the
>finals.  Is there any procedure to correct the error?  I understand that
>stray capacitance can cause differences but I would really like to have a
>more accurate measurement by the rig.

Tom, N5GE

K3 #806 with SUB RX, PR6,
KRC2 and K144XV
K3 #1055 with PR6 and XV432
W1, 2 W2's and other small kits

http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.swotrc.net

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Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
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Re: K3 SWR error

NZ0T
It depends on band but sometimes I see 2.5 on the W2 (verified by my
analyzer and SWR meters in my Ten Tec tuner and a TS-940S) but 1.5 or so on
the K3.  For the most part the K3 shows a lower SWR than any of the rest of
my meters.  And, for the most part my W2 agrees cloely with my analyzer,
940, tuner and W2.  An example - on 80 meters:
K3  1.4
Analyzer  1.9
Tuner      1.9
940         2.1
W2         2.1

Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing but the 80 meter results are
pretty typical for each band with the K3 lower that the others that are all
fairly close to each other.
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Re: K3 SWR error

Guy, K2AV
You probably have extra cable to the K3 from the W2, going through an
amp, etc.

What happens to the difference in SWR if you take the cable from the
OUTPUT of the W2, and connect it directly to the back of the K3?

73, Guy.

On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 1:35 PM, NZ0T <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> It depends on band but sometimes I see 2.5 on the W2 (verified by my
> analyzer and SWR meters in my Ten Tec tuner and a TS-940S) but 1.5 or so on
> the K3.  For the most part the K3 shows a lower SWR than any of the rest of
> my meters.  And, for the most part my W2 agrees cloely with my analyzer,
> 940, tuner and W2.  An example - on 80 meters:
> K3  1.4
> Analyzer  1.9
> Tuner      1.9
> 940         2.1
> W2         2.1
>
> Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing but the 80 meter results are
> pretty typical for each band with the K3 lower that the others that are all
> fairly close to each other.
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-SWR-error-tp4732831p4738535.html
> Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
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Re: K3 SWR error

Bill K9YEQ
I allow some deviation knowing that at different places along the cable, the
swr will be different.  This includes equipment like amplifiers.  If the
deviation isn't more than 1.2, then I am happy, otherwise I readjust.  You
could calibrate the W2 but then I think it changes the actual.  Looking for
pure 1.0:1 isn't always real.  

Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Guy Olinger K2AV
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 1:47 PM
To: NZ0T
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 SWR error

You probably have extra cable to the K3 from the W2, going through an
amp, etc.

What happens to the difference in SWR if you take the cable from the
OUTPUT of the W2, and connect it directly to the back of the K3?

73, Guy.

On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 1:35 PM, NZ0T <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> It depends on band but sometimes I see 2.5 on the W2 (verified by my
> analyzer and SWR meters in my Ten Tec tuner and a TS-940S) but 1.5 or so
on
> the K3.  For the most part the K3 shows a lower SWR than any of the rest
of

> my meters.  And, for the most part my W2 agrees cloely with my analyzer,
> 940, tuner and W2.  An example - on 80 meters:
> K3  1.4
> Analyzer  1.9
> Tuner      1.9
> 940         2.1
> W2         2.1
>
> Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing but the 80 meter results are
> pretty typical for each band with the K3 lower that the others that are
all
> fairly close to each other.
>
> --
> View this message in context:
http://n2.nabble.com/K3-SWR-error-tp4732831p4738535.html

> Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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