K3: SWR meter adjustment

[N0SA]

I just noticed that the SWR meter readings on my K3 do not match my IC-7000 or my Palstar antenna analyzer. The Icom and the Palstar both read the same but the K3 reads lower.
The K3 reads 1.0:1 the others read 1.5:1.
Is there an adjustment for the K3, or am I just being too critical here?
Larry
N0SA

[AC7AC]

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[ab2tc]

Hi,

Do you have the internal antenna tuner option installed?

AB2TC - Knut

N0SA wrote

I just noticed that the SWR meter readings on my K3 do not match my IC-7000 or my Palstar antenna analyzer. The Icom and the Palstar both read the same but the K3 reads lower.
The K3 reads 1.0:1 the others read 1.5:1.
Is there an adjustment for the K3, or am I just being too critical here?
Larry
N0SA

[N0SA]

Here are the results on three bands:
Each radio or antenna analyzer is connected to the exact same coax, there are
no added switches or connections, the coax goes straight to the antenna.
              K3       IC-7000      Palstar Antenna analyzer
40M        1.1:1         1.5:1              1.6:1
30M         1.2:1        1.5:1              1.6:1
20M        1.1:1         1.5:1              1.4:1

Sure looks like the K3 is off to me comparedf to the other two
Larry
N0SA

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote

Is that on all bands?

How long is the coaxial cable between the K3 and the external meter?

Both of those things will have a pronounced effect on the SWR. Even though
the K3 has found a 1.0:1 match, that says nothing about the SWR on the
coaxial line. The readings you see on an external SWR meter may vary widely
if the system is not terminated in a 50-ohm non-reactive load. An antenna
seldom presents a 50 ohm non-reactive load.

First put a known good dummy load on the rig. That will keep the SWR on the
coax low. Now compare your external meters with the K3 using a very short
piece of coax (a few inches) and do the comparison at a fairly low frequency
- 160 or 80 meters - to reduce the effects of any remaining stray reactance.
Check one meter at a time since the SWR meter itself adds a little
reactance. They should agree fairly well under those conditions. A range of
0.2 is pretty common (i.e. 1.0:1 and 1.2:1), but I'd start to question the
meter if one read 1.5:1 and the other 1.0:1 under those conditions.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
I just noticed that the SWR meter readings on my K3 do not match my IC-7000
or my Palstar antenna analyzer. The Icom and the Palstar both read the same
but the K3 reads lower.
The K3 reads 1.0:1 the others read 1.5:1.
Is there an adjustment for the K3, or am I just being too critical here?
Larry
N0SA
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[AC7AC]

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[N0SA]

NO

 

From: ab2tc [via Elecraft] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 3:57 PM
To: N0SA
Subject: Re: K3: SWR meter adjustment

 

Hi,

Do you have the internal antenna tuner option installed?

AB2TC - Knut

N0SA wrote:

I just noticed that the SWR meter readings on my K3 do not match my IC-7000 or my Palstar antenna analyzer. The Icom and the Palstar both read the same but the K3 reads lower.
The K3 reads 1.0:1 the others read 1.5:1.
Is there an adjustment for the K3, or am I just being too critical here?
Larry
N0SA

 

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[N0SA]

I have contacted Elecraft support to see what they have to say.
My radio has no internal tuner and I move the coax from device to device so there is no difference in connections or coax lengths. The coax goes straight out to the antenna which is a ground mounted vertical fed at the base with an SGC autotuner.
On all three bands the SWR readings are  very close and low on the K3, the Icom and Palstar analyzer both read about .5 higher and match closely to each other.
Larry
N0SA

 

 

Hi,

Do you have the internal antenna tuner option installed?

AB2TC - Knut

N0SA wrote:

I just noticed that the SWR meter readings on my K3 do not match my IC-7000
or my Palstar antenna analyzer. The Icom and the Palstar both read the same
but the K3 reads lower.
The K3 reads 1.0:1 the others read 1.5:1.
Is there an adjustment for the K3, or am I just being too critical here?
Larry
N0SA

 

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