K3 utility and calibrate RF gain

[Dave, G4AON]

I've just tried this with the new utility (and f/w 3.25). After running
the gain calibration and then calibrating SMTR OF and SMTR SC, the K3
S-meter did give remarkably accurate readings.
My K3 gives S9 = -73 dBm, S9+20 = -53 dBm, S9+40=-33 dBm and S9+60=-13
dBm. Equally it is giving 6 dB per S point below S9 down to S3 at -109
dBm. I only checked my K3 on 80m but it's darn good. Mine is calibrated
without the pre-amp in use and on CW.

It needs clarifying that the gain calibration does not in itself
calibrate the S-meter.

73 Dave, G4AON
K3/100 #80
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[ab2tc]

Hi,

I have just installed this and run the "Calibrate RF gain" and I am impressed with the improvement. My S-meter was accurate at S3 and S9 but grossly exaggerated beyond S9+10. After calibration it remains accurate at S3 and S9 (needed no further S meter calibration) and now is much better at high signal levels. Unfortunately my modified XG1 (normal XG1 + 40dB) had been left on and run down the battery so I have only been able to test the higher levels by comparing K3 and LP-Pan/PowerSDR readings on strong 40m AM stations, but they are quite close. This also much improves the S-meter when backing off on the RF gain. Very useful improvent and the first one in months that prompted me to upgrade.

AB2TC - Knut

Dave G4AON wrote

I've just tried this with the new utility (and f/w 3.25). After running
the gain calibration and then calibrating SMTR OF and SMTR SC, the K3
S-meter did give remarkably accurate readings.

[Dick Dievendorff]

See the firmware release notes. RF Gain calibration can prove S meter  
accuracy,

Dick

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 12, 2009, at 3:19 PM, Dave G4AON <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've just tried this with the new utility (and f/w 3.25). After  
> running
> the gain calibration and then calibrating SMTR OF and SMTR SC, the K3
> S-meter did give remarkably accurate readings.
> My K3 gives S9 = -73 dBm, S9+20 = -53 dBm, S9+40=-33 dBm and S9+60=-13
> dBm. Equally it is giving 6 dB per S point below S9 down to S3 at -109
> dBm. I only checked my K3 on 80m but it's darn good. Mine is  
> calibrated
> without the pre-amp in use and on CW.
>
> It needs clarifying that the gain calibration does not in itself
> calibrate the S-meter.
>
> 73 Dave, G4AON
> K3/100 #80
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[David Pratt]

Yesterday, I mentioned that my S-meter was showing S9+5dB with an input
of 50uV after calibrating with the K3 Utility.

I normally have CONFIG: SMTR PK On.  But I notice that if I toggle SMTR
PK OFF the S-meter goes down an S-point.  Hence, with SMTR PK OFF my
S-meter now reads S9.

But should toggling SMTR PK make any difference to the S meter reading
with a constant signal?

73
--
David G4DMP
Leeds, England, UK
------


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[Guy, K2AV]

Wouldn't the peak signal be 1.4 times the RMS value of a steady CW signal.
If S-meter is saving signal peaks rather than the "average", it should read
just a tiny bit higher.

73, Guy.

On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 6:58 AM, David Pratt <[hidden email]>wrote:

> Yesterday, I mentioned that my S-meter was showing S9+5dB with an input
> of 50uV after calibrating with the K3 Utility.
>
> I normally have CONFIG: SMTR PK On.  But I notice that if I toggle SMTR
> PK OFF the S-meter goes down an S-point.  Hence, with SMTR PK OFF my
> S-meter now reads S9.
>
> But should toggling SMTR PK make any difference to the S meter reading
> with a constant signal?
>
> 73
> --
> David G4DMP
> Leeds, England, UK
> ------
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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, Guy  K2AV
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