Re: K3: S-meter calibration (redux)

[g3ymc]

On 8 Jun 2007 at 4:04, G4ILO
> But who cares about S meters? I run QRP. Nearly every report I get is
> 599. Most of the people I work are not running QRP so I'm not about to
> offend them by giving a lower report than I got. Besides, while he's
> sending his first over I'm entering his details into the log and never
> even think to look at the meter before it's my turn to reply.

Being also a QRP operator, I usually get 599 reports except in casual
QSOs and some QRP contests. I also strongly object to the practice of
some operators who claim to be running 5W adding /QRP to their
callsign - it is actually not legal under the UK licence. It has no
advantage and only serves to slow down the QSO rate.

I never add /QRP to my call and don't put it in my log or on QSL
cards. I always get 599 reports in the pileups. Those who send /QRP
always get 459 reports or similar.............

As for S meters, I normally do it by ear, though occasionally tell a
chap he is a genuine s9 when the meter shows that. I am always
sceptical by those who say 'you are 59+60dB on the meter'. Do they
not realise what an enormous signal that actually is???

73 Dave G3YMC

http://www.davesergeant.com

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[Julian, G4ILO]

On 6/8/07, Dave Sergeant <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I never add /QRP to my call and don't put it in my log or on QSL
> cards. I always get 599 reports in the pileups. Those who send /QRP
> always get 459 reports or similar.............

I might send [space] QRP after my call, or say QRP if on SSB, when
calling a DX station. The DX will sometimes recognize "QRP" when he
doesn't manage to pick anything else out of the pileup.

I don't think there is anything wrong in using it in that way as it
simply means "running low power". But I wouldn't use it as a call
suffix, and I don't use it at all most of the time as it would just be
a waste of bandwidth.
--
Julian, G4ILO
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
K2 s/n: 392  K3 s/n: ???
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[Darwin, Keith]

Wow, very interesting discussion about S-meters, units, K3, etc.

It is clear that we all care quite a lot about these S-meters.  I
greatly prefer operating a rig with one even if it is not accurate.  It
gives me something to look at during a QSO.

We're at risk of throwing the baby out with the bath water.  If the
meter is not giving absolute measurements of signal strength it is still
useful.  If the meter is not linear (constant dB per s-unit) it is still
useful.  Having something to give a visual indication of signal strength
is useful.  Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Having a meter that is calibrated at S9 makes the meter more useful.
Having it give linear response makes even more better!!  Better for
whom?  Better for me as the rig user.  If I know the scale is 6 dB per
unit, I can use that to compare antenna performance, and to just get a
feel for how many dB of change is required to make a difference.

Knowing the actual voltage level at the antenna terminal tells me
nothing.  Sorry, all I really want is a relative measure.

Years ago, I had a Ford Bronco.  I put a tach into the vehicle but left
the switch set to 4-cyl.  That doubled my measurement.  So, when the
engine ran 2000 RPM, the tach read 4000.  It took a day or so to switch
my brain, but I got used to the engine idling at 1300 rpm, and shifting
at 5000.  What I got in exchange was a tach that gave twice the
resolution.  I got to use more of the tach's range.  It performed better
for my purposes than if it had been run "correctly".  I see the K3's
s-meter options to be much the same.  It allows the user to adjust the
S-meter to work the way they find most useful.  Very sweet.

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411.ssb.100 -

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[k4tmc]

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