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Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

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KC2LST

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

Hi Mike,

Yes - it is possible to do as you suggest - use the absolute S-Meter mode. For a long time I resisted switching to absolute mode for no good reason other than not wanting to deviate from a default setting.

Because I usually keep RF gain at about the 1 o'clock position, for a long time I dithered along with S-Meter readings that were uncorrected for RF gain setting.

A month or two ago I switched to absolute mode and have never looked back. Recommended. Someone recently suggested the absolute mode be made the default and I agree.

This is done via the CONFIG: SMTR MD setting and is further described on page 51 of the current K3 Owner's Manual.

73 de Tyler, KC2LST

-------------------------------------

Is it possible to make the s meter unaffected by rf gain. I suppose it's not.

73
Mike R

Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!

Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
HF & Echolink mobile

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Richard Fjeld

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (MikeRodgers)

I shouldn't answer this w/o looking it up in the manual, but I haven't used
any bandwidth in awhile, it seems to me that we have to re-calibrate if we
change it to absolute. Right/Not??
Rich, n0ce

----- Original Message -----
From: <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter
(MikeRodgers)

> Hi Mike,
>
> Yes - it is possible to do as you suggest - use the absolute S-Meter mode.
> For a long time I resisted switching to absolute mode for no good reason
> other than not wanting to deviate from a default setting.
>
> Because I usually keep RF gain at about the 1 o'clock position, for a long
> time I dithered along with S-Meter readings that were uncorrected for RF
> gain setting.
>
> A month or two ago I switched to absolute mode and have never looked back.
> Recommended. Someone recently suggested the absolute mode be made the
> default and I agree.
>
> This is done via the CONFIG: SMTR MD setting and is further described on
> page 51 of the current K3 Owner's Manual.
>
> 73 de Tyler, KC2LST
>

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vk4tux

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

In reply to this post by KC2LST

Absolute mode keeps a true S reading the same regardless of preamp or
Attenuator settings. I use it also in my K3.
The OP is asking about RF gain, if you defeat RF gain then S will rise
regardless of your absolute setting.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
[hidden email]
Sent: Friday, 31 August 2012 4:24 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike
Rodgers)

Hi Mike,

Yes - it is possible to do as you suggest - use the absolute S-Meter mode.
For a long time I resisted switching to absolute mode for no good reason
other than not wanting to deviate from a default setting.

Because I usually keep RF gain at about the 1 o'clock position, for a long
time I dithered along with S-Meter readings that were uncorrected for RF
gain setting.

A month or two ago I switched to absolute mode and have never looked back.
Recommended. Someone recently suggested the absolute mode be made the
default and I agree.

This is done via the CONFIG: SMTR MD setting and is further described on
page 51 of the current K3 Owner's Manual.

73 de Tyler, KC2LST

-------------------------------------

Is it possible to make the s meter unaffected by rf gain. I suppose it's
not.

73
Mike R

Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!

Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
HF & Echolink mobile

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drewko

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

In reply to this post by KC2LST

I thought he was referring to the s-meter segments "filling up" as you
turn down the RF gain control, which happens with absolute mode as
well as default mode. I forget what the benefit of this action is
supposed to be except that it mimics conventional receivers.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:23:58 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>Hi Mike,
>
>Yes - it is possible to do as you suggest - use the absolute S-Meter mode. For a long time I resisted switching to absolute mode for no good reason other than not wanting to deviate from a default setting.
>
>Because I usually keep RF gain at about the 1 o'clock position, for a long time I dithered along with S-Meter readings that were uncorrected for RF gain setting.
>
>A month or two ago I switched to absolute mode and have never looked back. Recommended. Someone recently suggested the absolute mode be made the default and I agree.
>
>This is done via the CONFIG: SMTR MD setting and is further described on page 51 of the current K3 Owner's Manual.
>
>73 de Tyler, KC2LST
>
>-------------------------------------
>
>Is it possible to make the s meter unaffected by rf gain. I suppose it's not.
>
>73
>Mike R
>

Bill K9YEQ

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

In reply to this post by vk4tux

I had not tried absolute mode. It is perfect. I use attn and no pre amp on
lower bands. Nothing changes. Reducing rf gain as always will increase the
floor of the reading up to 50 over, or thereabouts.

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Adrian)

Absolute mode keeps a true S reading the same regardless of preamp or
Attenuator settings. I use it also in my K3.
The OP is asking about RF gain, if you defeat RF gain then S will rise
regardless of your absolute setting.

-----Original Message-----

Hi Mike,

Yes - it is possible to do as you suggest - use the absolute S-Meter mode.
For a long time I resisted switching to absolute mode for no good reason
other than not wanting to deviate from a default setting.

Because I usually keep RF gain at about the 1 o'clock position, for a long
time I dithered along with S-Meter readings that were uncorrected for RF
gain setting.

A month or two ago I switched to absolute mode and have never looked back.
Recommended. Someone recently suggested the absolute mode be made the
default and I agree.

This is done via the CONFIG: SMTR MD setting and is further described on
page 51 of the current K3 Owner's Manual.

73 de Tyler, KC2LST

-------------------------------------

Is it possible to make the s meter unaffected by rf gain. I suppose it's
not.

73
Mike R

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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drewko

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

In reply to this post by drewko

>From an operational standpoint I suppose it is useful (i.e., the
segments filling up when you turn down the gain) so that you can
adjust it visually to the approx level of the background noise by
reducing it until the flickering stops.

Probably everyone adjusts RF gain by ear though; I mean those who
don't just turn RF gain to max and leave it there.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:39:39 -0700, you wrote:

>The S-meter reading is normally derived from the AGC voltage, and the AGC
>voltage controls the RF Gain. When AGC is on, the knob "RF Gain" simply
>manually overrides the AGC voltage.
>
>So, when you turn the RF gain down manually you are mimicking what the AGC
>does in the presence of a signal. The stronger the received signal, the more
>the AGC voltage is generated to turn down the RF Gain which then raises the
>S-meter reading.
>
>73, Ron AC7AC
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [hidden email]
>[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of drewko
>Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 1:28 PM
>To: [hidden email]
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike
>Rodgers)
>
>I thought he was referring to the s-meter segments "filling up" as you turn
>down the RF gain control, which happens with absolute mode as well as
>default mode. I forget what the benefit of this action is supposed to be
>except that it mimics conventional receivers.
>
>73,
>Drew
>AF2Z
>
>

Bill Frantz

Re: [k3] Wayne/Lyle is it possible? S meter (Mike Rodgers)

When using my computer to decode PSK and other digital modes, I
use the RF gain to control AF overload as reported by the
computer software (cocoaModem).

Cheers - Bill, AE6JV

On 8/30/12 at 13:56, [hidden email] (drewko) wrote:

>Probably everyone adjusts RF gain by ear though; I mean those who
>don't just turn RF gain to max and leave it there.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz |"After all, if the conventional wisdom was
working, the
408-356-8506 | rate of systems being compromised would be
going down,
www.pwpconsult.com | wouldn't it?" -- Marcus Ranum

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