S-meter read S9 with no signal

[Ignacy]

I built my K2 yesterday. It worked right away but the minimum S-meter reading is S9, even with no antenna. With signals it easily goes to +60.

The SMTR settings are default. I tried fiddling with them but it seems the problem is elsewhere.

RF gain action is awkward. When decreased all the way the S-meter goes to +40 but not S60.

The radio seems more noisy than Mark V Field. Still, one can hear an increase in noise when the preamp is turned on.

Have I messed up something in installation?
Ignacy, NO9E

[Don Wilhelm-4]

There are no 'default' settings for the S-meter.  The adjustment
procedure is in the manual.  Do these steps in the order listed.
1) Set the AGC Threshold to 3.80 volts measured at Control Board U2 pin 5
Note - if your 8 volt regulator is on the low side of its specification
you will not be able to achieve the 3.8 volt reading - in that case,
measure the 8 volt regulator output voltage and calculate 45% of that.  
Set the AGC Threshold to that voltage.
2)  With no antenna connected, turn the RF Gain control to maximum (full
clockwise), then enter the menu for CAL S LO.  Set the menu parameter
one count above the value where the left bar turns off.  Exit the menu.
3)  Turn the RF Gain control to minimum (full counterclockwise), then
enter the menu for CAL S HI.  Adjust the menu parameter to just
illuminate the rightmost bar of the bargraph.  Exit the menu.
4) (Optional) If you have a calibrated signal generator that will
produce a 50 uV output at a frequency the K2 can tune to (preferably 40
meters), tune that signal for maximum S-meter reading with the preamp
off.  If the S-meter reading is different than S-9, adjust the CAL S HI
menu parameter to produce an S-9 indication.

If you cannot achieve these results, that is an indication that you need
to do some troubleshooting.

73,
Don W3FPR


Ignacy wrote:

> I built my K2 yesterday. It worked right away but the minimum S-meter reading
> is S9, even with no antenna. With signals it easily goes to +60.
>
> The SMTR settings are default. I tried fiddling with them but it seems the
> problem is elsewhere.
>
> RF gain action is awkward. When decreased all the way the S-meter goes to
> +40 but not S60.
>
> The radio seems more noisy than Mark V Field. Still, one can hear an
> increase in noise when the preamp is turned on.
>
> Have I messed up something in installation?
> Ignacy, NO9E
>  
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
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>  

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[Ignacy]

I tried SMTR settings but none can bring the S-meter below S9. What can of hardware problem can it be?
The radio did very well running in CQ WW this AM so it has plenty of sensitivity.
Ignacy


<quote author="Don Wilhelm-4">
There are no 'default' settings for the S-meter.  The adjustment
procedure is in the manual.  Do these steps in the order listed.

[Ignacy]

I wrote k2 by mistake. It is K3.

[Ignacy]

Should have been K3, not K2.
Ignacy

<quote author="Ignacy">
I built my K2 yesterday. It worked right away but the minimum S-meter reading is S9, even with no antenna. With signals it easily goes to +60.

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Ignacy,

There are a number of possibilities causing the high S-meter reading.

Were you able to adjust the AGC Threshold to the correct voltage?  What
was the result when you adjusted the CAL S LO and CAL S HI menu
parameters (were you able to get the correct bar to illuminate - or
extinguish)?

What happens to the S-meter reading if you turn the AGC off?

What happens to the S-meter reading if you place a jumper between pins 1
and 2 of the J10 header (or the J10 header location)?

The answers to the questions above will be an indicator of where to
begin looking for the problem.

73,
Don W3FPR

Ignacy wrote:
> I tried SMTR settings but none can bring the S-meter below S9. What can of
> hardware problem can it be?
> The radio did very well running in CQ WW this AM so it has plenty of
> sensitivity.
> Ignacy
>  
>
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

I was replying about the K2, so ignore my emails.

I suggest you contact [hidden email] and ask about the problem
with the K3.

73,
Don W3FPR

Ignacy wrote:

> Should have been K3, not K2.
> Ignacy
>
>
> I built my K2 yesterday. It worked right away but the minimum S-meter
> reading is S9, even with no antenna. With signals it easily goes to +60.
>
>  
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.11/1820 - Release Date: 11/29/2008 6:52 PM
>
>  

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