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XG1 and K2 question

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Eddy

XG1 and K2 question

Hello K2 receiver wizards, what makes more sense when using the XG1 to set the S-meter on a K2, pre-amp on or off? As you well know, pre-amp makes a big difference on 40mtr......I suppose most K2 owners turn pre-amp on from 20mtrs and up, while turning it off 160-40 for better selectivity.

Many thanks for your advice and opinions.

73

ed
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daleputnam

Re: XG1 and K2 question

Hi Ed, I calibrate the S meter with the preamp off... that allows the gain of the preamp to be measured and evaluated also.And gives a "standard" of S 9.And, with my two K2s, I seldom use the preamp on any band, until conditions allow, I find plenty of gain, that overpowers the filters with the preamp and amped noise. However, I did, before I realigned one of them, notice that I was using the preamp quite often as the band noise was low... and.. when measured, so was the sensitivity. Realigned... no problem.... and I have gotten verysettled with the low noise from the rx on a quite band... the preamp, many times will add enough noise to make it sound like the band is alive... when if fact.. the band is alive.. but with signals and not so much noise.
Have a great day,

--... ...--
Dale - WC7S in Wy

> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:08:31 -0800
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] XG1 and K2 question
>
> Hello K2 receiver wizards, what makes more sense when using the XG1 to set the S-meter on a K2, pre-amp on or off? As you well know, pre-amp makes a big difference on 40mtr......I suppose most K2 owners turn pre-amp on from 20mtrs and up, while turning it off 160-40 for better selectivity.
>
> Many thanks for your advice and opinions.
>
> 73
>
> ed
> ______________________________________________________________
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EricJ-2

Re: XG1 and K2 question

In reply to this post by Eddy

The calibration is a pseudo-standard or convention, i.e 50 uV at the
antenna input equals S9 on the meter. So it doesn't make much sense to
have the preamp on for the measurement. If you did, the only way to
compare two rigs would be to specify whether the preamp is on or off on
each rig. Not that the convention is a valid comparison of two rigs.

But it's just a convention so you do what's meaningful for you.

Eric
KE6US

On 2/14/2014 1:08 PM, Eddy wrote:

> Hello K2 receiver wizards, what makes more sense when using the XG1 to set the S-meter on a K2, pre-amp on or off? As you well know, pre-amp makes a big difference on 40mtr......I suppose most K2 owners turn pre-amp on from 20mtrs and up, while turning it off 160-40 for better selectivity.
>
> Many thanks for your advice and opinions.
>
> 73
>
> ed
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: XG1 and K2 question

In reply to this post by Eddy

Ed,

You will have to make up your own mind on that question.
If you normally use the bands that usually have the preamp on, you would
probably want to set it with the preamp on.

However if most of your activity is on bands where you do not run the
preamp, set it with the preamp off.

Keep in mind that the S-meter display can be a relative indication
rather than an absolute. The K2 does a lot better than many other
transceivers in that the s-meter calibration can be set according to
your desires or to some 'standard' such as the normally accepted -73 dBm
(50 uV) indicating S-9.

If you choose to calibrate with the preamp on, just add 2 S-units to the
reading, or if above S-9, add 10 dB when giving reports with the preamp
off. Conversely, subtract 2 S-units or 10 dB when operating with the
preamp on if you calibrated it with the preamp off.

Some folks like to see a "lively" S-meter in all cases, and if you are
one of those, set it with the preamp off.
Isn't everyone S-9 unless you are running QRP and then it is S-5 :-) .
I have heard very few really honest reports in my days.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/14/2014 4:08 PM, Eddy wrote:
> Hello K2 receiver wizards, what makes more sense when using the XG1 to set the S-meter on a K2, pre-amp on or off? As you well know, pre-amp makes a big difference on 40mtr......I suppose most K2 owners turn pre-amp on from 20mtrs and up, while turning it off 160-40 for better selectivity.
>
> Many thanks for your advice and opinions.
>
>

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: XG1 and K2 question

In reply to this post by Eddy

Change the first occurrance of "on" in the paragraph below to "off" and
it will make more sense.

73,
Don W3FPR
------------------------------------------

If you choose to calibrate with the preamp on, just add 2 S-units to the
reading, or if above S-9, add 10 dB when giving reports with the preamp
off. Conversely, subtract 2 S-units or 10 dB when operating with the
preamp on if you calibrated it with the preamp off.

Don W3FPR

On 2/14/2014 4:08 PM, Eddy wrote:
> Hello K2 receiver wizards, what makes more sense when using the XG1 to set the S-meter on a K2, pre-amp on or off? As you well know, pre-amp makes a big difference on 40mtr......I suppose most K2 owners turn pre-amp on from 20mtrs and up, while turning it off 160-40 for better selectivity.
>
> Many thanks for your advice and opinions.
>
>

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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: XG1 and K2 question

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Yes, Don. "59 OM. Pse repeat your name and QTH" :-)

Phil -- Sent from my iPhone 5S

> On Feb 14, 2014, at 13:32, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Ed,
>
> You will have to make up your own mind on that question.
> If you normally use the bands that usually have the preamp on, you would probably want to set it with the preamp on.
>
> However if most of your activity is on bands where you do not run the preamp, set it with the preamp off.
>
> Keep in mind that the S-meter display can be a relative indication rather than an absolute. The K2 does a lot better than many other transceivers in that the s-meter calibration can be set according to your desires or to some 'standard' such as the normally accepted -73 dBm (50 uV) indicating S-9.
>
> If you choose to calibrate with the preamp on, just add 2 S-units to the reading, or if above S-9, add 10 dB when giving reports with the preamp off. Conversely, subtract 2 S-units or 10 dB when operating with the preamp on if you calibrated it with the preamp off.
>
> Some folks like to see a "lively" S-meter in all cases, and if you are one of those, set it with the preamp off.
> Isn't everyone S-9 unless you are running QRP and then it is S-5 :-) . I have heard very few really honest reports in my days.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 2/14/2014 4:08 PM, Eddy wrote:
>> Hello K2 receiver wizards, what makes more sense when using the XG1 to set the S-meter on a K2, pre-amp on or off? As you well know, pre-amp makes a big difference on 40mtr......I suppose most K2 owners turn pre-amp on from 20mtrs and up, while turning it off 160-40 for better selectivity.
>>
>> Many thanks for your advice and opinions.
>