Craig, The RF Gain control is a device that can be effectively used when you encounter a mixture of strong and weak signals in the receiver passband.
With the RF Gain at its full (normal) position, the strong signals will activate the AGC and the weak signals will be reduced too and may not be heard. If the RF gain is reduced, the AGC action is not as strong and the weak signals may be more readable. Yes, the S-meter will not be correct if the RF Gain is reduced, but if you are trying to listen to weak signals, the reading of the S-meter is not really relevant, you just want to hear the weak signal. Strange as it may seem, when listening for weak signals, reducing the RF Gain and increasing the AF Gain may work wonders. Many old-timers will run the AF Gain at the full CW position and control the volume level with the RF Gain - we learned that with older receivers, but then the objective was to limit the signal into the detector so the BFO would not be overdriven (AGC was turned off) - with the advent of product detectors, the reason to operate that way changed, but is still an effective technique - one can leave the AGC on to help protect the ears from the really loud ones. 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > Forgive me for asking a question below my license class, but this is > something I've never figured out: Under what circumstances does an RF Gain > control do me any good? I always operate my K2 with RF Gain fully > clockwise > and use AF Gain to control volume. I've monkeyed with RF Gain but > it sounds > like a second volume control to me. > > Craig > NZ0R > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
