Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
The commercial CW operators used a 1-5 scale too: QSA1 to QSA5. It's much more practical than trying to read or guess the nine steps of "S" units, yet plenty accurate enough to clearly tell the other station how good his/her signal is coming in. It's fun to watch an S-meter wave back and forth (I prefer the wiggly-needle d'Arsonval meters) and it helps to see what the AGC is hiding as the levels change, but I'm astonished anyone would try to use one for anything more than a very general relative level indication. With the AGC off the meter is unnecessary since one can then hear the changes and differences in signal levels. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: > > Holding my tongue firmly in my cheek, I suggest that we can give > 'proper' S reports without an S-meter at all. > S-3 - I can barely hear you > S-5 - You have a weak, but copyable signal > S-7 - Good copy, but not the strongest signal > S-9 - armchair copy > S-9+ - you are really booming in here. > > For contests, there is no problem, everyone is 599 or 59 anyway unless > it is a QRP contest where S-7 is the norm. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > - Dan AB3EN -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-S-Meter-and-Noise-tp3766928p3771774.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Don, Thanks for the explanation. I too use the method you describe such as "S-9 - armchair copy" but the interaction with the RF-gain had me looking all over the manual trying to figure out why the S Meter calibration didn't work. Dan Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: > > Holding my tongue firmly in my cheek, I suggest that we can give > 'proper' S reports without an S-meter at all. > S-3 - I can barely hear you > S-5 - You have a weak, but copyable signal > S-7 - Good copy, but not the strongest signal > S-9 - armchair copy > S-9+ - you are really booming in here. > > For contests, there is no problem, everyone is 599 or 59 anyway unless > it is a QRP contest where S-7 is the norm. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > - Dan AB3EN -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-S-Meter-and-Noise-tp3766928p3771774.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: > > If you are doing weak signal work or working on a crowded band, I > suggest you opt for the maximum dynamic range by reducing the RF Gain > (and advance the AF Gain) so you can just barely hear the band noise. > But if your current operation is more casual, run the RF Gain at max and > you will have valid S-meter readings. > I recommend backing off RF Gain until your S-meter is right at the point where noise is flickering the display. For example if noise is S3-S4, back off RF Gain so that the S-meter reads a constant S4. Then AGC will not be trying to function on weaker signals so you will be maximizing dynamic range above the noise threshold. Of course this also assumes you're already using the least gain that will give you band noise (i.e. ATTenuator, OFF and PREamplifier preferred in that order) when an antenna is connected. This is the way it was done it in the pre-DSP analog radio era. Elecraft makes it very easy to set the proper RF Gain setting in a DSP rig by backing off the S-meter when reducing gain. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-S-Meter-and-Noise-tp3766928p3768588.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Holding my tongue firmly in my cheek, I suggest that we can give 'proper' S reports without an S-meter at all. S-3 - I can barely hear you S-5 - You have a weak, but copyable signal S-7 - Good copy, but not the strongest signal S-9 - armchair copy S-9+ - you are really booming in here. For contests, there is no problem, everyone is 599 or 59 anyway unless it is a QRP contest where S-7 is the norm. 73, Don W3FPR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Dan, That behavior is common for many receivers - the K2 and K3 included. Admittedly, a few do it differently and the RF Gain will reduce the S-meter reading rather than sliding the scale upward. The reason is that the RF Gain works in 'parallel' with the AGC. In other words, the developed AGC voltage and the RF Gain voltage is applied to the same circuits, and the way the S-meter is implemented, there is no way to distinguish between them. Each operator must make a decision - if the S-meter reading is the most important consideration, the RF Gain must be set at the full CW position, but if maximum receiver dynamic range is more important, the RF gain will be reduced and the S-meter reading will be a relative reading rather than an accurate scale. The difference between (say) S-5 and S-7 will still be 2 bars, but they will appear at the S-7 and S-9 marks instead of the S-5 and S-7. If you are doing weak signal work or working on a crowded band, I suggest you opt for the maximum dynamic range by reducing the RF Gain (and advance the AF Gain) so you can just barely hear the band noise. But if your current operation is more casual, run the RF Gain at max and you will have valid S-meter readings. 73, Don W3FPR AB3EN wrote: > Don, > > I notice that if I have the RF gain less than full CW the S Meter bars are > progressively lit and it looks like the noise level has increased when it > has not. The latest beta is a work of art and should make folks happy but > the S Meter / RF gain interaction puzzles me. Out of habit I do not run RF > gain full out, but for a more accurate meter I guess I will. Can you explain > the interaction? > > Dan > AB3EN > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Don, I notice that if I have the RF gain less than full CW the S Meter bars are progressively lit and it looks like the noise level has increased when it has not. The latest beta is a work of art and should make folks happy but the S Meter / RF gain interaction puzzles me. Out of habit I do not run RF gain full out, but for a more accurate meter I guess I will. Can you explain the interaction? Dan AB3EN Don Rasmussen wrote: > > Here's my look for what its worth. ;-) > > I have been following AGC, S-meter, and threshold/slope values since the > beginning - K2 #272 over two years ago. > > Until recently, I have found that K3 sensitivity varied between serial > numbers and that could not be changed. I suspect this value was not > measured before units left the factory. I had about 10db difference > between K3 #272 and #2308. > > The s-meter presentation was tied to that difference. A hotter receiver > would have a higher resting value on a given band that the more moderate > receiver. > > Happily, in the newest limited beta release this has been addressed. The > RF Gain can be calibrated to the user's satisfaction. It works great. For > example - tonight on 40m I see the same resting band noise that I'd see on > IC756p, or OMNI VI+. It is S3. > > In the past, the K3 always showed at least 2 points higher, sometimes 3, > assuming identical sensitivity with my other sets. So, in the past my K3 > would be showing S6 as resting. That was troublesome because I could not > see how strong anyone was, if it were less than S6. > > At my location the single biggest plus with my K3's was getting the > updated DSP board. That took all the critical adjustment out of THRESHOLD > and SLOPE in CONFIG and made the default values good everywhere for me. > The next major upgrade was this latest firmware and DSP that the guys have > been working on. It allows RF Gain calibration. Very nice indeed. > > I did write custom s-meter code so that when the first bar on the K3 is > solid and the next one is flickering, I can actually see on my remote > meter the precision of the value as it is swinging up from S1 and down > from S2. For the most part I find flickering bars to be useless. ;-) > > Cheers, > Don > > > > > > > > [Elecraft] [K3] RE: K3 S-Meter and Noise > > Don Wilhelm w3fpr at embarqmail.com > Sun Oct 4 19:43:06 EDT 2009 > Previous message: [Elecraft] [K3] RE: K3 S-Meter and Noise > Next message: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 S-Meter and Noise > Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] > Jim, > > There are 2 reasons I can think of to make that condition 'normal'. > First is if you have the preamp on for a band where it is not needed - > that would amplify the atmospheric noise when the receiver has no signal > present and no AGC is active. If your preamp is on, try tuning it off > and see if it makes a difference. A good test for whether the preamp is > needed or not is to disconnect the antenna and reconnect it. If the > noise level increases when you connect the antenna, there is more than > enough gain in the receiver - turn off the preamp and try the same thing > again - if the noise level still increases when the antenna is > connected, try again but use the attenuator this time. > If you can just barely hear the band noise, that is the proper gain > setting for that band at that time and your antennas. The noise level > on a particular band will vary, perhaps even on an hourly basis (i.e. 80 > meters is noisy during the day, but will quiet down some at night). > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > - Dan AB3EN -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-S-Meter-and-Noise-tp3766928p3768183.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Here's my look for what its worth. ;-) I have been following AGC, S-meter, and threshold/slope values since the beginning - K2 #272 over two years ago. Until recently, I have found that K3 sensitivity varied between serial numbers and that could not be changed. I suspect this value was not measured before units left the factory. I had about 10db difference between K3 #272 and #2308. The s-meter presentation was tied to that difference. A hotter receiver would have a higher resting value on a given band that the more moderate receiver. Happily, in the newest limited beta release this has been addressed. The RF Gain can be calibrated to the user's satisfaction. It works great. For example - tonight on 40m I see the same resting band noise that I'd see on IC756p, or OMNI VI+. It is S3. In the past, the K3 always showed at least 2 points higher, sometimes 3, assuming identical sensitivity with my other sets. So, in the past my K3 would be showing S6 as resting. That was troublesome because I could not see how strong anyone was, if it were less than S6. At my location the single biggest plus with my K3's was getting the updated DSP board. That took all the critical adjustment out of THRESHOLD and SLOPE in CONFIG and made the default values good everywhere for me. The next major upgrade was this latest firmware and DSP that the guys have been working on. It allows RF Gain calibration. Very nice indeed. I did write custom s-meter code so that when the first bar on the K3 is solid and the next one is flickering, I can actually see on my remote meter the precision of the value as it is swinging up from S1 and down from S2. For the most part I find flickering bars to be useless. ;-) Cheers, Don [Elecraft] [K3] RE: K3 S-Meter and Noise Don Wilhelm w3fpr at embarqmail.com Sun Oct 4 19:43:06 EDT 2009 Previous message: [Elecraft] [K3] RE: K3 S-Meter and Noise Next message: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 S-Meter and Noise Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] Jim, There are 2 reasons I can think of to make that condition 'normal'. First is if you have the preamp on for a band where it is not needed - that would amplify the atmospheric noise when the receiver has no signal present and no AGC is active. If your preamp is on, try tuning it off and see if it makes a difference. A good test for whether the preamp is needed or not is to disconnect the antenna and reconnect it. If the noise level increases when you connect the antenna, there is more than enough gain in the receiver - turn off the preamp and try the same thing again - if the noise level still increases when the antenna is connected, try again but use the attenuator this time. If you can just barely hear the band noise, that is the proper gain setting for that band at that time and your antennas. The noise level on a particular band will vary, perhaps even on an hourly basis (i.e. 80 meters is noisy during the day, but will quiet down some at night). __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Dave G4AON wrote: > > The K3 is sensitive enough on the lower bands to not need the pre-amp, > which of course would give rise to higher noise levels. > But surely the preamp won't make the receiver noisier. It will only make the noise sound louder. But if you are listening to a signal then switching the preamp in should improve the signal to noise. If it doesn't, the preamp doesn't need to be on in the first place. The only band I have found the K3 preamp useful on is 6 metres. But that probably has more to do with the noise level I have here than the K3's sensitivity. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-S-Meter-and-Noise-tp3763879p3764205.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
I have noticed this on my K3 also. Compared to my FT-1000D it´s much noisier. As far as I understand the MDS of the K3 is around 134 dBm, I have measured my FT-1000D to about 141 dBm I think it was. My feeling is that something isn´t right with the K3 but I simply haven´t had time to persue it. / Jim SM2EKM Dave G4AON wrote: > I have a feeling something may have changed in later K3 firmware, > possibly as a result of calibrating the receiver gain via the K3 > Utility. Previously I have been able to calibrate the S-Meter from > around S6 to S9 +60 and have it almost perfect, now it doesn't seem to > be possible to get it that good. > > Anyway, these are actual measured results from my K3, which is using the > latest pre-release beta firmware (v3.41). These measurements seem OK to > me and the K3 doesn't seem any noisier than other radios on my 80m > dipole. The S-Meter has been calibrated without the pre-amp in use. It > is quite hard to set it correctly all the way from S1 to S9 +60... AGC > set to default values. SMTR OFF = 027, SMTR SC = 010, SMTR PK = OFF and > SMTR MD = ABS (the latter makes no difference to the S-Meter readings > below). > > S1 is solid at -115 dBm, S2 is solid at -109 dBm and S3 is solid at -105 > dBm. These are using CW with the pre-amp off on 80m, 2800 Hz filter. > There is about 1 S-point drop using either the 400 Hz or 250 Hz filter. > > MDS (3 dB SINAD) is -135 dBm in a 400 Hz bandwidth with the 2800 Hz > filter, pre-amp off. An input of -126 dBm gives 10 dB SINAD for the same > settings. SINAD is signal to noise and distortion. > > The K3 is sensitive enough on the lower bands to not need the pre-amp, > which of course would give rise to higher noise levels. > > 73 Dave, G4AON > K3/100 #80 > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
I have a feeling something may have changed in later K3 firmware, possibly as a result of calibrating the receiver gain via the K3 Utility. Previously I have been able to calibrate the S-Meter from around S6 to S9 +60 and have it almost perfect, now it doesn't seem to be possible to get it that good. Anyway, these are actual measured results from my K3, which is using the latest pre-release beta firmware (v3.41). These measurements seem OK to me and the K3 doesn't seem any noisier than other radios on my 80m dipole. The S-Meter has been calibrated without the pre-amp in use. It is quite hard to set it correctly all the way from S1 to S9 +60... AGC set to default values. SMTR OFF = 027, SMTR SC = 010, SMTR PK = OFF and SMTR MD = ABS (the latter makes no difference to the S-Meter readings below). S1 is solid at -115 dBm, S2 is solid at -109 dBm and S3 is solid at -105 dBm. These are using CW with the pre-amp off on 80m, 2800 Hz filter. There is about 1 S-point drop using either the 400 Hz or 250 Hz filter. MDS (3 dB SINAD) is -135 dBm in a 400 Hz bandwidth with the 2800 Hz filter, pre-amp off. An input of -126 dBm gives 10 dB SINAD for the same settings. SINAD is signal to noise and distortion. The K3 is sensitive enough on the lower bands to not need the pre-amp, which of course would give rise to higher noise levels. 73 Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
I found out similar behavior with K3 while testing it for the first time in SAC contest. I was sure that the noise was some kind of power line noise or similar. After the contest I disconnected *all* electrical devices but noise was still there. Changed to FT1000 Mark V and the band was quiet while with K3 I had S3 to S5 noise. It cleared out to be the problem with K3 preamp. Every time when preamp's turned on, the band are really noisy but switching preamp off make the noise go away. I guess it's not the "K3 has the best RX" issue but problem with preamp. 73 de Toni, OH2UA > All four are equally quiet without an antenna connected and with a dummy > load connected. When connected to an antenna the K3 has about 2 S units > more noise indicated than the other radios connected to the same antenna > (A/B switch) and the noise level sounds about that much louder. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Jim, If it's an issue with the S-meter, it may well be corrected by the corrected RF GAIN calibration procedure due out in the next beta release. I can send it to you to try. Generally if you connect an antenna to three radios and one of them sounds louder, it means that radio has more gain and/or lower phase noise. The K3 has excellent sensitivity and low noise, so this wouldn't surprise me. It suggests you can run with preamp off most of the time -- that's a good thing. 73, Wayne N6KR On Oct 3, 2009, at 7:33 PM, Jim HaRRIS wrote: > > Tom, > > I have three radio's in my shack besides the K3. I've checked their > S-meters with the recommended XG1 and all have comparable readings. > All > four are equally quiet without an antenna connected and with a dummy > load > connected. When connected to an antenna the K3 has about 2 S units > more > noise indicated than the other radios connected to the same antenna > (A/B > switch) and the noise level sounds about that much louder. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
On Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:18:33 +, Jim Harris wrote: > >Hi All, > >I've had my new K3 up and running for about a week after replacing the DSP >board during assembly due to the 5vdc rail being shorted to ground. The >S-meter shows about S-2/3 noise and there is about an equal level of noise >from the speaker. I have an IC-756ProIII sitting beside it and it shows S-0 >with minimum noise from the speaker. Of course, I'm using the same mode and >have set the filters in both to the same width. I have played with the preamp >and attenuator in both and the K3 always shows a higher noise level with >accompanying S-meter reading. > >My K2 is extremely quiet and does just great on the many portable trips I >take. I may well be missing something on the K3 in all the myriad menu >settings of the K3 but don't have a clue at this point as to how to proceed. >I sure don't want to think this $2000 radio has such a noise problem and I'm >going to have to live it. Does anyone have any information that may help? I >would be most appreciative. > >Thank you, have a good day and 73. > >Jim, W0EM > [snip] Have you compared the two rigs with their antennas disconnected? Are they both on the same antenna? Have you calibrated the Icon/K2 S-Meters with a known 50 microvolt signal? What band are you on? Just a guess, but it sounds like the K3 has a more sensitive RX than the other two. 73, Tom, N5GE n...@n5ge.com K3 #806, K3 #1055, PR6, XV144, XV432, KRC2, W1 and other small kits. 2 W2's on order 1 K144XV on order http://www.n5ge.com http://www.swotrc.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
I had the same issue with my newest K3, so I had a basis to compare to another K3. Wayne put on his phone engineer hat and designed a circuit mod that reduced gain to an IF transformer, a resistor change. I can't imagine this kind of service from any other company - amazing. Since then they have been working on a provision in the utility program that will achieve the same effect, using only the firmware. Gotta love SDR. It's in the release notes but not quite ready AFAIK. [Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise Jim Harris w0em at q.com Thu Sep 24 11:18:33 EDT 2009 Previous message: [Elecraft] New Elecraft Pricing Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] Hi All, I've had my new K3 up and running for about a week after replacing the DSP board during assembly due to the 5vdc rail being shorted to ground. The S-meter shows about S-2/3 noise and there is about an equal level of noise from the speaker. I have an IC-756ProIII sitting beside it and it shows S-0 with minimum noise from the speaker. Of course, I'm using the same mode and have set the filters in both to the same width. I have played with the preamp and attenuator in both and the K3 always shows a higher noise level with accompanying S-meter reading. My K2 is extremely quiet and does just great on the many portable trips I take. I may well be missing something on the K3 in all the myriad menu settings of the K3 but don't have a clue at this point as to how to proceed. I sure don't want to think this $2000 radio has such a noise problem and I'm going to have to live it. Does anyone have any information that may help? I would be most appreciative. Thank you, have a good day and 73. Jim, W0EM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 S-Meter and Noise
Hi All, I've had my new K3 up and running for about a week after replacing the DSP board during assembly due to the 5vdc rail being shorted to ground. The S-meter shows about S-2/3 noise and there is about an equal level of noise from the speaker. I have an IC-756ProIII sitting beside it and it shows S-0 with minimum noise from the speaker. Of course, I'm using the same mode and have set the filters in both to the same width. I have played with the preamp and attenuator in both and the K3 always shows a higher noise level with accompanying S-meter reading. My K2 is extremely quiet and does just great on the many portable trips I take. I may well be missing something on the K3 in all the myriad menu settings of the K3 but don't have a clue at this point as to how to proceed. I sure don't want to think this $2000 radio has such a noise problem and I'm going to have to live it. Does anyone have any information that may help? I would be most appreciative. Thank you, have a good day and 73. Jim, W0EM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
