When an SSB signal is "S9", that means that the total power in the ≈ 3 kHz bandwidth, added up, is equal to S9. The voice power is spread out across 3 kHz of bandwidth and has to be integrated, or summed, in that bandwidth before comparing to an S-meter reading.
Therefore, the amplitude of any point inside the SSB signal, as seen on a panadaptor, will always seem less than actual. Noise, being a broadband signal, also acts the same way. You have to know the receiver bandwidth to properly integrate all of the power inside that bandwidth to come up with a meaningful average power number to compare to an S-meter. A CW signal, on the other hand, exists at only one frequency (ignoring noise and keying sidebands). The amplitude of a CW signal on the P3 should be close to a calibrated S-meter. In the case of the P3, "close" means within a few dB. There is nothing wrong with your setup. Enjoy it in good health. R, Al W6LX ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
