As far as I have ever known, the S-meter reading has nothing to do with the S of RST signal report. The S is itself defined as the somewhat subjective measure of how strong the signal appears to be (see the definition of each of the numbers from 1 to 9). I do admit that many people use the S-meter reading as some kind of measure for giving the S of RST but officially the S of RST is not an S-meter value.
On Jul 15, 2010, at 9:08 AM, The Smiths wrote: > > What a silly question.. Again, some of you guys just have to be so over > technical about EVERYTHING. I'm certain that sometimes being TOO smart can > be a detriment to your own self. This is an S meter, it's used by some to > give an S report. Part of an RST.. This isn't a scientific calibration > device.. If you're talking to someone in XYZ QTH and you have your antenna > pointed at XYZ's location, or you have an omni directional antenna and it's > receiving XYZ location at 4 S units, and You can hear them clearly and their > tone is correct.. They have an RS(T) of 54(9). > > > > Sorry dave, it's really just that simple. If you've set a "standard" for your > S meter during it's calibration then S 4 means 4.. Not oh my goodness is > there gain on my antenna, do I need to factor in his azimuth and the arrival > angle of his signal to my antenna.. JUST STOP, and enjoy your hobby for a > change, don't over think it. Or even worse, try to be technical to impress > people on the reflector. We all know that there are a lot of guys on here > that know a LOT about a LOT of things... But they don't need to try to > impress nor answer EVERYONE with their knowledge EVERY time. Save it for when > it really counts, not on how to read an S meter. > > > > > >> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:27:40 -0700 >> From: [email protected] >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior >> >> >> Just curious ... how do you factor in the uncertainty of the gain/loss >> of your antenna and any impact of its pattern, both bearing and azimuth >> relative to the actual arrival angle, while you're trying to accurately >> tell the guy on the other end how strong his RF is as it crosses your >> property line? I'd be willing to bet that there is more variability in >> that than there is inaccuracy in the K3 S-meter. You're just kidding >> yourself if you think differently. >> >> 73, >> Dave AB7E >> >> >> On 7/14/2010 11:03 PM, The Smiths wrote: >>> I'm sorry Don, I know that you're trying to be helpful here. And your >>> advice about turning on the Attenuator, and turning off the pre is all good >>> advice for sure. But honestly.. Let's be serious.. We're not all >>> contesters, and there are actually some of us that really hate that whole >>> 599 5/9 report when it's not warranted. >>> >>> I for one would like to be able to count on my meter to tell me the actual >>> signal level of a station I'm talking to. I'm sure that Wayne intended this >>> much as well. This is a $1900 plus rig, it should be accurate based on the >>> 50uv that you suggested that he set it to with an S9. >>> >>> >>> >>> Sure we can all GUESS at what a persons RST is, and of course I've done it >>> too.. >>> >>> But giving advice to ignore the S meter is just a way of saying you don't >>> know what to tell the guy. >>> >>> If that's the case, then just don't say anything, or tell him what you can >>> to fix the problem. Your answer was no better than someone that gets >>> directions from a person that has no idea where the address he's been asked >>> for is, but he just feels like he HAS to help, so he guides the people >>> asking in the wrong direction. >>> >>> >>> >>> The answer is, I've never seen this issue before where turning down the RF >>> gain will cause a signal to Improve in S meter strength. Especially not on >>> my K3. If that were the case I would keep lowering my RF gain all day long >>> until everyone was an S9. There's SOMETHING going on with your rig. >>> >>> >>> >>> Check your RF gain calibration using the Elecraft Utility, check your S >>> meter calibration. Make sure that you don't have something else like the >>> Pre-amp on causing an error in the reading. Make sure that you don't have >>> the Sub receiver on and the Sub AF audio up, or RF up causing it to look >>> like it's getting stronger. These are some of the things that I can offer >>> you. None of them may be the case, but at least it's a starting spot, not >>> just an "Ignore" your 2,000 dollar rig's S meter. >>> >>> >>> >>> 559 still MEANS Receive Excellent, Signal 5 S UNITS, Tone Excellent. >>> >>> >>>> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:30:07 -0400 >>>> From: [email protected] >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> CC: [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 S Meter behavior >>>> >>>> Robert, >>>> >>>> You are relying on your S-meter too much IMHO. >>>> Yes, all that has nothing to do with the actual reading of the S-meter, >>>> but it is just good operating sense. >>>> >>> just ignore the reading and give signal reports as you hear >>> >>>> them - 59 (or 599) for a good strong signal, S-7 for perfect copy from a >>>> not so strong signal and S-5 for all the others that you can copy with >>>> some difficulty. For those below that level, you are not copying them >>>> anyway, so a signal report number is a moot point. >>>> >>> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. 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