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RF gain issue

K6JV
K6JV Member ✭✭
in Maestro

I have always had the RF gain at zero which would have the S meter at 5 with just the noise. Now I have to increase the RF gain to maximum to hear anything. Have I lost something in the front end of the receiver? It is a 6400 via Smartlink to a remote site.

Comments

  • Lasse SM5GLC
    Lasse SM5GLC Member ✭✭

    Do your S-meter still show S5? Are the s/w still show you are using the same antenna port as earlier? What does the SWR show when you transmit? I ask as this may help us to spot the problem.

    /Lasse SM5GLC

  • K6JV
    K6JV Member ✭✭

    The SWR was fine and no the S meter showed S1 when the RF gain was all the way done. Suddenly now the radio is almost normal except the RF gain has no effect on the S meter reading.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Broomfield, COMember, Super Elmer Moderator

    That is proper operation - the RF Gain should not affect the S-meter reading. There is a section in the SmartSDR manual on adjusting the RF Gain. I find that I occasionally need to adjust it depending on band conditions and time of day.

  • Lasse SM5GLC
    Lasse SM5GLC Member ✭✭

    Just to add one thing, by altering the BW you will see different reading on the S-meter. Going from 3kHz down to 300 Hz will show almost a 2 s-unit drop (i.e. 10 dB). This is for noise only.

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭

    The S meter displays the signal strength (all signals the selected bandwidth) , unlike a traditional radio that measures the agc in the if stage to drive the S meter. On any radio if changing the rf gain affects the S meter, the s meter is inaccurate.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    K6JV

    A few questions.

    RFGain or AGC-T

    What are the settings for both.

    What bands?

    What procedure are you using to adjust your AGC-T?

    73, Mike

  • K6JV
    K6JV Member ✭✭

    HI Mike, whatever the issue was with the Maestro it fixed itself!

    I use the published procedure to adjust AGC-T.

    The issue was happening on all bands. The issue was that the S meter fell to S1 and the sensitivity of the receiver was way down. Adjusting the RF gain made the S meter go up and down.

    The radio suddenly popped back to normal sensitivity and the S meter back to it's usual S5.

    Weird🤬

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