Not a stupid question at all.  I know that accurate S meter readings are 
usually only available when the RF gain is turned up to full.
The signal is taken behind the RF gain, so that as you turn it down, the 
circuits try harder to get a signal through.  This raises the voltage that 
the meter measures.  It sounds wrong, but that's my understanding of the 
process anyway.
Then again I learned that in 1967, so things might be different today.
It will be interesting to see if somebody who actually knows the answer 
responds.

H T Kaufman MSW LCSW
Adaptive Technology Instructor 


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