FW: [Elecraft] K3 and StepIR/Icom PW-1

[Jim Brown]

On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:06 -0400, Greg - N4CC wrote:

>Certainly having the ALC 
>connected (if it were compatible) would be preferred..

It MAY be true for this amp, but at least some other amp mfrs advise 
against the use of ALC with their amps. They say that modern amps 
work fine without ALC if the operator is smart enough to turn down 
the drive so that the amp is operating properly (and an operator 
that isn't shouldn't be on the ham bands), and that depending on ALC 
to keep the drive level down as a routine matter will cause higher 
distortion than if the ALC was not used. Ten Tec is one of the mfrs 
that has published this in their manuals for at least 25 years. 

Now, I certainly do see the value of ALC as a protection mechanism 
in the case of a failure that causes serious antenna mismatch, but 
there are other ways to achieve that. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC