[Elecraft] OT Tuner Basics

[W7BRS]

Elecrafters,

I know this is off-topic, but the range of ham-smarts on this list is 
pretty good so I'll throw the question here and hopefully get some of that 
ham-smarts too.

OK --  K3/100 with KAT3 is the rig.

I have it connected through a tuner and then to the SB-200 and then Dipole

K3/100/ATU <-> MFJ tuner <-> SB200 <-> Dipole

If I use Auto mode on the KAT3, put the MFJ tuner in Bypass and hold TUNE 
then the KAT3 goes and brings the SWR (according to the display) to a 
favorable value (1.0 to 1.2).  I use a MFJ tuner between my Rig and Amp 
because the Old Bard told me to.   Actually  my setup is different than 
what I just described, but I'm simplifying this for the question at hand.

[ What I really do is K3 <-> Small MFJ Tuner <-> SB200 <-> Big MFJ Tuner 
<-> Dipole ]

On the watt meter of the (small) MFJ Tuner, the indication is I have a non 
favorable SWR, more reflected power than had I put the KAT3 in bypass and 
manually tuned the MFJ Tuner to a favorable SWR (1.0 to 1.2 or so).

So, can someone explain in basic terms what's happening when I use Auto 
mode on the KAT3 and see favorable SWR on the KAT3 (via K3 display) but do 
not see favorable SWR on the MFJ tuner?

This is not a round-about way of expressing a problem with the K3.  On the 
contrary - I couldn't be more pleased with the KAT3 performance and so 
forth.

I'm asking this question as a data-point before I decide to build the KAT2 
for my finished K2.

Thanks in advance,

-jeff


--
Jeff Wandling DE W7BRS K3 #2105     http://w7brs.com/k3
k3user at w7brs.com