[Elecraft] Use of K3 Antenna Tuner to match amplifier input

[Doug Joyce]

Lance:  Is it really necessary to use the tuner to match the input of the
Amp?  My K3 works just fine into the Alpha 86  on all the HF bands without
the use of the K3 tuner.  Why is your 6 meter amp different?

73,  Doug   VE3MV

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lance Collister, W7GJ" <w7gj at q.com>
To: "Elecraft Mailing List" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 2:46 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Use of K3 Antenna Tuner to match amplifier input


> I need some guidance, please.  My K3 built in antenna tuner seems to do a
very nice
> job on the HF bands, and it now permits me to use a single 160m inverted V
antenna to
> get coverage on all the HF bands.  I do not currently have an amplifier
anymore for
> the HF bands, since I rarely operate on them.  The antenna tuner seems to
work FB
> direct from the K3 to the antenna - but only when I am in the receive
mode.
>
> HOWEVER, when I operate on 6m, I use an amplifier with external preamp,
coax relays,
> sequencer, etc.  The K3 is put into XMIT by the sequencer through the
front panel PTT
> line, which is triggered either by a footswitch or the computer.  Which
means, the
> amplifier is only connected to the antenna when I am in XMIT mode.  Of
course, you
> say!  BUT, to get the K3 antenna tuner to work into the amplifier, I need
to be in
> XMIT mode, and the K3's antenna tuner does not seem to work when I am in
XMIT mode!
> Is there some special setting or something somewhere that I need to change
to enable
> the antenna tuner to work when the K3 and the rest of the station is
switched into
> XMIT mode?
>
> I can't imagine I am the only person running an amplifier with my K3, so
SOMEBODY
> must have an idea how to conveniently do this ;-)  Right now, the only
solution I
> have found is to put the station into XMIT, but disconnect the PTT line
going to the
> K3, so it is still in RECV.  Then with everything EXCEPT the K3 in XMIT
mode, I can
> press the ATU TUNE button and have it match up to the input of the
amplifier.  Then I
> can reconnect the PTT line to the K3 for normal operation.  This can't be
the best
> way to do this :-(  Thanks for your help!  VY 73, Lance
> -- 
> Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8,
E51SIX)
> P.O. Box 73
> Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
> QTH: DN27UB
> TEL: (406) 626-5728
> URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
> 2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815
>
> Interested in 6m EME?  Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME
email reflector!
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