[Elecraft] attenuator in amp was Re: K3 and Expert 1K-FA

[Tom W8JI]

30-watts dissipating as heat in the front end of the amp. 
The 3dB pad does
improve return loss into the amp input by the same amount. 
But, the
effective gain factor of the amp is then reduced by 3dB.>>>

A 3dB pad gives 6 dB return loss. For example if load SWR is 
2:1 (5.5dB RL) and we add a 3 dB pad, return loss is 9.5 dB 
(1.4:1 SWR).

A 3 dB 50 ohm pad with an open circuited output looks like 
150 ohms. You can make a 3:1 SWR test fixture by opening and 
shorting the output.