[Elecraft] Externmal ATU

[Phil & Debbie Salas]

"...You could go to a lot of trouble and reverse engineer the LDG cables and
then adapt them to the K3..."

The problem is that the K3 needs an external input to put it in the TUNE 
mode.  I have the KAT3, but I need an external autotuner for use with my 
ALS-600 amp.  So I have this same issue with my MFJ-998 autotuner.  The 
MFJ-998 puts out a control signal (ground) before it starts tuning to 
automatically put a transceiver into a CW TUNE mode.  Many transceivers have 
this capability - FT857/897, Yaesu MKV, IC-706/7000 are ones I know of. 
Sooner or later the K3 will need this external TUNE REQUEST input if 
Elecraft does build an external tuner for their amplifier.

Currently, I leave my MFJ-998 in the full auto mode so it starts tuning when 
the SWR goes above 2:1.  So whenever I change bands or antennas, I manually 
enable TUNE on my K3 (output set for 15 watts).  If SWR is greater thyan 2:1 
the MFJ-998 interrupts the ALS-600 key line, tunes, and then re-enables the 
amp key line (a neat feature of the MFJ-998).  But since it takes some 
milliseconds for the tuner to recognize there is an SWR problem, the 
amplifier momentarily sees a high SWR before the MFJ-998 takes it off-line. 
With the TUNE output of the K3 set for 15 watts, I haven't had problems with 
the ALS-600 tripping out during this short time period.  However, if the K3 
had a TUNE REQUEST input, then punching the TUNE button on the MFJ-998 would 
disable the amp first before enabling the TUNE ouput of the K3 (the MFJ-998 
timing is set up this way).

Phil - AD5X