[Elecraft] Externmal ATU

[Phil & Debbie Salas]

"Phil, I am not certain if you or someone else originally asked the 
question -
but -- The K3 can provide a lower power RF source for tuning.
As others have mentioned - first set the Tune power in the menu.
Then use TUNE (not ATU TUNE)  and the K3 will transmit at the power you
set in the menu."

Don - Yes, I have my TUNE power set for 15 watts (this gives excellant 
accuracy with the MFJ-998, and is running the K3 PA at pretty much minimum 
power during the tune process).  I was commenting on your comment to use the 
keying input to tune the radio with a straght key.  I currently hit TUNE on 
the K3 to start the MFJ-998 tuning process (MFJ-998 is set for full auto and 
begins tuning when SWR > 2:1).  And while the MFJ-998 disables the amp-key 
line during tuning, unless I remember to turn the amp to standby first, 
there are a few milliseconds when the amp may be looking at a high SWR 
before the MFJ-998 "realizes" the SWR is high, interrupts the amp-key line, 
and tunes.  My ALS-600 has about 10dB of gain, so with a 15 watt TUNE drive 
level I get around 150 watts out.  However, a K3 remote input request for 
TUNE would eliminate this problem.  When you press the TUNE button on the 
MFJ-998 it first interrupts the amp-key line, sends a TUNE request to your 
transceiver (not currently implemented in the K3, but is in many other 
transceivers), tunes, disables the TUNE request, and then re-enables the 
amp-key line.  Normally my ALS-600 doesn't trip out if I forget to switch it 
to standby before pressing TUNE on the K3, but occasionally it does.  If the 
K3 took in a remote TUNE request, then I would not have to remember to 
manually take the ALS-600 off-line.

Phil - AD5X