[Elecraft] Thoughts on internal vs external ATU for K3

[Craig D. Smith]

As usual, it depends.  In this case it depends upon the feedline losses on
your "all band dipole."

If it is something like a G5RV doublet fed with ladderline with low feedline
losses, then the internal tuner will work fine.  If it is fed with coax of
any appreciable length, then the external tuner is much to be preferred.

I have both the K3 internal tuner and an external remote tuner here.  I use
the internal tuner with my ladderline fed 102 ft doublet and bring the
ladderline to within 3 ft of the K3 before transitioning to RG-213 at a
current choke.  This works fine.  For my 80 thru 15 43 ft vertical I use a
CG-3000 remote tuner at the base since it is fed with coax.

I keep hoping that Elecraft will come out with a remote tuner!  One with a
balanced output option would be icing on the cake.  Are you listening, Aptos
??    Hint Hint  ;>)

 73   Craig  AC0DS