[Elecraft] Thoughts on internal vs external ATU for K3

[Rick Dettinger]

Hello Chuck,

  That is my situation, and I opted for an external tuner.  I did that  
to avoid the loses that I would get from using 140 feet of buried coax  
to my dipole.  My antenna tuner is located at the other end of my  
coax, so my loses are minimized.  This involves using a remote,  
weather proof tuner.  I use an SGC model SG-230 remote tuner (coupler,  
according to SGC) and a multi conductor rotor cable for power and  
control.  The tuner is housed in a wooden box mounted on a 4"x 6"  
post.  The coax and rotor cable run through a buried  2" schedule 40  
conduit.  I have since changed the dipole for a 176 foot  inverted "L"  
antenna worked against ground radials.  I intend to add a 20 foot  
vertical for the higher frequencies, and an RF switch, also controlled  
with the rotor cable.  The SGC tuner has worked well and I am happy  
with the system.  I just think the 55 foot high inverted "L" is not  
optimum for 20 meters and above, thus the 20 foot vertical.  When I  
had the multi band dipole (doublet) I used 400 ohm window line from  
the tuner to the antenna.  This worked well, but I wanted to eliminate  
the window line.  I think the inverted "L" works as well and is  
bothered less by heavy winds.

73,

Rick Dettinger   K7MW


On Feb 24, 2010, at 10:44 AM, callen1155 wrote:

>
>
> Hello guys.
>
> Narrowing down the options I 'need' in a K3.
>
> Regarding an internal vs external ATU:
>
> If you were going to operate your K3 at 100 watts (no plans for an
> amplifier), radio to be used only at home (no portable operating),  
> and one
> of your antennas was a dipole that can be tuned over all bands with  
> an ATU,
> would you opt for the K3 internal ATU or purchase an external one?
>
> I see advantages both ways and am curious how most of you would  
> decide on
> this.
>
> Thanks for any advice.
> chuck
> -- 
> View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Thoughts-on-internal-vs-external-ATU-for-K3-tp4627735p4627735.html
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