[Elecraft] question re K3's KAT3 ATU

[Matt Zilmer]

Push the ATU TUNE button once to get a quick but somewhat rough SWR
match.  If you push ATU TUNE a second within 5 seconds of the first
pass completing, the ATU will take more time and come up with a better
SWR match.

Your antenna may have some wind on it, and this can affect SWR
consistency.  Rain on ladder line does the same thing.

None of this is a problem, as long as your SWR matches 2.0:1 or less.
The K3's PA and protection circuitry work very well into imperfect
loads.   The PA is *very* robust and well-tested for odd loads.

We had a balky 65 foot dipole during Field Day this year, where the
ATU TUNE SWR showed 1.5:1.  When we put full power into the load,
during long term CW ops it showed 2.5:1.  With 95W showing on the
external LP100 meter, we just kept on truckin' - for seven more hours
until the sun showed its face around 5:10 AM or so.  My K3 survived
all that.  I've seen it take on considerably worse SWR and handle the
situation just fine.

73,
matt W6NIA

==

On Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:12:16 -0700, you wrote:

>I am often on the same frequency daily - 3.575 MHz, but the ATU does not
>give me exactly the same answer every night.  On my wire antenna it always
>starts at 5.8:1 to 6.1:1 and ends up at 1.8:1 or 1.7:1.  But sometimes, it
>gives me 1.0:1.  The power shown on the display when transmitting always
>seems to be more or less what I set it for.  What is causing this
>inconsistency & is it a problem?
>
>Thanks,
>73 Kate K6HTN
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