[Elecraft] K3 antenna tuner question

Fred Jensen k6dgw at foothill.net
Wed May 25 19:47:19 EDT 2011


On 5/25/2011 3:20 PM, Alexander Sack wrote:

> I'm confused, are their radios that in real-time tune a LC network to
> whatever band/frequency you are on?

If you mean they tune for a match every time you press the key, I don't 
think so.  Most ATU's remember settings as the KAT3 does so they don't 
need to run the matching algorithm [with attendant relay clatter and 
delay finding the match]
>
> If you use an analyzer to graph your VSWR curve across a band, and you
> are pretty flat (say 1:1.5 across the whole band), then you really
> don't need to re-tune after the first shot.

The mfr can't predict what sort of load you're going to put onto the 
ATU.  Every one I know of divides the bands into segments.  Segments are 
small on 160 to keep the ratio of segment size to frequency small. 
Higher frequency bands can have larger segment sizes for the same ratio.

> I think though the ATU has some memory with respect to what band you
> are on which helps.

See previous answer to K1LED who you quoted at the beginning of your post.
>
> I don't think the K3 is any different than other high-end rigs?  Am I wrong?

You are not wrong.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org


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