[Elecraft] [KX3] Antenna Tuner Or Not

[Phil Hystad]

Gary and all the others who responded to my question (on and off the net)...

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.  I have made up my mind.  I will be ordering the KX3 Internal ATU with my KX3 order.

I hear of a price increase -- that has not happened yet has it?  Maybe I should place my order when I get home from work this afternoon.

73, phil, K7PEH

PEH's iPad



On Sep 13, 2012, at 12:19 PM, gary bartlett <garybartlett at accesswave.ca> wrote:

> Phil, I only use non-resonant wire antennas fed with ladder line through
> baluns (4:1 and 9:1).  The K3 ATU (and I think Wayne said that the KX3
> transmatch had essentially the same design philosophy) handles the 160M
> full-size delta loop on top band through 6M, and the 80M dipole on 80M
> through 6M, without flinching.  The challenges to the transmatch are pretty
> severe some times, especially during rain and snow, but the *Tuner* handles
> it with ease.  [With experience, I can now judge the rate of precipitation
> by the amount of touching up required by the transmatch (seriously)].
> 
> While I didn't much like it and I doubt that it was very efficient, I found
> one of my friends operating my K3 using the 80M dipole loaded on 160M with
> apparent ease so far as matching was concerned.  I assume that the ladder
> line became part of the radiating portion of the antenna in this particular
> case.
> 
> The other advantages, of course, are the nice integration of the Elecraft
> ATU with the radio, plus if you take the radio into the field a lot like I
> do, it's one box and a couple of cables fewer to concern yourself with.  If
> one has the option, buying the radio and the matching device from the same
> source (that would be Elecraft) makes a lot of practical sense.  During
> tuning, the K3 ATU I also very quiet compared with another transmatch I once
> owned.
> 
> 	73,
> 	Gary VE1RGB
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad
> Sent: September 13, 2012 3:13 PM
> To: Elecraft List
> Subject: [Elecraft] [KX3] Antenna Tuner Or Not
> 
> I am perplexed and bewildered but not yet bothered.  I can't decide on
> whether I should order the internal 20 watt ATU or not.  
> 
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