[Elecraft] K3 Tune button, does not key a linear

[Phil & Debbie Salas]

“If you don't want the linear to key, it's easy enough to put the linear in standby.73, Jim K9YC”

Yes, you can do this if your amp is close by – and you remember to do it when necessary.  I use a couple of different amps and autotuners:  The KPA500/KAT500 and an ALS-600/MFJ-998.  I leave all autotuners in MANUAL mode and memorize settings.  When I change bands, I like to press TUNE to check SWR before operating even though the memories have been set – just in case something has changed – and it would be nice if I just put out a 20W carrier (I leave my K3 TUNE set to 20 watts as suggested for best KAT500 tuning).  So when I press TUNE, I get almost full power out of the KPA500, and 200-300 watts out of the ALS-600.  The KAT500 follows band changes via the accessory cable so if  nothing has changed in the antenna system, there is no amp fault.  With the ALS-600/MFJ998, the MFJ-998 requires some RF before it can determine the band.  Often you have a momentary high SWR that trips out the amp when changing bands.

Not that big a deal.  But for my set-ups, I wish the K3 amp-enable output was programmable so it could be set OFF on TUNE.  But I understand this is hard-wired and so can’t be done.

Phil – AD5X