[Elecraft] K3/P3/expert 1.3KA

[Jim Brown]

On Thu,1/19/2017 1:59 PM, Jerry Muller via Elecraft wrote:
> I am  looking
> for a Antenna Tuner. I have selected a Palstar HF Auto.

Why an automatic tuner?  The amp has an auto-tuner, and the two are 
unlikely to play well together. Instead, I'd look at a good manual tuner 
like the Ten Tec 238. I've owned several of them and find them to be 
good performers. So did ARRL Labs when they tested them many years ago.

Ten Tec has been sold a couple of times and new 238s are probably no 
longer available, but used 238s are usually available on the used 
market. Best bet are the B and C models, which have a vernier readout 
for the inductor, as opposed to a dial cord in the older models. Expect 
to pay about $400 for the B or C, $300-350 for the older units.  The 229 
is electrically and mechanically the same as the older 238s, but in a 
cabinet that matches older Ten Tec rigs.

To use this tuner in your station, set the SPE to bypass mode, tune it 
for the bands where you operate and log the settings. Then put the SPE 
tuner back in line in auto mode and let the auto tuner do its thing to 
cover the band(s) as you QSY.

73, Jim K9YC