[Elecraft] K3S - To Tune or Not to Tune - That is the question

[kstover at ac0h.net]

I believe the K3(s) starts folding back PO at an SWR of 2:1 or higher with
100W out.
At 25 - 50W out you may never get to fold back unless your trying to use a
light bulb for an antenna (tribute to N6BT).

R. Kevin Stover    AC0H

ARRL, FISTS, SKCC, NAQCC.
One of the guys that made sneakernet irrelevant, in my little corner of the
world.
"If it doesn't work the first time you push the button it won't work the
20th.Just stop."

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Jim - N4ST
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2018 5:24 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K3S - To Tune or Not to Tune - That is the question

I have a K3S with the built-in antenna matching unit.
I have a variety of wire antennas strung through the trees.
For SWR below 1.5 or so, I bypass the antenna matching unit.
But at higher SWRs, I use it to reduce the strain on the finals.
Question is, at what SWR do folks start using the matching unit?
Bypassing the matching unit avoids inherent losses, but is it putting a
strain on the finals?
Can I just monitor the PA Temp as a guideline as long as I'm getting the
desired output power?
I primarily operate 25-50 watts digital modes these days.

________________
73,
Jim - N4ST

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