Randy, I do the same thing but I use an SGC-239 tuner at the base of a 43' vertical.
Try going into the configuration mode of the K3 and set the tune power to 10 watts. Pick a frequency and push and hold the xmit/tune button on the K3 so you'll send 10 watts or less to the mfj tuner to start a tune cycle. Once you get an acceptable swr you should be able to transmit at 100 watts. After you do this on all the bands that you normally operate on the, the mfj tuner should remember it so quick qsy's are accomplished without pressing the tune button. A couple dits from your paddle should do it there after. Rich - N5ZC On 11/9/2011 12:28 PM, Randy Cook wrote: > I have a weird problem that I could use help on. I have limited experience > with antennas, so the answer could be something simple I have overlooked. > > I am using a K3/100 with the ATU. I recently installed a 31 foot vertical > antenna with ground radials and a balun at the base. The MFJ analyzer shows > an SWR (at my K3) below 1. 3:1 on 40M and near 15M as you would expect. SWR > for the other bands are much higher, about 4:1 for 17, 12, and 10. But, the > K3 tuner trims up fine. I understand the efficiency is hit, but it does work. > On 20M, the SWR is near 6:1. Again, I can tune it with the K3, but I am not > getting out well. These results are the same with the Electraft BL2 balun OR > a DX Engineering line choke installed. There is about 80 feet of LMR-400 > between the rig and the antenna. I also have a static/lightning arrestor in > line. > > In doing some research, it seems that a remote tuner at the antenna base > would be a more efficient system. I purchased a remote tuner kit from DX > Engineering, that includes an MFJ 927 tuner at the base (along with a mount > and a line choke). I bypassed the internal K3 tuner. With the remote tuner > in place, the SWR HI message is displayed on my K3 when I try to transmit > most of the time, and on all bands. The tuner was checked out by MFJ under > warranty, and came back fine. I reinstalled it, and have the same problem. > > I verified that 12 volts is getting to the tuner. Bypassing the lightning > arrestor makes no difference. Going back to the K3 and no remote tuner works > as before. > > Elecraft tech support was very helpful as usual. They did suggest replacing > the internal tuner with the passthrough board sold with the base K3 to see if > there was some weirdness between the two tuners. I do not have the correct > board, as I bought my rig with the tuner. > > DX Engineering could not help me. I gave up on MFJ. > > Does anyone have a similar configuration that is working? > > Does anyone have the board that is in place when the ATU is not installed? I > would 'rent' it if available for testing. A new one from Elecraft is about > $60. > > As this is a bit OT, please respond off line, and I will post any solutions > back to the reflector for future reference. > > Thanks in advance. > > 73s > > Randy K6CRC > K3#2051 > k6...@arrl.net > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
