"...You could go to a lot of trouble and reverse engineer the LDG cables and then adapt them to the K3..."
The problem is that the K3 needs an external input to put it in the TUNE mode. I have the KAT3, but I need an external autotuner for use with my ALS-600 amp. So I have this same issue with my MFJ-998 autotuner. The MFJ-998 puts out a control signal (ground) before it starts tuning to automatically put a transceiver into a CW TUNE mode. Many transceivers have this capability - FT857/897, Yaesu MKV, IC-706/7000 are ones I know of. Sooner or later the K3 will need this external TUNE REQUEST input if Elecraft does build an external tuner for their amplifier. Currently, I leave my MFJ-998 in the full auto mode so it starts tuning when the SWR goes above 2:1. So whenever I change bands or antennas, I manually enable TUNE on my K3 (output set for 15 watts). If SWR is greater thyan 2:1 the MFJ-998 interrupts the ALS-600 key line, tunes, and then re-enables the amp key line (a neat feature of the MFJ-998). But since it takes some milliseconds for the tuner to recognize there is an SWR problem, the amplifier momentarily sees a high SWR before the MFJ-998 takes it off-line. With the TUNE output of the K3 set for 15 watts, I haven't had problems with the ALS-600 tripping out during this short time period. However, if the K3 had a TUNE REQUEST input, then punching the TUNE button on the MFJ-998 would disable the amp first before enabling the TUNE ouput of the K3 (the MFJ-998 timing is set up this way). Phil - AD5X ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
