Phil: Yes and no. I once wanted to build a "AT300 simulator" and use DIGOUT but there is a more elegant and simple way to fix this. And you also protect yourself in case you forget to tune if you set the tuner on AUTO and let it take care of business.
I also have a K3 with an ALS600 and a MFJ998 and these methods work for me. I Just use the XMIT button and not the ATU TUNE button. They are right next to each other. First, set the 998 tuner in auto mode. Then, PRESS AND HOLD the XMIT button on the rig (its labeled TUNE for a reason...). This outputs a carrier, in my case, ten watts, from the rig (its adjustable under TUNE POWER in the menu). If I have the amp triggered by the KEY OUT socket of the K3, this then keys both the rig and the amp and makes around 50 watts of power which the tuner finds acceptable. If I have the amp bypassed, the tuner can still tune using the 10 watts. Since I "preset" the tuner on each antenna/band by doing a tuning cycle every 10kHz (thereby pre-setting the memories, the '998 has zillions of them!) and since my antennas are rather consistent, it takes about half a second for the tuner to snap in the L and C components and Im ready to go. You just have to remember to PRESS AND HOLD the XMIT button then PRESS AND HOLD it again. Just TAPPING it turns on PTT on SSB and you get no carrier out. TAPPING it on RTTY gives you full output, and the tuner sends "QRP" because it cant tune at 500+ watts. This works perfectly for a solid state amp. Another way is to place a momentary normally open push button on the K3 built in keyer line (since I use computer keying, it has nothing in it) or even a spare CW paddle in it and set the WPM at around 25 on the radio. Closing the switch sends a series of dits (or dahs, your choice) from the internal keyer (that I dont use anyway) and the tuner will set itself on that. Since I am using a MicroKeyer to assert PA PTT and not the internal KEY OUT, and Im using the internal keyer and not the MicroKeyer, the amplifier is not triggered and only the exciter power is output to the tuner, which it is happy with (in my case, 65w output). I dont do it this way anymore, but when I had a tube amp, this was a cheap and dirty way to get a amp keying "pulser". Hey, I paid for that K3 internal keyer!... I wanted to put it to use! As an aside, thanks again so much for designing the AL600 Full QSK kit! I have had one installed since my ALS600 went out of warranty in March. It is simply WONDERFUL! It should be a required modification to that amp! I see Ameritron has done a similar feature on the ALS1300. Hope you got something for that idea :) -lu-w4lt- K3 S# 3192 Message: 11Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:52:47 -0500 From: "Phil & Debbie Salas" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Externmal ATU To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <f459b5fc07c34992bda8a0aa09723...@ownerpc> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original "Phil. > 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. I believe you will find the (Straight) Key input will provide a carrier in any mode if you turn on "CW in SSB" and enable VOX. It has been used that way with the Yaesu Quadra which requires a carrier for its F-Set function. 73, ... Joe, W4TV" Joe - The problem is that now you'll transmit at full power when you key the radio. Not good for most external autotuners. And probably not wonderful for the K3 output when playing into a relay-switched autotuner at full power. I like the way so many other radios do it whereby the input from the external tuner puts the radio in a low-power TUNE mode. 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
