"Phil, I am not certain if you or someone else originally asked the question - but -- The K3 can provide a lower power RF source for tuning. As others have mentioned - first set the Tune power in the menu. Then use TUNE (not ATU TUNE) and the K3 will transmit at the power you set in the menu."
Don - Yes, I have my TUNE power set for 15 watts (this gives excellant accuracy with the MFJ-998, and is running the K3 PA at pretty much minimum power during the tune process). I was commenting on your comment to use the keying input to tune the radio with a straght key. I currently hit TUNE on the K3 to start the MFJ-998 tuning process (MFJ-998 is set for full auto and begins tuning when SWR > 2:1). And while the MFJ-998 disables the amp-key line during tuning, unless I remember to turn the amp to standby first, there are a few milliseconds when the amp may be looking at a high SWR before the MFJ-998 "realizes" the SWR is high, interrupts the amp-key line, and tunes. My ALS-600 has about 10dB of gain, so with a 15 watt TUNE drive level I get around 150 watts out. However, a K3 remote input request for TUNE would eliminate this problem. When you press the TUNE button on the MFJ-998 it first interrupts the amp-key line, sends a TUNE request to your transceiver (not currently implemented in the K3, but is in many other transceivers), tunes, disables the TUNE request, and then re-enables the amp-key line. Normally my ALS-600 doesn't trip out if I forget to switch it to standby before pressing TUNE on the K3, but occasionally it does. If the K3 took in a remote TUNE request, then I would not have to remember to manually take the ALS-600 off-line. 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
