One of the best ways to tune an amplifier is pulse tuning. Set your keyer for 50-60 WPM. Hold down the dits while tuning for maximum output.
All this can "help" if you take a long time to tune up. But if you take 5 seconds to tune up (I've never found I needed more than that), then a steady carrier without pulsing works fine and doesn't stress anything. Longer tune-up cycles are fine with more robust tubes than 811As. A 3-500Z can take a whole lot of plate current (like an amp per tube) for a while without stressing the tube at all.
Ha! Good one. This is usually said by someone who has been continually walked-on in contests, or someone who wants a philosophical debate on just what is the perceived minimal amount of power to make a QSO. You might also say, "Real hams only use 20 watts and CW on a straight key..." that sounds just as... ignorant. Or perhaps you should start a petition to ban towers and high-gain beams! It's a hobby, don't begrudge what others spend their money on, or what their interests are; in other words, to quote SFC Hulka, "Lighten up, Francis." 73s Max Smoke KQ1V
You may notice your rig will show a different SWR when set to "STBY" vs "OPR", because when set to standby it's a pass-thru (your rig sees the SWR to your antenna), but when set to operate your rig sees the SWR to the amplifiers input circuit. For this reason, I usually start by hitting the TUNE button on my rig while the amp is set to OPR... and then tune the amp. But that's just me ;-)
I bought my first amp, an AL-811H, in 1995 or so. I don't remember being all confused and unsure of how to tune it. I read the manual several times before I put the amp inline and followed the manual steps when tuning and operating the amplifier. I'm no Einstein, but I just don't recall it being all that difficult.
