I just ordered that model as a kit. I love kits and as you mention, sometimes MFJ needs a little help. Just my 100w field unit, I've got a large Dentron tuner at home. Because of COVID the ship date is 6 months out! I've had a 3 knob MFJ Econo Tuner for 38 years, works fine!
I have an old 941D, and it's been in the garage for a while. Been living in a rental and didn't try to put up an antenna. Anyway, just bought a place a couple months ago, and I'm looking to put up an end-fed stealth wire (avoiding HOA police). I pulled the boat anchor and MFJ out of storage and was inspired by your video to open the box and check all the connections. Thanks for the excellent video and commentary. 73 from K5RZ.
Thanks. Just pulled mine apart. Tightened a few things. Great advice! Most things would probably not be an issue except for the inductor selector was moving a bit.
I have one of these that I've had for years and the other day it just stopped tuning for some reason. I took it apart late last night (I don't suggest working on things when it's late and you're tired) and couldn't find anything wrong. I decided to see if I can find anything on the web about it. While watching this video I decided to take the cover off (I hadn't put the screws back in it yet) and found the wire from the Transmitter adjustment to the inductor coil had come off! Apparently due to the control was loose and when I tightened it up, I didn't hold the back of the control and it must have cracked the solder joint. I have it repaired and it is working fine again. Not sure if your video helped but it sure didn't hurt. I was going to check everything today more closely anyway. Thanks!
Nice! The tuners is electrical AND mechanical, so because of all that movement all those years things will loosen up or come undersold. It is a good idea to open them up every one in a while and check for cracked solder joints and loose components. Glad you repaired your device, this is what makes radio fun:) IMHO. Thanks for watching and Cheers to you.
Good idea to pull the lid before operating. I just got an MFJ-989D, pulled the lid before hooking it up, and found the inductor completely off track and spinning freely. A simple fix, but I did call them to tell them what I found. No comment from them. Curt K2CWM NJ
Great review! I have one of these attached to an end-fed wire antenna and it works great. I would like to have had a larger meter, but this one works. When I received mine, I to, found the inductor switch to be loose and I had to tight it. I never thought about doing the same to all of the rest of the hardware. I would like to find your results on using yours in your shack. Thanks again.
Closely look at all on the solder joints. You may have a cracked one. Put the MFL inline, (between radio AND antenna) turn up your radios volume and start wiggling and probing. (do not key up the transmitter). Happy hunting EDIT........ MFJ in line
Please check the variable caps. Are labeled backwards on the dials . Don't know why they don't correct that. Otherwise I love mine had it about 3 years , no problems.
Hey Bud! teach me more about why I need an antenna tuner. I'm ignorant about them. I want to see how you use it!!!! I did build a 1/2 wave vertical dipole out of a piece of mast, an mirror mount and a 1/2" whip, SWR 1.5... check it out!
I have the 941e as well....I see the dummy load is on the tuned and by-pass side.....nobody I ask can tell me why the is a dummy load position on the tuned side. I see MFJ do a roller coaster ATU....at a reasonable price....£350GBP I wonder would the roller coaster ATU be any better than the 941e I already have. On my 941 the antenna knob and transmitter knob....are small....sometime very fine adjustments are req....not easy to make small tiny adjustments with the small knob. So I use a wooden cloths peg....the type here in England we hold cloths on a washing line....there is a spring in the cloths peg....take that out....you then have 2 half's of a peg....I drill 2 small holes just under 1/2 inch apart near the tip of each part peg....and with a cable or zip tie thred it through the 2 holes....and with the zip tie fix it to those 2 knobs. What that gives you is a longer leaver....you can fine tune by controlling the outer end of each wooden peg....I find it really useful....a much bigger know would also sort it out. It also stops the interaction you some time get when you put your fingers on the antenna knob with some antenna configurations. My 941 does all I need....but I do like the idea of the roller coaster type of MFJ.....if you have the cheaper one.....can somebody let me know if its worth upgrading. My call is correct on QRZ with my email if and wants a pic of my 941 mod. Good vid breakerbroke. Nick 2E0LPL
You dont need to open it.....hook up your dummy load to the tuner.....set the tuner to Dummy load on the tuned side.....TRANSMIT and operate the tuner controls.....it will work as it where tuning an antenna. @@breakerbroke23
I have been designing, making, and testing antenna tuners for decades. From my experience, the tuner in this video would be rated by me for 25 watts. If someone uses that tuner in all the common ways with common antennas, with more than 25 watts, eventually that tuner will burn up (switch and coil especially). If it never does burn up over a long time use with rated power, you lucked out. The vast majority of antenna tuners on the market are over rated from 300 to 1000 %. I am not exaggerating anything. Palstar and MFJ are junk and wouldn't buy any of them. Their in house made parts are garbage. Just because they never burn up doesn't mean much. What are the loses through most tuners. Bad tuners have high losses because of how they are made. Not because they are tuners. To give you an idea of what I call a decent tuner I will say that my 1 kw hf tuner has a very low loss coil in it. The coil weighs 12 lbs.. That is a clue for you. (Coil is rated for 30 rf amps)
@@breakerbroke23 Sorry, there are thousands of Universities in this world where anybody who wants to do the work can learn how rf stuff really works. No one can simplify technical subjects without changing the principles which doesn't do anybody any good. Good Luck.
Wow, it sounds like your 1 kw tuner is very cool and super elite. What was the 12 pound "low loss coil" used for, the variable inductor? Ima keep that 12#/kw ratio in mind for when I can take this mask off and go tuner shopping.
I just ordered that model as a kit. I love kits and as you mention, sometimes MFJ needs a little help. Just my 100w field unit, I've got a large Dentron tuner at home. Because of COVID the ship date is 6 months out! I've had a 3 knob MFJ Econo Tuner for 38 years, works fine!
Thanks, I've had one of these for years, but have never used it. Now is the time to get serious so your video helps.
My pleasure and have a very Merry Christmas.
I have an old 941D, and it's been in the garage for a while. Been living in a rental and didn't try to put up an antenna. Anyway, just bought a place a couple months ago, and I'm looking to put up an end-fed stealth wire (avoiding HOA police). I pulled the boat anchor and MFJ out of storage and was inspired by your video to open the box and check all the connections. Thanks for the excellent video and commentary. 73 from K5RZ.
Welcome back to Radio my friend.
Thanks. Just pulled mine apart. Tightened a few things. Great advice! Most things would probably not be an issue except for the inductor selector was moving a bit.
Thank you, great video. Given me the confidence to open mine and have a look and check up. Much apreciated! 73
I have one of these that I've had for years and the other day it just stopped tuning for some reason. I took it apart late last night (I don't suggest working on things when it's late and you're tired) and couldn't find anything wrong. I decided to see if I can find anything on the web about it. While watching this video I decided to take the cover off (I hadn't put the screws back in it yet) and found the wire from the Transmitter adjustment to the inductor coil had come off! Apparently due to the control was loose and when I tightened it up, I didn't hold the back of the control and it must have cracked the solder joint. I have it repaired and it is working fine again. Not sure if your video helped but it sure didn't hurt. I was going to check everything today more closely anyway. Thanks!
Nice! The tuners is electrical AND mechanical, so because of all that movement all those years things will loosen up or come undersold. It is a good idea to open them up every one in a while and check for cracked solder joints and loose components. Glad you repaired your device, this is what makes radio fun:) IMHO.
Thanks for watching and Cheers to you.
Good idea to pull the lid before operating. I just got an MFJ-989D, pulled the lid before hooking it up, and found the inductor completely off track and spinning freely. A simple fix, but I did call them to tell them what I found. No comment from them.
Curt K2CWM NJ
Great review! I have one of these attached to an end-fed wire antenna and it works great. I would like to have had a larger meter, but this one works. When I received mine, I to, found the inductor switch to be loose and I had to tight it. I never thought about doing the same to all of the rest of the hardware. I would like to find your results on using yours in your shack. Thanks again.
Whenever I get something new I gotta open it up too and if it has seals I'll make sure it works 100% first and then I'll open it up.
i have one of these but wont do any thing when key up any ideas
Closely look at all on the solder joints. You may have a cracked one. Put the MFL inline, (between radio AND antenna) turn up your radios volume and start wiggling and probing. (do not key up the transmitter). Happy hunting
EDIT........ MFJ in line
For someone who never had a problem with MFJ, you spent a lot of time fixing things that should have been caught by QC.
Going to HRO tomorrow and getting one of these. I'll definately be checking it out for loose stuff. Thanks
I have my tuner in line at all times, it is a very good unit. I think you will be happy whit yours. 73s and cheers.
Please check the variable caps. Are labeled backwards on the dials . Don't know why they don't correct that. Otherwise I love mine had it about 3 years , no problems.
Will do, thanks.
Mfj isn't bad at all depends on device an quality.. but I don't understand the back wire
Hey Bud! teach me more about why I need an antenna tuner. I'm ignorant about them. I want to see how you use it!!!!
I did build a 1/2 wave vertical dipole out of a piece of mast, an mirror mount and a 1/2" whip, SWR 1.5... check it out!
Left comment on your ch
I have the 941e as well....I see the dummy load is on the tuned and by-pass side.....nobody I ask can tell me why the is a dummy load position on the tuned side.
I see MFJ do a roller coaster ATU....at a reasonable price....£350GBP
I wonder would the roller coaster ATU be any better than the 941e I already have.
On my 941 the antenna knob and transmitter knob....are small....sometime very fine adjustments are req....not easy to make small tiny adjustments with the small knob.
So I use a wooden cloths peg....the type here in England we hold cloths on a washing line....there is a spring in the cloths peg....take that out....you then have 2 half's of a peg....I drill 2 small holes just under 1/2 inch apart near the tip of each part peg....and with a cable or zip tie thred it through the 2 holes....and with the zip tie fix it to those 2 knobs.
What that gives you is a longer leaver....you can fine tune by controlling the outer end of each wooden peg....I find it really useful....a much bigger know would also sort it out.
It also stops the interaction you some time get when you put your fingers on the antenna knob with some antenna configurations.
My 941 does all I need....but I do like the idea of the roller coaster type of MFJ.....if you have the cheaper one.....can somebody let me know if its worth upgrading.
My call is correct on QRZ with my email if and wants a pic of my 941 mod.
Good vid breakerbroke.
Nick 2E0LPL
I could crack one of mine open but IMO the DL is not going through the tuner it is bypassed. So straight from the input to DL. Cheers
Your QRZ page is very interesting, love the Bike.
Its does go through the tuner....got to be a reason for it.@@breakerbroke23
Ok, now you have my interest..... I'm going to crack mine open.
You dont need to open it.....hook up your dummy load to the tuner.....set the tuner to Dummy load on the tuned side.....TRANSMIT and operate the tuner controls.....it will work as it where tuning an antenna. @@breakerbroke23
thanks
You're welcome!
What is an inter web????
I have been designing, making, and testing antenna tuners for decades. From my experience, the tuner in this video would be rated by me for 25 watts. If someone uses that tuner in all the common ways with common antennas, with more than 25 watts, eventually that tuner will burn up (switch and coil especially). If it never does burn up over a long time use with rated power, you lucked out.
The vast majority of antenna tuners on the market are over rated from 300 to 1000 %. I am not exaggerating anything. Palstar and MFJ are junk and wouldn't buy any of them. Their in house made parts are garbage. Just because they never burn up doesn't mean much. What are the loses through most tuners. Bad tuners have high losses because of how they are made. Not because they are tuners.
To give you an idea of what I call a decent tuner I will say that my 1 kw hf tuner has a very low loss coil in it. The coil weighs 12 lbs.. That is a clue for you. (Coil is rated for 30 rf amps)
You have a You Tube channel, Please Teach us.
@@breakerbroke23 Sorry, there are thousands of Universities in this world where anybody who wants to do the work can learn how rf stuff really works. No one can simplify technical subjects without changing the principles which doesn't do anybody any good. Good Luck.
Wow, it sounds like your 1 kw tuner is very cool and super elite. What was the 12 pound "low loss coil" used for, the variable inductor? Ima keep that 12#/kw ratio in mind for when I can take this mask off and go tuner shopping.