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Reviews For: MFJ-9201 QRPocket Tuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-9201 QRPocket Tuner
Reviews: 10MSRP: 49.95
Description:
Custom 12 position inductor switch, tune/bypass switch, antenna and transmitter capacitors, BNC feedpoints for antenna and transmitter connections. Size is 4" x 2.625" x 1.5".
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-9201
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00104.1
KM6TVV Rating: 2021-04-17
Works great at 100 watt, easy to tune, compact Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This little tuner fits in my go kit and works great. To minimize stress on the tuner, I don't tune with the radio. I connect an antenna analyzer to the tuner and adjust for minimum SWR. Only then I connect it to the radio. This worked very well and had no problem operating at 100 watt.
KD7AWG Rating: 2020-11-16
Everything Is Loose Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I can't believe this piece of garbage! The bypass switch is erratic and loose. The connectors for the coax are BNC and are also loose.
Trying to tune this "device" is a horror. Every control will not hold a setting. I can just see someone's finals being blown by these controls not holding a setting.
The variable condensers come out of a 1960s transistor radio.
The wiring to the bypass switch is way too heavy and puts too much pressure on the switch contacts.
Pure dog poop!
W6UXB Rating: 2020-05-26
Good little tuner Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
OK I am going to give this a great because so many people put it down for what it is. No it is not a 100 W tuner 30 W max and I suggest tuning with 5 W. I like the bnc connectors on the top as you can fit it into a to go box and still access the connectors, I use bnc to bnc or SO 239 angle adapters works great as with the Emtech tuner. The bypass switch on the MFJ 9201 is a definite plus! I am not an MFJ fan due to their QC but they do have some cool products at reasonable prices.
WB7DND Rating: 2019-02-13
Poorly designed rf biter Time Owned: more than 12 months.
An adequate tuner once you get past the horrible design. As others have noted, the BNC jacks are on the upward facing surface, way too close to the controls. Almost impossible to adjust the controls without contacting the jacks. If you need to generate a signal in order to tune, that means an rf bite, more likely than not. In any event, you end up struggling to keep the tuner stationary.
The manual says it can handle 100 watts, the current advertisements say 25 watts. Surely not a sign of good engineering or good planning to have a correction like that.


VE3IPS Rating: 2017-09-13
Great Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Its a nice and small qrp tuner for the field operator. It seems to tune up any wire i throw at it very easily. It makes a nice addition to its brother the qrp loop tuner.

I also use it for SWL reception and it works well.

I also wish the bnc jacks were on the top side panel as the cables are always in the way of the controls.

Its a simple C-L-C configuration that allows better matching than the simple LC tuner.

Another good product from Mr. Jue. Look up his interviews on Youtube for a refreshing view of his business.
K2GK Rating: 2017-08-23
You get what you pay for Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Very light weight. Made to compete with those Zmtech tuners I guess.
If I had Martin's ear I would suggest moving the BNC connectors to the case instead of the main board. It is horrible to have your cables in front of the controls and constantly knocking the tuner off the table because it is so light and unbalanced.
Other than that... I like all the Pocket devices, 9201, 9213 and love the 9232 pocket loop tuner. That's the best.
Enjoy your QRP de k2gk
K9TYR Rating: 2017-03-17
Very Compact and Solid Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Never a problem tuning low reflected power. The tuner looks and feels rugged, it tunes the radio/antenna system, and it's economical. Nothing more I could ask for so I'm quite happy. I do use a portable SWR meter with it for quicker tuning and am always able to get almost zero reflected power.
ZL1BAK Rating: 2016-06-28
Excellent for QRP Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Wow what a great little qrp tuner, i use it with my ft817nd and g5rv antenna it really works well and is simple to use. Well done MFJ its a winner.
N3KCM Rating: 2015-03-03
Great little tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this tuner for more a year now and i think its great. Its been used with my ft817nd, but primarily with my ft897d portable. I think it was originally advertised as a 100 watt capable tuner, but in most conditions it isn't. I see it is listed as a 25 watt tuner now, and that is spot on. Its tiny, and comes with detailed tuning instructions that too many people don't follow. Please download the manual to see the correct way to use a manual tuner. It is touchy at times, but that is good information and tells you to change your inductance by one or two, just like a bigger tuner. Follow the instructions... Better yet, laminate the instructions and tape it to the bottom of the tuner for an occasional reminder. Its well built, except for the occasional paint flaw. Tuning my fan dipole and my portable dipole has not been an issue. I have a mfj-904 and it works equally as good. Nice thing about this tuner is it fits anywhere!
KK1VT Rating: 2012-11-04
Nice QRP ATU Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've been using this ATU for the last four months with an FT-817 and a 265 ft center fed dipole up about 50 ft. As the 9201 does not include an internal balun I put together a small 4:1 in a mini-box. This setup tunes 160 to 6 meters at less than 1.5:1. I have not been able to use it afield yet so I cannot report on it's performance with other antennas. Because of this I have given it a 4. I have always been very satisfied with all the MFJ products I have used, and the 9201 QRPocket Tuner is no exception. I have built a couple of homebrew QRP ATUs but the cost of materials and my labor exceeded the cost of this tuner. If you're looking for a QRP ATU I suggest you give the 9201 a try.

73, KK1VT