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Reviews For: MFJ-945-E

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-945-E
Reviews: 66MSRP: 109.95
Description:
160 through 6 M 300 watt metered compact mobile antenna tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-945E
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00663.3
KT4WO Rating: 2022-07-07
NOT 300 watt tuner. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First: This IS NOT a 300 watt tuner! Not even 300w PEP.
You can smoke it at 100w carrier.
Will it work for touching up a close load? Yep and that's
what I have used it for over ~20 years. I paid ~$100 new
over 20 years ago and it's OK at that price point but at
$190....NO -- Get a LDG Z11P2 and you will be better off.
This is a QRP++(30-50w carrier max) tuner and always has been.
MFJ is a disgrace to Amateur Radio...IMO
K6EEN Rating: 2022-07-04
Decent mobile/portable tuner for < 100W SSB Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a pair of these I use in the vehicles for mobile/portable HF operation mostly on 40m through 10m. Probably 50,000 to 75,000 road miles on the tuners. One came with the plastic side panel screw slot stripped, MFJ sent a new one once I provided a copy of the purchase receipt and I installed it. The variable capacitors were not centered properly in the silk-screened number range, but you can pop off the cover and re-align the knobs by loosening the knob's hex set-screw which binds it to the capacitor shaft, re-centering, and tightening the hex set-screw. Some screws on the inside loosen up with road miles and need to be tightened occasionally.

The capacitor shafts are not insulated and the knobs do respond to hand capacitance, so the tuning can be touchy when the capacitors are nearly fully open/unmeshed.

These work well for running 50 to 75W SSB mobile into various resonant bug catchers, hamsticks, etc. They also work for touching up SWR for a 10W CB SSB radio on 11 meters into a 9ft whip or FireStick-style center-loaded/shortened antennas.

The tuner does not like to run 100W FM on 10 meters, it starts to arc with a resonant antenna that is better than 2.5:1 (sans tuner) on the FM portion of the band.

In general, all tuners have trouble with resonant mobile whip/vertical antennas with very low impedance. Try a DX Engineering model MM-1 unun with 1:2 or 1:4 ports. Install at the base of the antenna before the coax run into the cab.
W2CPD Rating: 2021-11-19
Good mobile tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these in two different vehicles. They work well with a dual band mobile ( 10 - 12 meters ) and one antenna.

Typical MFJ, the first one had a bad bypass switch, and when I called them to return it, they sent me a new switch and told me to fix it myself.

The second one had a spare screw rolling around in it.

Both easy fixes, but again, so typical of MFJ

With the second tuner, I had to wait FOUR MONTHS for the bracket I ordered at the same time. I should have made it myself considering the ridiculous price and the time I had to wait.

Over all, they seem to be the best small tuner you can find for the money, convenience and size.
K6ITR Rating: 2021-11-18
Does what I need. Extends the bandwidth of hamsticks. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Living in an HOA-restricted condo means compromised antennas. I use a pair of hamsticks set up as a vertical dipole, which don't offer much bandwidth on anything below 20 meters. I got this tuner primarily so I could operate 40 meters without adjusting the hamsticks, which works well. I have them adjusted for 7.2 mhz, and touch up the SWR with the tuner above and below that. I can also match the 20 meter hamsticks on 17 meters. No mechanical quality issues, but one smudged letter on the control panel. I'll live with it, but it knocks a point off because it's sloppy. I find it quick and easy to use by connecting my analyzer, setting the inductance to minimum SWR, and adjusting the caps. That way it doesn't risk my finals, and doesn't pollute the airwaves.
M0RQX Rating: 2021-07-05
Ok for low power Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This cheap feeling thing is ok for 70w or less but is about as acurate as a drunk darts player with no arms after that.

KC1NKY Rating: 2020-09-20
Lasted 3 weeks Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Seemed to work well while it lasted.
Then the meter conked out.
I have an Icom 740 so it couldnt have pushed more than 100 watts thru it.
Hope to replace with LDG Z-100 plus.
N8FVJ Rating: 2020-09-07
Excelllent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tuner flatten out 75 meters to a perfect match. Smooth controls, worked perfect. Easy meter to read, no SWR controls to adjust. What more does one need? 300 watts has reserve rating on lower power 100 watt radios. Under $100 on sale. Cannot beat the cost or performance.
YT9TP Rating: 2020-07-04
Usable little device Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got MFJ-945E second handed. It was in OK condition and still is as I do not use it much, but always have it in my portable bag.

Knobs were not properly aligned with variable condensers but that was easy fix.

As use dipoles and verticals that are tuned, I use it mostly in pass through mode - as SWR meter.

However, one I tried to tune 40 meters dipole to 80m and it did the job. It was not excellent tune but was just enough so that I can go TX.

It seems bit hard to tune with it. I also have MFJ-901B and it seems easier to tune with same antennas. Mentioned tune to 80m I achieved using antenna analyzer. With rig only I was unable to set it right.

I also hear rattling when shake it. Oppened it and could not find source. Inside seemed tidy.

I did not see issue with touching buttons to change tune. Measuring using antenna analyzer would show it instantly, bit I did not notice it.

In one occasion I did have issue that touching tuner changed SWR, but it also happened when touching anything else metallic. I resoloved it using choke at the antenna cable so it was not issue with this tuner.

Compared to MFJ-901B it seems harder to set tune and it does not have connectors for long wire. But it does have cross needle instrument, showing both power and SWR at the same time, which the reason I keep it with me.
WB7VTY Rating: 2020-05-25
Good tuner but doesnt like to be touched Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If it werent for one very big problem, I would give this tuner a very good review. It doesnt like to be touched. As my hands approach the knobs the SWR changes. Touching the capacitor knobs detune the circuit and will cause an indication of zero reflected power to go full scale on the low power range and nearly half scale on the high power range. Takes a lot of futzing to get it tuned. It tunes my antennas well, the meters are reasonably accurate (when not being touched ha ha), and it has a nice set of features with the lamp switch and bypass switch. If it didnt react to touch, it would be a keeper. Im sure you can make arguments about grounds and environment and those are probably all valid. My ground is probably just average and my tuner is grounded through about 10 feet of cable. Also, I am looking out my window at one end of my inverted vee dipole about 10 feet away and 5 feet off the ground so there is probably plenty of RF in here. No choice, thats what fits on my lot. The point is that I have a few other tuners and none of them react this way. I have replaced it with a MFJ-904H and it works fine. Is it the floating capacitors and plastic cabinet end panels? Who knows. Im not going to try to figure it out. Looking inside the cabinet shows the workmanship to be decent which is always a challenge for MFJ. There is plenty of room in the cabinet to move the capacitors back away from the front panel and use insulated shaft extensions. If you really want this tuner, that would probably fix the issue but it would be a project. Any questions feel free to shoot me an email. wb7vty@gmail.com. 73, Joe Korpela WB7VTY
AB9PM Rating: 2019-04-20
MFJ surprise! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Cons: Tuner controls affected swr as indicated on the rig, but meter pegged full scale indicating high swr on every antenna regardless of actual swr.

Useless..... Returned .....

owned less than 24 hours...

Pros: Fed Ex was a day early on my receiving the tuner!