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Reviews For: Nye Viking MB-VA

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Nye Viking MB-VA
Reviews: 43MSRP: 830
Description:
3KW, Pi impedance matching network, makes a tuned RF circuit
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.skyport.com/rogue-press/nye1.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00433.6
CE3AM Rating: 2021-04-25
Do not buy it if it's broken... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought an MB-V-A on E-HAM classified. I bought it knowing it was broken and sold as-is and will need some TLC. Well, Some "SOME" was an understatement... it was sent as what looked to me as an accident +some left over parts. Opening it I was encountered with the first surprise. The total rotary coil mechanism was broken. Asking the seller if he knew about it, and I believe he was as surprised as l was. (I Sent him photos) He immediately and without even advising me deposited the full purchase price back into my Pay-Pal account. This seller gets 5-stars from me.

The equipment Not. Mechanically it does NOT meet any industrial STD's. Worst of all is the home made Rotary coil built between two Nylon (?) brackets both cracked due to undersized holes that were cracked by an oversized shaft bushings. I had to reproduce the brackets and rebuild the coil. NOT a piece of cake...

Other pitfalls were holes drilled out of place and tolerance, Switches are non standard and non repairable or replaceable. too crowded and so on. Electrically it is better. I only have one antenna (a G5RV) that I built more than 20 years ago, and it did get a very low SWR on 80 through 10m. Normal SWR on the same antenna was between 1:2 to 1:4. The Wattmeter shows more or less the same as my Bird. So it gets 4 stars on performance. If I was buying a new one back in the 70's, No way I would have paid nearly $900.00 for it. But if you can buy one for the price I finally paid for it $200.00 in working conditions, buy it by all means.
NK3V Rating: 2020-12-09
Nice Legal Limit Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I acquired this tuner about 18 months ago. It is spotless and the previous owner had it serviced by Nye Viking before they went out of business in the early 1990s. It is the only tuner I have which will match my flattop antenna on 160 meters. I'm sure the rf delivered to the antenna on 160 is lacking but I did work 44 sections in the 160 meter cw contest last weekend. A good fit for my station.
K6NXI Rating: 2017-05-17
Cumbersome Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
You can choose direct on anything but position one. You have to choose one of 5 push buttons for additional capacitance. No capacitance knob. Auto ranging is confusing because it jumps back and forth between 3kw and below 300 watts if you are tuning an amp. SWR does not always trigger and display value.
W8NIC Rating: 2015-12-11
A REAL TUNER!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had many tuners and I must say this Nye Viking-V is on the very top of the long list.
It will give you TRUE values unlike the rest, which will show a 1:1 swr but not be efficient. The antenna I use is an awkward length Vertical loop (110 feet). This wonderful tuner will show a 1:1 on all bands with exception of 80 and 10 meters which show 2:1.
I, unfortunately also have an MFJ-989 and will tune the same antenna on 80 and 10 meters 1:1. But is it efficient? No.
So don't think that just because your tuner gives you a 1:1 reading doesn't mean your antenna will radiate properly.
The MB-V will give you a TRUE reading.
I'm keeping mine.
K5YZS Rating: 2013-03-13
Major Design Flaws Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought the MB-V-A in 1992 to match a new 160 m dipole and an Alpha 89 amplifier. The amp at 1500 watts blew out the fixed value 230 pF plastic/aluminium sandwitch capacitor; replaced with a 5 KV transmitting MICA Cap; problem solved. The QST reviewed in June 1994 and pointed
out several design flaws. 1) using a single fixed value input capacitor on a Pi-Network for multi-band use. 2) Balun connected to network 100 % of the time when not needed for coax feed antennas. Both not efficient. Manufacturers should read Fredrick Terman's book chapters on network design.

I found more flaws: 3) the THREE wire voltage
balun should not be used for transmitting, per Sevick and W7EL analysis. I rewound it as a 2 wire bifilar balun and was then able to match my
160 m dipole from 1860 kHz down to 1801 kHz. I
expanded my range on the 80 m dipole from 3700 kHz down to 3501 kHz with the two wire current balun. 4) I rewired connections to network output
by re-wiring push button "D" to connect to network coil only when using balanced line. 5) I added a band switch on the input to switch in multiple capacitors rather than one fixed 230 pF---as is done in my RL DRAKE MN-2700 with B-1000,
that band swithes for more efficiency.
My MN-2700 with B-1000 is not for sale.

6)The box is too small to avoid coil to case spacing rules of 2 times coil diameter and too much circuit loading from close case spacing that adds extra circuit capacitance. Read my review of the MFJ-9982 and its arcing problems at 700 to 800 watts on my dipoles with the small air gap spacing of only 0.070 inches. I have never arced the modified MB-V-A tuning cap with its 0.190 inches (7 KV) capacitor air gap.
Buyer beware with the "patent pending 2500 watts continuous MFJ-9982" junk box -- read my review of the MFJ-9982 junk box. I am currently trying out a like new second hand Pal-Star BT-1500A that is a great performer; I got for $499. 73 Jim,
retired engineer, K5YZS
K6YE Rating: 2009-03-06
A-W-E-S-O-M-E Time Owned: N.A.
I was going to sell my late father's (K5LDH) MB-IV-A as I had heard that they were not so hot. Before listing any item, I always put them on line and run tests. I was surprised that it matched my Alpha-Delta 160/80/40 sloper and the 40 meter section of a Force-12 C4XLD without much of a problem. I currently use a Heathkit SA-2060A which has tuned every antenna that I have owned. The equipment used are FT-1000D, IC-775DSP, 91B,and TL-922A. While I plan to purchase an automatic tuner in the near future, the MB-IV-A is a keeper.

Note that the main difference between the MB-IV-A and the MB-V-A is the addition of a selectable coax switch on the front panel with corresponding SO-239 connectors on rear.

I did not try it on 20 through 10 meters because my antenna is flat. However, IMHO, this bad boy rocks. If you can find either at a reasonable price, snap it up! It will perform well, indeed!

Semper Fi,

Tommy - K6YE
DX IS
W1LJN Rating: 2008-06-26
Great Tuner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is my second and I am able to get flat SWR on 40, 80 and 160 meters. This unit is a workhorse and I particularly like the separate meters for power and SWR much better than the crossed needles. Unfortunately they are no longer produced and I had to get my second one through E-Bay - still a bargain.
KB3KRJ Rating: 2008-05-19
High Power and High Quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I wanted a high power tuner, went to HRO to look at new tuners. They had this on the used-equipment shelf. I took kit home and have been very happy. I tune a loop with approx 650 feet of wire on ALL bands, yep, even 160M. Since I bought mine I have seen them on ebay for more than twice what I paid, even then it would be a good deal.
NE5C Rating: 2007-08-22
I love it - SHERMAN TANK! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had mine now for about 3 years and the only time I had any problem Tuning an antenna was when I HAD A PROBLEM... WITH THE ANTENNA! Never failed me and is as smooth as silk, reliable when I go back to my recorded presets, right on track. In fact I played around with Palstars "BUT"... my money now is on Nye Viking.
DJ1NE Rating: 2006-12-13
very good, massive and robust Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This Tuner for me is a good machine, Its tune very well and is simple to use. I like this 2 Meters - work good!
The only important for this tuner is a proper rollerinductor (after any time it has "resin" and is black) and the contacts from the very massive switch. After 20 Minutes i maked clean the contacts from the switch -now its looks again silver- with a normal window cleaner "Sidolin", remove the front panel to disassamble the Inductor coil, make it very clean, used an special OIL named "BALLISTOL" a fine product for HAM. After complete the tuner - its work very good with my other US-RIG (TEN TEC OMNI V)