Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: MFJ-969

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : MFJ-969
Reviews: 115MSRP: 199.95
Description:
Covers 160M to 6M, 300W
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-969
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001153.5
VA3DTP Rating: 2011-03-20
Good Manual Tuner Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Purchased my MFJ-969 manual tuner used at a ham fest for $ 100.00. Comes with many features, designed for 300 watts maximum. Ran and logged several SWR tests on most HF bands (10 meters through 80 meters) and compared performance with the built-in automatic tuner that came with my HF radio. Manual tuner equaled automatic tuner, but in some cases performed better with lower SWR readings. Main roller induction knob is hard to turn. Overall good unit.
N4IBG Rating: 2011-03-10
Great Tuner For Attic Antennas Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the MFJ 901B tuner for my dipoles in the attic. I Was not able to get swr's under 2.0. I purchased the MFJ 969 and WA LA. 1.1-1 across the 4 bands. I read a lot of the reviews about the quality of the tuner and some of them were correct. The roller Inductor is not as smooth as it should be. You cannot roll the inductor with your finger without holding the tuner with the other hand. Aside from that, I have no issues. The tuner does exactly what MFJ says it will do and then some. I'm ready to put up some more dipoles.
N5KGN Rating: 2011-01-14
Not perfect...but Good! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the 969 for over 5 years. MFJ has had some QC issues, but I got a good tuner. My only problems stem from the roller inductor and were fairly easy to solve. Replaced the goofy "knob" with the crank like they use on the more expensive tuners. Yep, you can buy them from MFJ, and it "bolts right on"! I also hosed the roller inductor down with an "environmentally unfriendly" contact cleaner and got it to work much more smoothly and with more consistent contact between the roller and the coil. It tunes everything I throw at it.
NX8P Rating: 2010-12-12
Spend a little more and get a better tuner. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used my MFJ-969 on various antennas from verticals to a G5RV. It will tune, but it isn't the easiest tuner to use. The inductor is very difficult to turn. You have to hold the tuner down with one hand and crank the inductor knob with the other or the tuner will not stay put. Also, the inductor contact doesn't always make good contact with the inductor coils. I've experienced receive noise and fluctuating SWR while making small incremental adjustments with the inductor. I tried to clean up the contact, but it didn't help much. I hate to say anything bad about a product, but if you can save up some additional cash invest in a Palstar or an LDG.
W4RIG Rating: 2010-12-03
A Very Good Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Great success with the MFJ969 roller inductor for the past 3 years - While I agree with another reviewer that a different knob on the roller inductor would be an improvement the MFJ969 has worked well for me with both tri-band beam and vertical multiband antennas - I have just ordered a second MFJ-969 for a back up tranceiver and expect the same good performance.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by W4RIG on 2010-12-03

I am very pleased with my MFJ969 roller inductor tuner and have had it in operation for over three years with good success in tuning low SWR. While I would prefer a different knob on the roller inductor the performance is fine. I have ordered a 2nd model for my back up transceiver - Hank - W4RIG
K0LEJ Rating: 2010-05-13
Good low priced tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this tuner over two years, and it has worked well. I was surprised at the build quality compared to the lower priced MFJ tuners. The roller inductor is stiffer than some of the big tuners I have seen, but it does not bind/grind. It would be nice to have a different spinner knob for the inductor, however. Overall I'm very pleased considering the low cost (street price $180-$200).

73,
K0LEJ
N2LWE Rating: 2010-05-08
Great tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my MFJ-969 for about five years. I've never had a problem with it at all. Recently I put up a "40" meter dipole with coax from the shack and all the way up the tree about 30 feet to the center insulator. I've worked 160,80,40,20,17,15,12 meters thanks to this tuner. The only band I haven't worked is 10 meters and only cause its not active right now. I have no doubt when it becomes active I will have no problem at all. Great tuner as far as I'm concerned.
K9EGS Rating: 2009-12-25
Poor workmanship Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Once I opened the box on Christmas morning I could not wait to try it out. I was very disappointed to say the least.
The roller inductor is very stiff and rubs/grinds as I turn it. It is hard to turn. It should turn smoothly I would think. Also the roller inductor counter numbers will not go any lower than 060 on the roller inductor counter. It states in the instruction manual that it should go all the way down to 000 zero.

I tried to reset the roller inductor counter to zero, per the instructions, thinking that this might improve the situation. That made it even worse. The counter moved up to a reading of 080 as a minimum setting and the 3 counter numbers were not lined up properly. They were in between numbers. Even if it did reset to zero, that still would not solve the problem since, (according to the instructions), the numbers should have a range of 000 - 117. Before resetting the counter they only had a range of 060 - 125.

Also the antenna selector knob was a little out of line with the markings on the face of the unit.

I would not recommend this unit to anyone.
I promptly asked for a refund and plan to buy the LDG AT-200 Pro.
KA2DDX Rating: 2009-11-11
works fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this tuner over five years now, and it has worked perfectly. Tunes 160 thru 6 meters on a 130 foot dipole fed with 450 ohm ladder line. Nothing fancy, just works. Never had a problem.
K9FON Rating: 2009-11-11
Dont know what the bad press is all about Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Because mine works fine for me. I have an older whitefaced version which seems ok to me. I bought mine used from a fella in Ohio and pretty much just use it to touch up the band edges on my 160 40 and 75 meter dipoles. I have not had on single problem with the tuner. Im very very pleased with it. It garners two thumbs up from this picky ham!!