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Reviews For: MFJ-989C

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-989C
Reviews: 144MSRP: 360
Description:
Handles 1500 watts PEP SSB output power
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-989C
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001442.7
AD5JN Rating: 2002-06-11
Bad QC Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After buying this tuner from Texas Towers I found that the forward meter was dead, Called MFJ and told them about the problem. They told me that the diodes were bad and they would send me new ones. Well I agreed to fix it, what a pain in the butt. While I was in the box I found loose chunks of metal. and poor QC on the PCB. I fixed the problems and all seems well. The roller knob seems to grind while turning. I run up to 600 watts with no arcs or fires. I had to shim one corner to get it sit level. Over all this is not worth the money I paid and very cheaply built. Do not buy one unless it cost less than $100.00 because that is really was it worth. One day I will replace it with something else. Until then I will have to live with it.

AD5JN
KI4PS Rating: 2002-06-11
Follow Up Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I knew something would get left out of my "Two Cents" worth of comments.

I use an SB-221 amp which put out approximately 1000/1200 watts PEP. I use it about 50% of the time at 500 watts. Run it full power when conditions require. No arcs or smoke yet. Removing the cover shows no signs of arcing burning, etc.

PS: Again, I guess mine is one of the good ones.

73 - Jerry
WA6CAW Rating: 2002-06-10
Tune for Max. Smoke! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I think the power spec. has a decimal mis-placed. It should be 0.15KW PEP.

I have 2 of them, with burnt sensing boards. First one smoked at 600watts, and the second one was toast at 400 watts. Ive purchased 3 sensing boards, but they are too hard to replace. They need to change the installation procedure to allow the use of a zipper or snap-in fasteners.

Works great on a dummy load at no more that 900 watts, as long as you don't transmit more than 30 seconds.

Needless to say, we don't use them anymore, period. We have some new bookends , when you stand them on the side.....

unhappy,
WA6CAW
KC7CRR Rating: 2002-06-10
It Works and That's About it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my MFJ-989C new, about 4 years ago. As with failures in the automotive world, the tuner's turns counter and roller inductor failed right after the warranty expired. After an 8-week trip to MFJ in MI and a repair bill almost as much as the original cost, the tuner was home again. That's the good news.

As I removed the tuner from the box, I could hear something sliding back and forth inside the case. With a sick feeling I removed the cover. Inside, rolling around, were all the components for the dummy load (so much for MFJ's QA/QC program). After I complained, MFJ did send all new parts for the dummy load.

Three years later and the tuner is still working. I've never reinstalled the dummy load, repeatability of settings are non-existent, the roller inductor sounds like a cement mixer (mechanically and electrically), the watt meter indicates almost 40% low, and the meter lamps have long since burned out.

In defense of MFJ, I do believe this tuner (and most of MFJ's products) has filled a niche...the gap between having no tuner compared with spending at least twice as much for a premium unit. Would I buy another MFJ product? Probably, but realizing what others have said..."you get what you pay for."

73s de KC7CRR
W1TE Rating: 2002-05-27
OK for casual use Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had installed two of these as "single band" units for 80 and 40 meters. Both tuned the antennas OK but the repeatability was not very good. Both units were plagued with loose shaft couplings. Both units had loose hardware holding internal components when first purchased (new from HRO). Once the mechanical assembly issues were resolved the operation was OK as long an large changes in inductance were not required. The mechanical counter type indicator would not repeat making quick QSY attempts frustrating. Replaced the units with Nye Viking to eliminate the frustrations.
W8VKD Rating: 2002-04-14
Why buy ??? !!! Time Owned: N.A.
I do not understand why you people buy their products when the predominant opinion is that their stuff is crap. There is a reason their stuff is cheap. "The cheapest is not always the least expensive in the long run"
N9UOG Rating: 2002-03-03
Not bad for under $125 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When I got this tuner I had to open it to tighten some screws. Later I checked (online) to see if anyone else had this problem with there MFJ989c --which they did. After I read the reviews at this site I opened it again to take a closer look, and it appears to be In PERFECT working order.
Although I never run more than 500 watts, this tuner has worked great for me.
I give it 3 out of 5, because it had a lot of screws loose inside, and $360 is much to high for something of this stature. If I was going to pay $360 I would definitely put in the extra few bucks for the AT1500CV.
K9UVK Rating: 2002-02-25
Junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Two years ago, I got back on the air after a 20+ year absence. I bought the MFJ-989C tuner based on the advertisements that I saw everywhere. It turned out to be a piece of junk. It is now sitting on the shelf as I wouldn't think of trying to unload it on to anyone else. Now own a Palstar AT4K, which is a great tuner.
KB8JVH Rating: 2002-02-03
Glad I didn't pay retail Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine used for $175.00 off e-ham from a fellow who bought it new and looks like it was never used. The cabinet doesn't set flat on a table as reported. It has about 1/8" gap under one leg. Why they bothered putting a spinner knob on the roller inductor is beyond me. Trying to turn it via one finger makes it feel like the inductor is binding. The coax switch feels like it's going to break something when turned. Yes it works, but last I checked $360 is a fair chunck of change. For that kind of money I'd expect the cabinet to be square atleast. Sure glad I didn't pay retail.
NG3J Rating: 2002-02-03
Palstar AT1500CV about same $$ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As a FYI to an earlier post about the price of a Palstar. The AT1500C costs about the same as the 989c and is a better built, better quality tuner than the 989c.

Palstar AT1500CV $399
MFJ 989c $360

Palstar also makes a $900 tuner which is their top of the line model....