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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
K3IVB Rating: 2001-01-11
Does the job, service good. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In defense of MFJ I will say at least they fix their product if you return it while in warranty. I had two of different 989C tuners, quality is not what one gets spending $800 they now charge for a really well constructed high power tuner. The first one I had the front sticker panel was messed up, they replaced it. The second one I still have, MFJ had to replace the roller. I replaced the sticker they sent me on the first one, and they replaced the roller on the second one. You get what you pay for, but at least MFJ does indeed stand behind their product. It's funny to me how lots of people bad mouth MFJ, but yet they are buying ham vendors like crazy producing items everybody says are junk?
N0AH Rating: 2001-01-11
Buy MFJ and Pay Pay Pay Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
tried my friends new MFJ-989C....he is a newbie, poor kid- actually thought it must be a kit with so many parts unattached and rattling around in there- He'll learn..................he is now going through the throws of dealing with MFJ on a return...............how does this company, for the love of god, stay in business? Are we all sheep?
KC2BCV Rating: 2001-01-07
would be ok at 1/2 the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The tuner is advertised falsely, it is not
top shelf quality.After turning the knobs on some
old tuners from yesteryear at my friends house
who runs vintage am stuff, I know the difference.
I, like many,fell prey to the hype in the add,
but luckily, bought mine used .
Like others,I had to replace bulb,and it has
blown again,and the nuts inside were loose every-
where. Should have vernier reduction tuning knob
at the price they are asking. Their new tuner,the
atr-30,looks to be what this one should have been,
but look at the price.Unfortunately, there are
few manufacturers to choose from to get a good
manual tuner. Maybe thats why so many people buy
mfj stuff.(mighty fine junk). 73,de kc2bcv
K8NY Rating: 2001-01-06
An expensive piece of equipment that fails to perform nominally Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After sending my 989C back to MFJ and owning it for 6 mos, I had to wait 2 mos to get it back. They apparently replaced the roller inductor and follower (the real weak link in this product). After using it for 4 more months (now out of warranty) the following ocurred:
The turns counter is completely non functional and will need to be replaced(their price for this part is astronomical).
The inductor follower and inductor was tarnished and not functioning (caused my IC 746 to burn out a flex ribbon cable, costing me $160.00 in repairs and shipping). I repaired the inductor follower and removed and cleaned the inductor (this now functions better than when it was received back from MFJ)
The meter lamp has blown twice (and my lamp voltage is only 11.8 volts!)I've replaced it twice in a most difficult to take apart meter housing!
One of the diodes blew (replaced with beefier diode)
I'm assuming that this is the 'norm' for MFJ products. Well, after purchasing this (my first MFJ product) I think I'll pass on any other offerings.
G4PZK Rating: 2000-09-13
989B=Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm real glad I have a 989B. I ordered it in San Jose in 1987 and it's been in use in the UK ever since. I only run 500W (our max is 400W) and it copes fine.
DA1BU Rating: 2000-08-22
QA/QC Maybe....Still a good Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As tuners go.....they are just an instrument to enhance and contribute to the capabilities one has to bargain electrical length for in a resonant combination, frequency dependent. The MFJ 989-C is over rated as most any manufacturer would over rate its' equipment when looking at capabilities, competitive numerical comparisons and the like. The 3Kw rating of this tuner is, just as advertised, with the key word being "PEP". As most understand that this cannot account for a grossly inadequate load in any circumstance. Full key down power...AM...FM...with anything over 600 to 750 watts, is gross abuse through this tuner. Intermittently 1500 watts is no problem....and SSB with a decent amplifier at 1500+ watts PEP is no problem either. Many items purchased used or returned by an individual, will have that assuring QA/QC sticker as having been looked at and tested thoroughly.....even new items will have their inherent physical faults.
Have owned a 989-C for 3 yrs.+ and have looked inside at the quality. Have found the need to add a little solder here and there with no conditional thoughts to the manufacturer. Have occasionally pushed it through rigors of trying to tune an electrical length that just would not work. The problem being the load and not the tuner. If you're trying to buzz 3000+ watts through this device, well you just can't expect anything but the worst. What are you trying to do that for anyway??
Personal periodic maintenance on this tuner is suggested. Check all the mechanical tolerances inside yearly.....you may find there are potential problems that have not surfaced and can be corrected before they occur. Handle this hollow box with the care you give any device deserving that posture. It is not your favorite multimeter that you toss over next to the soldering iron and it will not perform impossible feats on grossly misfit loads. The 989-C will however provide adequate tuning capabilities at legal input and fairly adequate loads. Not defending this product so much as I am providing the limitations of it. Certainly have found that this tuner, when used properly, will provide years of performance with adequate results. Still a good product MFJ....just watch the QA/QC.
VE7CRA Rating: 2000-06-18
quality control / design problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I read with some amusement, the reports from other hams regarding this tuner. To say that some are less than eloquent or objective, would be an understatement. I do NOT run high power, & I have had problems of a mechanical & electrical nature with this tuner that parallels the difficulties of others. I own 6 different MFJ (mighty fine junk?) tuners, & a host of their other products, & I find the 989 to be the only product I own that has had serious difficulties. All were repairable by myself, but I feel the 989 could stand redesign. There are mechanical, electrical & cosmetic deficiencies, that reflect poorly upon the design/construction areas at MFJ. On the plus side, I must say that I believe that MFJ has, & probably will continue to supply the amateur market with a reasonable quality product for the price. I am absolutely satisfied with ALL their other products I own, & it is unfortunate in the extreme that my experience with their offerings has been adversely colored by ownership of the 989. That having been said, I will continue to purchase their products, as I believe that EVERONE in the manufacturing business occasionally markets a product that can most charitably be described as "unfortunate". MFJ, you really must re-think this tuner. Thanks to those who took the time to read my comments, which I hope were, in the main, objective. Brian Hind, VE7CRA
KC8KKA Rating: 2000-06-17
JUNK Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
JUST RECEIVED THE TUNER FROM AES ONE WEEK AGO.WELL THERE WAS STUFF INSIDE THE TUNER ROLLING AROUND THAT HAD CAME APART.PUT IT ALL BACK AND THE TUNER WORKED PUT NOT LIKE IT SHUDE HAVE. SENT IT BACK FOR OTHER ONE IT WAS IN ONE PEASE PUT IT IS MADE LIKE A TWO DOLLAR TUNER INSTEAD OF A $320.00 DOLLAR TUNER.THIS THING IS JUNK...........
N8PKN Rating: 2000-03-18
POWERFULLY BAD Time Owned: unknown months.
I bought an MFJ 989C tuner at a hamfest got it VERY reasonablly, should have figured there was a reason! Poorest designed roller inductor I ever saw, would not trust it at 100w much less 3KW! It's sitting on my workbench until I can scrounge a GOOD inductor (Dayton) to replace the totally useless one that is in it now. What is this anti-resonance junk supposed to do besides arc and impede the sloppy tuning ? P.S. turns counter is also bleak, and ditto on the flaky paint around the antenna switch. Back to the drawing board Martin ! !
WH6DBT Rating: 2000-03-08
MFJ 989 C ONE OF THE BEST FOR THE PRICE Time Owned: unknown months.
I'VE OWNED THIS MFJ TUNER FOR 3 YEARS. NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS.