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Reviews For: MFJ-993

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-993
Reviews: 123MSRP: 259.95
Description:
MFJs exclusive IntelliTuner™, Adaptive Search™ and InstantRecall™ algorithms give you ultra fast automatic tuning with over 2000 non-volatile revolving memories. You get a highly efficient L-network, wide 6-1600 ohm matching at full 300 Watts SSB/150 Watts CW, 1.8-30 MHz coverage, Cross-Needle and digital meters, aural SWR meter, backlit LCD display, remote control port, radio interface, heavy-duty 16 amp/1000 volt relays and more.

It learns while you're having fun
As you’re ragchewing, contesting or DXing, your MFJ-993 is learning! When you transmit, the MFJ-993 automatically tunes for minimum SWR and remembers your frequency and tuner settings. The next time you operate on that frequency and antenna, these tuner settings are instantly restored and you’re ready to operate in milliseconds!

Each of two antennas can learn and remember over a thousand frequencies and tuner settings. They are safely stored in non- volatile revolving memory.

Highly Intelligent ultra fast tuning
MFJs InstantRecall™ first checks its memory to see if you have operated this frequency before. If so, tuning is instantaneous and you re ready to operate. If not, MFJ's IntelliTuner™ algorithm - - based on MFJ's famous SWR Analyzer technology - - kicks in. It measures the complex impedance of your antenna. Next, it calculates the components it needs and instantly snaps them in. Then, it fine tunes to minimize SWR -- you’re ready to operate. It’s all done in a fraction of a second.

When the impedance is within its measurement range, the MFJ-993 is the fastest automatic antenna tuner in the world.

If it can’t accurately determine impedance, MFJ’s AdaptiveSearch™ algorithm goes into action. Frequency is measured and relevant components values are determined. Only those values are searched for ultra-fast tuning.

For even faster searches, you can set the target SWR to 2 (settable 1.0-2.0). You can manually tune when you can’t transmit (for listening out of ham bands).

Cross Needle and Digital SWR/Watt Meters
Lighted Cross-Needle and digital meters lets you accurately read SWR, forward and reflected power at a glance. An aural SWR meter lets you hear the tuned SWR when you can’t see or read the meters. Turn on a highly visible, instant response SWR LCD bargraph when you need it.

Backlit LCD Display
An easy-to-read backlit LCD displays SWR, forward/reflected power, frequency, antenna 1/2, L/C tuner values, on/off indicators and other information.

Remote Control Port
Plug in the MFJ-990RC remote control and put your tuner at your antenna or elsewhere and control it remotely. The MFJ-993 supports radio tuner interfaces such as the ICOM 706 series. Interface cables are available.

The MFJ-993 is a compact 10Wx2¾ Hx9D inches. Use 12 –15 VDC/1 amp or 110 VAC with MFJ-1316.

Tune any Antenna
You can tune any antenna — dipoles, verticals, beams, phased arrays, inverted vees, quads, random wires, mobile antennas, compact limited space antennas – practically any antenna. A 4:1 true current balun lets you tune any balanced antenna - - horizontal loops, vertical loops, multi-band doublets, quads, folded dipoles, Zepps.


Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001234.4
SM4XUT Rating: 2011-06-04
Very Good Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you can use another balun than the internal one,it works even better sometimes depending on what ladderline and antenna you connect. I have owned the
MFJ-993 for more than six years.
It´s a great tuner.
de
SM5XUT former (SM4XUT)
Jan
K9EGS Rating: 2011-06-01
Good Value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This tuner tunes most everything quite fast, usually in a second or two. The internal tuner in my Yaesu FT-920 will not tune my Alpha Delta DX-CC antenna on 12 meters and usually not on 17 meters either, especially after or during rain. Once in a while the Yaesu FT-920 internal tuner is not happy on 15 meters either. The MFJ-993 will tune it all in a matter of seconds down to less than 1.5:1. Most times it tunes down to a near perfect match. It has a very wide range.

The only reason that I rated the MFJ-993 a "4" was because when I hooked it up for the first time, the power button would stick and did not push on and off very smoothly. After a few days that problem went away and I have no complaints since.

This unit will not tune absolutely everything though. I tried to tune 160 meters on my Alpha Delta DX-CC without success. Of course the Alpha Delta is not rated for 160 meters and is supposed to be only for 80-10 meters. I thought that I would try it on 160 meters anyway just for the heck of it. When trying to tune 160 meters the MFJ-993 did a lot of clicking and clacking and finally after maybe 10 seconds gave up with an error message.

It is also nice to have the cross needle meter as well as the digital readout screen so that I can actually see what is going on. Among several other various readings, the digital screen can show your peak watts output, which is usefull.

I have had a good overall experience with the MFJ-993 and would recommend it to anyone.
KF7OCD Rating: 2011-05-22
Great piece of gear! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Have been using it everyday for three months and it is a GREAT piece of gear!

Highly suggest getting one if your thinking about it.


DJ0ABR Rating: 2011-05-17
my best tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This tuner is really fast and relaiable. It tunes much better than any other auto tuner I owned before. In most cases just a single "click" and it is ready. Not this annoying chattering I have seen with tuners from other manufacturers.
WV6U Rating: 2011-04-14
Works great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tunes up my weirdly configured antenna on 80/40/20 and have been able to make contacts up and down the west coast and to the east coast. Tunes up fast and usually to below 2 SWR. Power meter is nice and the LCD display is useful (compared to LDG units that have LEDs only). The bad is that the unit sometimes refuses to load up 40m. After some coaxing it will bring SWR to 2.2-2.5 and then magically tune to 1.5 after a while. Yes, it is loud when it hunts but then I don't plan to use it in a public library. Overall, it has been a great buy. If you are worried about build, contrary to what lots of MFJ users complain about, I have never had trouble with MFJ gear. I have owned two other meters - 941E and 929 and two analyzers - MFJ-207 and 259. All worked well.
VA3AEX Rating: 2011-02-02
Poor quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Design seems to work, build quality doesn't. I own the 993B version, purchased new in Feb. 2010. I am a casual operator, and only operate out of my QTH.

Design: it seems to have no issues tuning up various dipole antennas feed by coax; and I do like the digital frequency readout when using old rigs.

Build quality: Within 2 months the On/Off switch was no longer working (it would not latch in the "On" position). When packing it up to return it for repairs, 2 of the bottom screws fell out (hmmm...). Two weeks ago, the On/Off switch stopped working again (it won't latch "On"). The poor quality has left me very frustrated: I would not recommend this tuner.
K2IZ Rating: 2010-11-08
Just what I needed Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After much research I decided on buying the 993, one of the main reasons was because the balun was internal rather than another part to add on.

When the unit arrived I could not believe there was actually something rattling around inside the unit! It turned out to be a stand off and screw on a board behind the buttons, the other one was loose to the point of the board almost falling off. I was able to reinstall the screw and tighten the other one down, I sent an e-mail off and got a reply within a day, OK, I can get past that, things happen.

I had been using a Dentron Super Tuner with a dipole cut for 80 meters, it tuned the antenna just fine but I'd have to make readjustments if I was working a contest and sweeping the band.
This past weekend I worked SSCW, didn't have to touch the tuner as I worked up and down the bands, during the contest.
With the Dentron I had never been quite able to tune the dipole for the 12 meter band, the 993 was able to do it.
KJ4TLQ Rating: 2010-10-31
Invaluable Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought it as a necessary evil for a G5RV-- also my first auto tuner. Good directions, hooked to my ICOM 706 in seconds, and interfaces seamlessly! Added a DX-LB plus, and it tunes it well also. Good SWR results, and easy operations. Only regret is that I didn't get the 1.5kw model, as I am now considering an amplifier.
W6YDE Rating: 2010-04-24
993B WORKS GREAT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I JUST RECEIVED MY MFJ-993B, HOCKED IT UP IN NOTHING FLAT. WORKS GREAT, EASY TO USE, IT CAME WITH A WELL WRITTEN MANUAL. ONE OF THE BEST WRITTEN MFJ MANUALS I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME. TUNNER'S LCD READOUT INDICATES ALL VALUES OF C & L, FOWARD AND REFLECTED POWER, SWR AND ANTENNA POSITON.

A LITTLE NOISY WHEN IT TUNES, BUT AFTER A FEW TIMES, I DID NOT HEAR IT ANYMORE. TUNNER CABINET HAS VERY GOOD FIT AND FINISH. TUNNER HANDLES ALL TYPES OF ANTERNNAS FROM YAGIS TO LONG WIRES AND BALANCED LINE. IT HAS A BUILT IN BALUN AND REMOTE PORT.

I PURCHASED THIS TUNNER OVER OTHER BRANDS FOR ITS DUAL METER, LCD READ OUT, 150/300 WATT RATING AND TWO POSITION ANTENNA SWITCH. I PLAN ON USING IT IN A FIELD DAY SETUP AND THIS TUNNER WILL SAVE TIME WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN DIFFERANT ANTENNAS AND BANDS. THERE IS A LOT OF TUNNER FOR THE PRICE AND I COULD NOT FIND ANY OTHER TUNNERS WITH ALL THESE FEATURES.

73, MIKE/W6YDE
W2JUV Rating: 2010-03-17
update Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
In my previous review, I was using the optional interface cable that allows 993B operation by pressing the "Tune" button on my ProII. DC power for the 993B passes thru the same cable. I removed this cable and now power the 993B from the same Astron that powers the ProII. This has been an improvement. Ratcheting is much less most of the time an SWR of 1.5 or less is obtained. Rating raised to 3.