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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
N5EAT Rating: 2007-07-10
Really nice Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is one of the best pieces of ham radio gear i've ever owned. It will tune almost anything, and does not seem to be bothered by stray rf as some of my other auto tuners are. It has a plethora of nice information on it's display, and also has analog dual meter swr/power meter.

It's also pretty big for a tuner and has large hand sized buttons and notations in very readable size lettering. As several reviewers have asked: Is this MFJ??? I have 3 LDG tuners, and frankly they are very good. This MFJ unit is better. Time will tell if it holds up as well as my LDG gear. For all I know - this MFJ tuner could well be an LDG rebranded unit or design.
OZ5ABO Rating: 2007-07-04
Is this really MFJ? Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the B-version. Use it every day into a less-than-optimal doublet due to local CCR.

Its very effective on all bands with a very wide range matching. Lots of good information in the digital display and still also an analogue display as well.

The quality seems good - actually VERY good, so one has to ask the question; "is it really MFJ?"
KT4RH Rating: 2007-07-04
Fantastic Tuner !! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a great little tuner. I found that it will tune almost anything in about 2 seconds. The only thing I could not get it to tune was 160 meters using a 75 meter dipole. I've had it now for over 6 months and have not had one problem out of it. I'm glad I bought it and would buy another if I had it to do over again.
W4BYE Rating: 2007-05-28
Excellent Tuner! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've owned by 993B for about six months now, and I could not be happier. It does what it is supposed to do. Anytime it detects an SWR that is too high, it automatically tunes it down to below 1.5 (this is where I have mine set). Prior to my 993B I owned an old-fashioned manual tuner. I got along fine with the tuner, but I'd never go back to it now. I love the ease of the automatic tuner. Bonus: Mine also tunes on 6 meter.
W2XS Rating: 2007-05-10
Works well - After moving wires Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought a brand-new 993B from R and L Electronics (a great place to deal with). As I sent CW, I heard what sounded like a relay clicking in time with the CW. I removed the top cover and saw that the Antenna A/B relay was picking up RF because a wire from the relay to the other side of the board was passing directly over the inductors!. I moved the wire down as far as I could (in between the relays) and the RF pickup went away. The wire (and a few others) should really be re-routed, maybe underneath the PC board.

Anyway, the memories are very nice. I initially set up the tuner by manually adjusting each frequency to the best possible match. Then I set the auto match to a high number like 2 to 1. Now, when I QSY from one frequency to another, the tuner "snaps in" with the stored settings in less than a second. This is really convenient. The only thing better than this would be a balanced version of this type of tuner.
W2DIP Rating: 2007-02-24
Still has quality control problems Time Owned: N.A.
This is the first MFJ product I ever bought and now I know why so many hams complain about qualtity control issues. The tuner works great. It tunes all of my attic antennas. BUT, within two hours of using it the bulb that backights the SWR meter went out. Now what? Spend $10 to ship it back for a replacement of a 50 cent part? Take it apart myself and figure out what kind of bulb I need and end up buying it on the internet, pay for shipping and ends up costing me more than its worth to fix.

I will post again when I hear from MFJ. Right now I will never buy another MFJ product again even if I have to pay more to buy a similar product elsewhere. When you buy a product at this price point you would expect at least the bulbs would last more than a few hours.
EI3GDB Rating: 2006-12-30
NICE ONE Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
BEST AUTOMATIC TUNER I HAVE USED TO DATE DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAY,S ON THE BOX AND I HAVE HAD THEM ALL I HAVE THE 993B THIS IS THE ONE TO KEEP TAKE A PAT ON THE BACK MFJ FOR A JOB WELL DONE, AND I HOPE THIS IS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME FROM THE MFJ STABLE I HOPE,73 ALL
K4UUG Rating: 2006-12-29
993B Great! Tuner Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have used the MFJ 993B for a year now.This versions of intelli Tuners are faster and is more accurate than the factory auto tuner from Yaesu. Its also alot quieter.It handles all bands on ballanced and unballanced antennas.Push tune or key the mic in AM mode and it will instantly find a match. The lighted meters and the lcd readout are easy to read. If you need a tuner that can handle 150 / 300 watts, you may want this one. I cant imagine useing a manual tuner.It has a built in antenna switch and balun.It can even be remoted it also has a radio interface so you can use the tune button on your Icom Kenwood Yaesu Radios.The only down fall is no 6 meters.just 1.8 to 30 mhz I have been looking at the LDG 200 PRO because it will do 6 meters.But I can just simply cut a dipole for 50.125
KT9O Rating: 2006-12-22
MFJ 993B Even Better ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the MFJ 993 for sometime and recently upgraded to the 993B. This new version seems to tune faster and more accurately than the early version. Its a tad bit quieter as well. It handles all bands on my 2 wire antennas with no hesitation whatsoever. Simply hit tune or key the mic in AM mode and it will instantly find a match. The lighted meters and the lcd readout give you a lot of information. If you need a tuner that can handle 300 watts, you may want to investigate this one. I cant imagine using the old fashioned tuners, especially those with the bloody crank around coils when I can use this one. Oh, you can even remote it for out of site, out of mind operation.
W7LDG Rating: 2006-12-14
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works great and give all the info you need. Get one and you will be happy.