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Reviews For: MFJ-994

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-994
Reviews: 32MSRP: Price: $359.95
Description:
The MFJ-994 600 Watt IntelliTuner automatic antenna tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00323.3
KT7AZ Rating: 2007-08-18
good product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Product works as advertised. I would like to see and add on kit for auto amp by-pass for tuning. As many can attest, when under pressure during a contest or just absent minded, you can forget to turn off amp.

I have created a switch box which sits next to tuner which disables my amp. This seems to work ok so long as I and especially others using my station during a contest remember to us it.
KW4J Rating: 2006-10-19
Really a 4.5 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I rate the MFJ- 994 Autotuner as 4 because of a characteristic that common in several autotuners that I owned, mainly tuning to lowest SWR on the first pass. The tuner usually otains an acceptable VSWR, say 1.9 or less. However, to tune lower the TUNE control must be accessed again. In fact sometimes it is efficient to cycle between the transceiver's and the autotuner's TUNE buttons fo a couple of cycles to obtain minimum VSWR which can approach unity. This characteristic may have to do with the interaction between VSWR tolerance bands and the sensing part of the control feedback loop. Interaction between the transceiver and autotuner control circuits could also be another source. Regardless, it is more of a slight nuisance than a problem.

I like the MFJ-994 and it seems to be doing everything I expect. I run it with an IC-714 and an Ameritron ALS-500M amp. I use mostly dipoles and verticals but I like the option of being able to use a random wire. This combination reduces my tuning time to almost nothing and gives me a lot of flexibility over my old setup. Like most of the autotuners, it is noisy and appears to take a long time to tune for the first time. However, functions such as constant-tune monitoring make up for any shortcomings.
VK3MDD Rating: 2006-09-27
ok but hoped for better Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
should have the 993 lcd features
noisy when tuning,but generally fast
outside paint finish ...unsure as to the durabilty
instruction manual could be improved,vague and not well detailed
has done the job without problems,but not needed now as my 1000V has a much better built in ATU
AD5X Rating: 2006-07-20
My "B" Model works great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my MFJ-994B about a month now, and it matches just about anything I throw at it. With a radio interface cable, this tuner works great with my Yaesu MKV and my IC-706MKIIG - and my ALS-600 amplifier. The radio interface cable automatically puts my transceiver into a low power CW tune mode while the MFJ-994B is tuning. The main differences between the MFJ-994B and the original MFJ-994 are that the "B" has 10,000 memories, and it will tune with as little as 2-watts. I have a detailed review on my website at www.ad5x.com.
N8RT Rating: 2006-03-20
A great Product at a reasonable price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This tuner is amazing; it works great with 600 watt solid state amps. I use it with the IC-2kl, Ameritron ALS-600, and the Icom pro-2, Yaesu MPF-100MP Mark V, and the Icom 706 Mark 11G. Works with all combinations! The manual is comprehensive and allows for many different modes.
Some modes are Auto tune, Manual tune, Bypass, and Sticky Tune. (Sticky tune allows the tuner to start tuning automatically when transmitter produces at least 10 watts, regardless of SWR.
The tuner will match impedances from 12 to 800 ohms.
The 949 has an internal Frequency counter that can measure up to 50 Mhz , this counter is used to measure your transmit frequency, so that the next time you come close to that frequency the tuner automatically recalls the proper sequence of relays that are enabled to provide a low SWR. The info is stored in a non-volatile memory; up to 1000 frequencies can be stored. (The new "B" Model just recently introduced has 10k memories). MFJ has an upgrade available for the NON-B model, if your operating requires more than 1k freq. memories.
Some worth while features I liked are:
You can set the target SWR to either 1.5 or 2.0.
The SWR threshold can also be set to 3 different ranges 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5.
You can use random wire or single wire antennas.
Covers 1.8 to 30 MHz.
Has Auto ranging Wattmeter.
Has a Self Test mode. Relay test, and many other useful self testing features.
The manual is well written and explains all the operations clearly.
I removed the 994 top cover and the tuner is well built, with heavy duty components. Example the relays are rated at 16 amps, 1000 volts, and 10 million operations.
The 994 does require 12 VDC to operate.
MFJ has the following Options Available for this tuner.
An optional Remote Control and Optional radio interfaces for compatible radios.

Bravo MFJ!
See more details here:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-994

W6GF Rating: 2006-03-17
Works Great As Advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought one of the tuners used to use with my solid state amp. I have a 160-10 dipole. It tunes this dipole without any trouble, even on 160 and 75 where the swr at band edges get fairly high. I was pleased with its ease of operation and flexibility. And I love it so much I bought another one to use on another rig.
KF9Z Rating: 2006-03-01
Works well and a good value for the money Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am not sure why everyone bashes MFJ? Sure, some of the gear is not top of the line but you are not paying a premium for it either. If you want high-end stuff you have to pay for it. If you want solid, well priced ham accessories and gear you cannot go wrong with MFJ. Are they the best? No, but other more highly thought of manufacters have had quality and design issue (just ask Icom) yet people rave about them. Back to the tuner...mine works well. I use it with less than 200-watts and it does a nice job. I built a small interface cable to my 756Pro and 703+ and the tuner does what it says it will do and it does it well. It is fairly efficient when checking the input versus output on a reasonably good Windom antenna at 70'. It comes in at a nice price-point and works as would be expected. It is simple to use and hard to beat.
N0AH Rating: 2005-06-11
What happen? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It turned on. 1 point.

Nothing else worked.

My friend and I returned it. He was hurt.

I warned him.
K1ECW Rating: 2005-06-11
Buy One Today Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the MFJ-994 to tune an Ameritron ALS-600 solid state 600 watt amp. It was the day that my amateur radio life changed!

This tuner is absolute perfection. I use 6 different antennas including a multiband dipole 160-6 meters, a 10 thru 20 meter hybrid quad beam, a 40 meter double bazooka, a 60 meter double bazooka, an 80 meter double bazooka, and a 10 thru 40 meter vertical. It tunes 'em all; and, remembers the tune. I believe it would tune a metal fence, too.

All you do is turn it on and transmit a weak carrier. It does everything else.

The unit has 200 memories. When I return to a frequency, or one within about 10 KHz nearby, it is ready to go with a retune! The higher the frequency the larger the KHz spread before a retune is necessary.

It is truly automatic in every sense of the word. You can use the buttons to fine tune; however, I always get a 1.1 or 1.2:1 without any additional adjustments.

There's really no comparison to this unit and a manual tuner. It's fast, efficient, well built, and it works.

As you can see from some of my other reviews, I'm not an MFJ fan and have been very critical of some of their products. This time they've got a winner!

Put that manual tuner on eBay and buy an MFJ-994 today!

AA4EZ Rating: 2005-04-30
Great Autotuner Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this autotuner off EBay for $230.00 after my LDG-1000 stopped tuning properly. I use a Carolina Windom 80 meter antenna at about 30 feet high. I use an Ameritron ALS-600 amplifier which I routinely run at 400 to 500 watts through the tuner. This tuner has no problem tuning 160 through 10 meters to a SWR of 1 : 1.3 or less on all bands. This is better than my LDG-1000 did when it worked. I was on 60 meters this week and the tuner adjusted the SWR in about 3 seconds. It has a memory function and remembers the settings for frequencies that you have been on before. It has a "sticky tune" function that will tune when you start talking. I rate it over the LDG-1000 tuner. I personally think a lot of amateurs give MFJ a bad rating just because it is a MFJ product. A lot of time it is operator error or expecting more from a product than it advertises. I think this tuner adjust 10 - 800 ohms to less than a 1.5 SWR to a 50 ohm coax. Hope this review helps someone. 73, Ray AK4RL