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Reviews For: MFJ-929 Compact 200-watt Auto-tuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-929 Compact 200-watt Auto-tuner
Reviews: 45MSRP: 220
Description:
The MFJ-929 IntelliTuner-CompactTM lets you automatically tune any coax fed or random wire antenna 1.8-30 MHz at full 200 Watts SSB/CW. It can match 6-1600 Ohms (SWR up to 32:1) - - that's a 50% wider matching range at a higher power level than lesser competing products.

You get a digital SWR/Wattmeter with backlit LCD, antenna switch for 2 antennas, built-in radio interface and built-in internal BiasTee for remote tuner operation.

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-929
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15454.1
AC8YJ Rating: 2023-05-23
Nice tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Nice tuner; it works as advertised. It does make some noise, but it's not a Palstar. At the price point, I think it's a bargain.
NB4R Rating: 2022-03-13
I got what I paid for Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A week or so ago I ordered this tuner from a large vendor I will leave unnamed. I anxiously removed it from the box, connected the wiring an power and ran into the first problem. The up-c, up-l and Tune buttons stuck in the depressed position. I removed the cover and face. The three switches for these functions were all soldered facing at three different angles from the PC board. I read the warranty and called the vendor to make sure I would not void the warranty if I "repaired it myself". The vendor said it was OK and that MFJ has quality problems, they were inexpensive and "I get what I pay for." That comment I feel was out of line.

After correcting the switch issue I was ready to test. The tuner so far has surpassed my expectations. I'm using it on a 300 foot horizontal loop. All frequencies I have tested on all bands have tuned to 1.4:1 or less. And most are at 1.1:1. I find that amazing. I am an old electronics tech, but new to Ham radio. This is my first tuner so I have nothing to compare it to. I would hesitate before I buy another MFJ product.

3/13/2022

I have been using this tuner for almost 7 years. It has been a wonderful tuner. It has never failed to tune whatever I have connected it to. I have operated it with several different radios. Due to my results I have upgraded my rating from OK to GREAT! I won't even ding it one for the initial issue I had with it. After all, that wasn't dur to bad design, but bad quality inspection.
F5SGI Rating: 2020-11-13
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This ATU is even able to correct the impedance of my strange experimental antennas, this shows how efficient it is! I recommend it, the quality/price ratio is excellent.
AC4RD Rating: 2020-05-05
Ad/manual incorrect; not bad though Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When my old autotuner died, I ordered an MFJ-929 autotuner and the Yaesu dedicated cable; Gigaparts was helpful as always and I got them quickly. The 929 works perfectly with my FT-897, exactly as advertised. However, the extra-cost Yaesu cable does *NOT* work with my FT-950. The manual and ad copy say it will, but those are painfully incorrect, making that $25 cable not quite such a bargain buy.

With the FT-950, I can still switch to low power and put out a signal, and the 929 tunes my loop. (Can't do it with regular power; the tuner complains and doesn't work.) With my FT-897 (which I love), the 929 works perfectly as advertised; the tuner reads the frequency from the radio and is already tuned by the time you touch the key or mike.. I'm unhappy that the autotuning does not work with the FT-950 as advertised.

I tried calling MFJ's technical support. If you're reading this in the future, this is during the covid-19 pandemic, people are staying home from work, so I was not surprised when the tech support never answered the phone.

I'd suggest NOT spending the $25 for the Yaesu cable if you have an FT-950; wasted money IMO. And the MFJ-929 isn't quite as good a buy in that case, either. Still, the thing works with the FT-950, it's just clumsy about it and takes extra steps.

So: it could be better in terms of expense and function, but at least it works perfectly with one of the two radios I bought it for, and it's just inconvenient but functional for the other one.
N7KJ Rating: 2020-01-08
Great Tuner for low power Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am using the MFJ-929 for a while now with a Barrett 2050 commercial/military radio. It works fine once you have figured out that it likes low power (10 watt) to tune. After it has tuned the antenna you are using to the frequency you are on, you can go back to 100 watts, or in my case, 125 watts.
It has quite a few memories. If you are operating frequently on a set net, or scheduled frequency, you can use your radio's tune button even on full 100 watt, because the tuner will remember the frequency you are on. It is a very good tuner for what was designed for.
K7KE Rating: 2019-06-22
Review Downgrade Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you run FT8, this autotuner is not for you. In the first month I blew mine up twice not realizing it can't take the FT8 duty cycle. Belatedly MFJ told me to limit FT8 power to 10 watts or less (I was running 25-50 watts). If you just run SSB and CW, it's a great tuner.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K7KE on 2019-05-08

Bought it new from HRO. Worked great for the first 10 days as compared to my old LDG IT-100. I needed a better wideband tuner to go with my DXE 43 ft. all-band vertical.

On day 11 the MFJ failed. Completely dead. Couldn't send it back to HRO, so I sent it to MFJ for warranty repair.

It was returned to me unannounced two weeks later. So far so good, but even when it was initially working I could never achieve rig control for my Icom IC-718 transceiver. Had to use it in manual mode. As it turns out, MFJ's setup instructions for my Icom model and I suspect several other Icom models are categorically wrong. Set your Icom's external tuner setting to 18, NOT 4 and it will purr. Use MFJ's recommended setting and you get ZERO rig control.

Having said all of the above, it really performs well...far superior to my LDG.
K8LCS Rating: 2019-04-13
Very Satisfied, Tunes Easily Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had this tuner for 4 months now, and I cannot say anything bad about it.
I use it to tune into a 9:1 Balun Designs UnUn at the end of 140' of coax, feeding 173' of wire in an inverted L configuration running through tree branches.
It works great, tunes every band anywhere, shows F/R Power and SWR.
I purchased the optional interconnecting cable (MFJ-5114Y) to fit my Yaesu FT-991 so tuning is accomplished by simply touching one button.
It tunes fast, and has memories so it tunes much faster after the initial tuning.
I choose it because of features, and because it is USA made, and I am not disappointed.
I would and have highly recommend this fine MFJ Product.
72, K8LCS
W4KVW Rating: 2017-10-23
Great Auto Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well I must say I'm actually Shocked how well this Auto Tuner works.I use it with my ICOM 746 using the Optional ICOM Interface Cable & on most bands it takes less than 2 seconds & it's tuned.I like the readout as well.I have had some mixed results with MFJ products so I'm hoping this tuner keeps working like it is now.I also own an LDG Auto Tuner & I must say the MFJ tunes much quicker & I can use the tune button on the ICOM 746 with it but that's not even an option with the LDG tuner.I am using the MFJ 929 with an Antron 99 at just 30 feet & it does a great job on 10-20 meters which is Amazing for an antenna that short.The radio is happy with the match & I get great signal reports so it must be doing something right.It is just a backup station but I have been having a lot of FUN with it without any complaints. Again,I'm Shocked that MFJ may have actually done something right but time will tell if it continues & if so for how long. {:>)
W2EJG Rating: 2017-06-16
Very useful Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had mine for several years now. Works FB with my Ten-Tec Omni VI but no auto tune. Tunes my G5RV very well with the exception of 40m where it gets squirelly. When this happens I open up the can unseat and reseat the main chip. Was happy with my B & W tuner but this is faster.
NH6RF Rating: 2017-06-15
Works as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought a used MFJ-929 off an auction site. No one bid against me so I got the reserve price. I also ordered the MFJ-5114I interface cable to connect with my ICOM IC-718. I did a complete reset to factory settings and ran the self diagnostics. All was well. I hooked up everything according to the MFJ-5114I instructions and only DC power to the tuner worked. The instructions are incorrect. The ICOM IC-718 tuner software needs to be changed to 18 vice 4. After I figured that out, all was well. My antenna is a 40M Inverted V. It's more like a horizontal Dipole with the ends drooping down but it works. On 80-12 meters I can get an excellent match upon initial tune. Tweaking got it to 1:1 SWR and 0 reflected. I'm completely satisfied with this unit. I had been using an MFJ-939 tuner which was "ok" but I wanted a fwd and ref meter to view simultaneously. The 939 has no meters. .