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Reviews For: MFJ-962D

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-962D
Reviews: 97MSRP: 269.95
Description:
1.8 - 30 MHz 1.5 kilowatt AirCore roller inductor antenna tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-962D
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00973
2E0DLM Rating: 2013-06-23
MFJ Repairs Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought it used. It played up right away. Stripped roller inductor. Replaced rubbish roller bar tension springs (collapsed) and ball bearings with strong stainless steel ones. Turned roller bar round 180 degrees to get new silver plate surface for the roller and re-soldered. Fitted new inductor support manufactured and bonded to one existing one. Everything including roller and inductor cleaned with acetone then lubricated with electrolube EML including capacitors. Re-soldered everything, checked all earths and fitted 2 new RF sensing diodes and one new antenna socket. Now works fine. Recommend yearly service to keep in good order. MFJ need me!!. Hope this is helpful. PS. Palstar is a better ATU but much more expensive.
W8MLD Rating: 2013-04-01
Good tuner for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this tuner two years now and use it with my Ameritron AL811H. The only time I had it arc on me was when my tune box at the base of my Inverted L got out of whack. The variable capacitor had moved somehow, and the feed point impedance had dropped to 5 Ohms. Found this out by checking the antenna system with an MFJ 269 analyzer. The tuner did have a very stiff turning roller inductor at first, but it smoothed out with use. Like any product I buy I checked inside the case before using it, and it didn't have any loose screws or cold solder joints, and no pieces floating around free. I don't find MFJ's QC to be any worse than anyone else. Some of the problems I hear here may be due to lack of care during shipping. This isn't a ham related story but a shipping story. I ordered live marine fish from CA this winter. The box said live fish and fragile right on it. When it arrived the UPS guy just tossed it 15 feet onto my porch. Luckily the fish were ok. But at the time it was less than 30 degrees out. If I had not heard him arrive the cold could have killed the fish, because he didn't ring my bell. So don't be quick to blame MFJ for everything when sometimes shippers can be less than careful with fragile equipment.
KN4GE Rating: 2013-02-23
not 1.5kw Time Owned: more than 12 months.
actually MFJ 962B Easy to use, great tuning range. Every time I have ever run more than about 400W something has arced. Replaced bandswitch (arcs to a,b,c spots when set to l and on 160 with full length dipole), meter, meter lights. Spread coil leads to stop arcing to case. It will not load 1.5 kw into a 50 ohm load without the caps arcing. It is a very nice 100 watt tuner.
WX4O Rating: 2012-11-17
Very Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased used in good condition. First removed the top and examined insides: excellent. I know some MFJ products have a bad rep., but the 993B that this replaces was always perfect. Had a 'Differential-T' tuner in '88 that worked great.
Very good luck with this 962D so far. Will know more if I try it with power.
N9SOB Rating: 2012-07-14
Mighty Fine Junk Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchsed the MFJ 962d with intent to add an amplifier at a later date. This tuner sat NEW in a box for almost a year before I purchased a new AL-811. Excited to upgrade from the 100W group, I hooked up my new FT-950, AL-811, and NEW MFJ 962d. Everything seemed wonderful for a couple of days and then I started smelling a burnt odor. The smell was comming from the tuner. I removed the cover from the tuner and detected nothing unusual. Within 2 days, this creature began arcing for no aparent reason. Upon taking the cover off again, I saw burn marks everywhere. A 100W tuner this may be, but if you put a little AL-811 to it you might as well get a bag of marshmellows out to roast. I have ordered a new Palstar and will never purchase MFJ products again!
N6WBL Rating: 2011-12-06
Great tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked up my MFJ-962D used when I got a hold of a Ameritron AL-811, and it has worked perfectly ever since. I use it with a G5RV fed by a short length of Belden 9913 and makes it a decent all band antenna at my duplex with a small lot. My worst SWR is 11.7:1 on 17m, and with a little coaxing the MFJ tunes it up just fine. Never had a flash over. Replaced the bulb with an LED when it burned out, and haven't had to touch it again. Since I only paid $150 for it used, I'll give it a 5. MFJ gets dissed by a lot of hams, but all my MFJ gear just works while not costing a fortune like some alternatives.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N6WBL on 2010-07-18

I've been using this tuner with my Ameritron AL-811 for a couple years now. I picked it up on E-Bay very reasonable, and it has worked flawlessly for me ever since. Its perhaps not a Palstar or one of the other expensive tuners, but it gets the job done and you can put the extra money towards some other ham gear. MFJ gets a bad wrap with some hams, but Martin F Ju puts out some great products, most of which are built here in the United States giving hams some great gear options. You get schematics and a 1 year warranty not voided if you open the case. I've personally been happy with all my MFJ products, especially my MFJ-259B.
DJ4ND Rating: 2011-12-02
very good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my first MFJ-962D a few years ago, it is my second one.

My first one MFJ-962D worked with power 800 watts SSB from AL-811H and 1000 watts from AL-80B. My both tuners work great on 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters! I have had no problems.

I always made very small fine tuning adjustments under low power and this tuner always did its job well.
No it's not perfect, but for me it is very very good. Great!!!

73 de Nick, DJ4ND
KU2US Rating: 2011-11-06
Some bad-Some Good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had this tuner for 3 years.I ran +/-300 watts into it, no problems, UNTIL I got an AL-811! It arced,and had problems tuning over 400 watts. Bought a Palstar AK2KD! WOW! Yes, the Palstar costs almost double the cost of the MFJ, but now I can tune anything including the metal braces inside my son's mouth to 160 meters! Never had problems with MFJ tuners until I put some serious power to them. I keep the 962D as a back up, but use my Palstar Sherman Tank as my primary tuner with the AL-811.
KF4EUD Rating: 2011-11-05
well--it works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i've had mine a few years, it works fairly well,if you are looking for a inexpensive tuner to run with a dipole and a 100 watt radio. this will do the job. if you are wanting to run a amp. you will need to move up the food chain a little farther.but all in all its worth the money
AE6ZW Rating: 2011-10-27
mine works good. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got my MFJ-962D I used with 100 wts only, I use it to tune 66 ft wire antenna. it tune everything from 160 mtr to 10 mtr band, compare to MFJ-949 which I used to use 20 years ago, this 962D does not arc at 160 mtr band. it is not as smooth as much more expensive tuner, but for the price I paid $250 as new one from RandL it is good products. I took pictures out side and inside posted here
http://aa7ol.no-ip.info/files/MFJ-962D-antenna-tuner/