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Reviews For: MFJ-926

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-926
Reviews: 15MSRP: 399.95
Description:
The MFJ-926 Automatic Antenna Tuner covers the entire HF band from 1.6 to 30 MHz. It handles 200 Watts PEP maximum with a 10 watts minimum input power. MFJ-926 is weather-sealed for outdoor or marine use outside at the base of your ham station antenna -- a durable hard plastic cover and chassis plus an inner lip black rubber seal keeps the interior electronics cool and dry for many years of dependable use. The MFJ-926 provides very fast-tuning: initial tuning is less than 2 seconds and less than .2 seconds tuning from memory. It has 200 Memory channels. It tunes 6 to 30 MHz with wire greater than 8 feet and tunes 1.6-30 MHz with wire greater than 27 feet.It is designed 50 Ohm transceivers. The MFJ-926 requires 13.8 VDC at 1.5 Amps. Sleek and compact, it measures just 9¼ x 14¼ x 3 inches and weighs just 4 pounds. This tuner is built-to-last the elements! All connections are double protected with rubber sealing, entire cabinet is specially weather sealed with internal rubber lip. Includes mounting holes with metal strap on each end for easy securing.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-926
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00153.1
KE7MU Rating: 2020-09-19
Typical MFJ junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Typical MFJ Quality, right out of the box, the Bias Tee unit rattled with a loose connector mounting screw. The labeling on the Bias Tee is confusing at best, and the power plug has no indication as to polarity of the center of the plug. Never the less I did get it to work.

The tuner power will not pass through an remote coax switch. I was told by the vendor prior to purchase that it would, "No Problem" famous last words.

I hooked it up to my 80 meter loop ( through a 4:1 balun ) and it would only tune down to 20 meters ( Not sure why but most likely my fault )
So I hooked it to my 40/80 shortened dipole and it tuned every band down to 10 meters with an indicated SWR of less than 1.25 :1 ( Estimated on a TS-570 S meter ). I still have to try it on a 23 foot vertical and a long wire, but it looks like it should work out fine ( if it doesn't stop functioning, after all it is MFJ ).

Not sure what to do with it now as I can't control it through my remote Coax switch, maybe mobile or camping. YMMV

Well I got it out of the drawer to use on a vertical, and the unit failed to tune. Brought it in the house and it smelled bad. Opened it up and loose solder was floating around inside. Looked at the piece of solder and it was cold. Total use on this was less than a month when I first got it. This is the last product I will ever purchase from me I. As a retired manufacturing / quality engineer, I was shocked at the poor construction, and unprofessional assembly, flux residue and bad solder joints in several locations. No schematics available so I will scrap it out for parts!
Well one more try, called MFJ, and they emailed me a schematic. I tried it again and noticed the voltage requirement on the bias tee, it was labeled 5-50 volts, the documentation that MFJ sent me said 12v at 1 amp! How is this my fault? MFJ said out of warranty, no regard for you. I was right the first time, never again!
KJ6KK Rating: 2020-01-25
Works well on my short 160M vertical Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased and installed new MFJ-926B tuner July 2019. Tuner will tune my 30 ft tubing vertical with my base loading coil on 160M up to 150 watts, over entire 160M band. Tunes reliably.

My 160M antenna is over 120 ft from ham shack, so with my setup, a remote tuner is required to operate on 160M.

On other HF bands, my external base loading coil must be bypassed before tuner will tune.

Lately has been a bit erratic, retuning repeatedly as I increase power toward 100W. So today, Jan 25, 2020, I opened the cover, worried that the recent storms had blown rain into the tuner. But tuner inside was clean, DRY, not even a spider. I performed a factory default RESET. No more erratic tuning. Tunes quickly, correctly, once and operates without any further action.

Overall, I am very pleased with the MFJ-926B.
Wish it would handle higher power levels.
KT4XN Rating: 2018-06-09
How do you say junk? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The remote tuner does not tune. ran all the tests, which worked fine. the 926B does nothing when trying to tune using 2-10 watts of power. the relays just sit there. works great as a pass thru.

Will call MFJ before sending to recycling
N4DCD Rating: 2017-09-07
Waste of money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Right out of the box it did not work at all. Tried everything, tested the voltage injector and it was working fine. You could hear the tuner relay click one time when it was powered on but that was as far as it got. Sending it back for a refund.
KB6DRN Rating: 2016-11-26
A Faithful Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the MFJ-926B for several years and operate it into one of the world's most random, random wires. The wire antenna starts out in my garage where the tuner is located and meanders through the garage to an opening where it crosses within 2 inches of a large metal rain gutter, goes across the yard to a metal pole where it makes a 90 degree turn and goes about 60 feet to an end pole. It's only about 15 feet high and has a counter poise wire integrated into the tuner ground.

The 926B has been able to tune any frequency using my "junk" antenna on the 10M thru 160M bands without trouble. If the frequency is in memory, it tunes in about a second or less - If not it might take 5-6 seconds.

I once crashed the tuner by tuning a new frequency at full power however after performing the reset operation described in the manual it has continued to work fine for more than a year. I have a separated multi-ground rod grounding system on the tuner along with an MFJ-915 RF Isolator on the radio side at the tuner.

I gave it a 4 because I initially had to trim the plastic cover to interface the PL-259 connector to the 926B. That's been the only tuner-induced problem I've experienced with the 926B. It's been a good tuner and I enjoy using the device.
KA9CAR Rating: 2016-05-20
Works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this 926 BRT unit new in late 2012. I am writing this review in mid 2016. I run a 100 watt station. I used it on my 33 foot vertical for several years, and now on a 43 foot vertical. It will tune the antenna from 160 to 6. I added a relay inside the unit to GROUND the antenna and disconnect the tuner from the antenna when the power is off. Occasionally I find it needs to be power cycled to get it to tune, but it always does tune.
KE7GZU Rating: 2016-03-25
MFJ 926B DOA UPDATE Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
MFJ has shipped a new tuner with an RMA for the original unit to be returned. I'm impressed with the quick positive response to correct a problem. The Customer service Rep said the IC that was not soldered in place was not used in the model. I will connect the tuner later today and see if it works. Had several e-mails back and forth with the Rep. I certainly applaud their customer satisfaction service.
Will update after confirming functionality!
N6DMR Rating: 2016-01-11
Needs Help - Failed in a few Months Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Had this unit for less than 6 months, it is already on its way back to MFJ for a 6-8 week repair cycle. Used this only a few times over the 6 months I have owned it and it performed "ok" but reliability is dismal.

Unit stopped tuning 80m and failed the self test programs.

Rated at 200 watts, I used it at a much lower power level usually 50 watts and it still failed prematurely.

While waiting for the LONG, LONG, LONG repair cycle, I am mow using and LDG RT100 which is working flawlessly.

MFJ, should rearrange their name to MJF so it can stand for "mine just failed".

Did I mention the LONG, LONG, LONG repair cycle? I think MFJ's repair staff must be larger that all the manufacturing personnel.

K6CRC Rating: 2014-12-29
Meh Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use a 926B to tune an inverted L (32' up, 80' long) into my K3. About all I can do with my tiny lot. Dozen 30' radials at 100 degree spread. The MFJ tunes all bands 80-12 just OK, but cannot remember the settings all the time. I am constantly re-tuning it. Cannot get it to tune any part of 10m, so use rig tuner. You can say the tuner 'works'. The 259 connection is clumsy, the plastic tuner cover needs to be trimmed to allow weatherproofing tape to be installed. My K3 internal tuner does a much better job tuning the higher bands, even thru 80' of LM400 coax.

Not impressed with the product or design. Is there anyone else out there who can make a decent low cost remote tuner??
W1BG Rating: 2014-11-04
Works as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my 926B right at a month, using it to more or less keep things in check on the 5-band fan dipole I have on my 6' wooden privacy fence. The best thing about it is it gives me a perfectly flat SWR all across whatever band I choose. Like another reviewer, my Bias-T also had a rattle inside that turned out to be one of the hex nuts for one of the SO-239 connectors... OK, sloppy assembly, but now 2 people reporting the same issue, shame on you. I would have given it a 5 had it not been for that.