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Reviews For: MFJ-949E

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-949E
Reviews: 132MSRP: 149.95
Description:
300 watt 1.8-30MHz antenna tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-949E
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001323.8
KI5FJ Rating: 2013-01-15
Good performance vs cost Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Range of impedance matching is reasonable. It will not provide the range of physically larger and more costly ATUs. Replacing the capacitor knobs with a larger 1.5 inch (RS 274-0402) will reduce hand coupling to the capacitors and allow easier adjustment. The addition of a RF Transformer such as MFJ-907 will extend the range of coaxial impedance matching. All ATUs compromise something; there is no free lunch! The power handling ratings of all ATUs should be understood to be "Best Case".
Impedance matching at the antenna is the most efficient. As an example,view my design in the October 2011 edition of QST. I currently use two 949Es. The other seven in-the-shack ATUs range from a Vintage Ultimate Trans-Match to my favorite, the ATR-30. 73 Joe O, K I 5 F J NNNN
AE5J Rating: 2012-10-31
Long Time Performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the 949E for many years now, having bought one of the first ones off the production line. It has performed exactly as advertised. I think a lot of folks just don't like MFJ and would grouse whatever they came up with. I have had no problems and in fact, have never had a reason to even call their customer service. This is a good tuner at a very reasonable price that works. Enough said.
KG9HV Rating: 2012-07-31
Good Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this tuner new in 1994 and I've never had a problem with it. I'm presently using it to tune a ladder line fed dipole with no issues. This is a good tuner and it has given me 18 years of good service so far. I'd buy another one.
VE7KNQ Rating: 2012-07-30
Works very well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this tuner for over 10 years and it's still working perfectly. My Alinco DX-70TH is connected to it and I've had no trouble tuning homemade dipoles and verticles. No issues with the tuner itself like others mention.
K4KBW Rating: 2012-07-24
Great Tuner Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had really good luck with the MFJ products.
This tuner has worked great with my ladder line to a inverted V Dipol on all the HF bands, once you have your ladder line at the right length.
Swr's are easily tuned to 1:1 and lower.
I am replacing it with the MFJ-989C due to an Amp I am going to use.
N7WR Rating: 2012-07-13
So Far So Good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had my share of issues with MFJ tuners over the years but a ham offered me a brand new, never used 949E at a great price so I took a chance. I use it only to tune my OCFDand horizontal loop antennas on portions of 160 and 80 that do not have an acceptable SWR w/o a tuner. When I picked up this tuner I did the obligatory shake test for loose parts and was greated by silence---which in the case of an MFJ tuner is a good thing. Hooked it up and it does its intended job very well. I tune with the exciter at 25 watts and when a match is found up the power gradually and re-tweak the tuning until I get to my transceiver's top output of 200 watts. The size of the tuner fits nicely in my console. I like the stepped inductor switch rather than the variable.
WB8ZTP Rating: 2012-07-10
Works Great! Very Pleased! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I’ve had my MFJ-949E Manual Antenna Tuner for over a year now and it works great! Took it on our last vacation to OBX, strung out a 84’ Longwire antenna toward the Atlantic Ocean, tuned up 20 Meters and worked Ukraine, Russia and Denmark on SSB in ~ 45 minutes one night all on 100 watts!. Tuned 40 meters, got on my favorite net with great reports one evening. I’m very pleased with its ease and performance.

I always start by setting the controls to the MFJ recommended settings in the manual for the band being tuned and only with 10 w before increasing power and checking it again and fine tuning it.

73, Mark
WB8ZTP
KT0DD Rating: 2012-06-12
update Time Owned: N.A.
well, I applied RF to the unit and no arcing or issues. tuned my attic dipole ok. I'm raising my review 1 point as I'm still irked by quality control issues.
KD4GID Rating: 2012-05-03
Great Value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After five years, still pleased. Has worked very well at 100w into a random wire on 10-80m. About a year ago, well out of warranty, the SWR cross needle meter quit. One call to support led to me replacing the two diodes on the circuit board which were provided free of charge along with two spares. Great Support!
K3IVB Rating: 2012-05-02
Best Ever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Beat Palstar hands down, best ever on all levels, price performance quality etc. Buy one and you will never need to buy another antenna tuner. It's that good and I owned them all people,trust me.