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Reviews For: MFJ-998 IntelliTuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : MFJ-998 IntelliTuner
Reviews: 112MSRP: 699.95
Description:
The MFJ-998 Full Legal Limit 1500 Watt Intellituner takes you to the final level in automatic antenna tuners. With a capability of 1500 watts SSB and CW, coupled with automatic tuning, your high-power station can now operate essentially hands-free even when frequency and band changes are made.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-998
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001123.8
K4WYS Rating: 2007-06-22
Looks like a keeper after first week Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I first became interested in the MFJ-998 auto tuner back in November 2006 when the MFJ catalog advertised the unit on the cover. I am using the MFJ-993B auto tuner on my IC-7000 and it performs quite well.

But first, the name tuner has been applied on this type of equipment for many years and it is accepted for a device that matches the antenna (load) impedance to the desired impedance of the transmitter. E. F. Johnson many years ago apply called his tuner a "Matchbox".

The MFJ-998 is basically a 993B on steroids, beefed up to handle the higher currents and voltages applied by an HF amplifier following your low power or medium powered rig.

When you obtain the new "998 Legal Limit Intellituner", the first thing in the procedure to hook it up in your system is to open the box and put the JP1 jumper in the proper position if you are using the MFJ interface able that matches your rig. This give you the chance to look for any physical problem that may have occurred in shipment. In my case a strap was omitted to secure the heavy double toroid to the main board and one connection had come loose. This only took less than 5 minutes to fix. For a new first run product there will be some hiccups.

In my case I am putting the "tuner" behind an IC-PW-1 amplifier driven by the IC-756ProIII. Yes the PW-1 has an automatic matching system, but the HF range will not handle an antenna with an impedance greater than 150 plus ohms (Z). I am radiating power with a home modified 160 meter Windom antenna and an NVIS G5RV dipole. These are my HF wire antennas, however the PW-1 matches my HF beam will no problems.

Now back to operation, to fit into the Icom control system I had to fabricate a junction in the exciter/amplifier OPC-104C cable. This was to insert the "Amplifier Bypass Control" circuit into the system. During the automatic low power search and matching sequence this keeps the amp out of line and also kicks out the amp when system SWR exceeds your preset limit.

The analog (needle) SWR meter has an automatic range that you can set so that a power level of less than 250 watts reads on the 300 scale and as the exceeds 250 watts it switches to the 3000 range (both forward and reflected reading).

The unit comes with a default desired SWR setting of 1.5 to 1, but the user can reduce the desired limit to a lower setting which may require longer search time as the LC network of relays select the ratio of capacitance and induction to meet the lower SWR.

Less than a week and so far so good; I will be putting it to the task in my station. MFJ has a good warranty reputation and I hope I won't be using it.

So far I rate the design and function of the product as a "5", production and QC was at a rating of "3". Overall I rate the tuner as a 4.8.
N1BO Rating: 2007-06-21
Two days old and working as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After waiting around 4 months I recieved it yesterday 6-20-07. Removed the packaging and found it to be in perfect condition. Read the manual,(straight forward book) hooked it up, keyed the radio with 8 watts..Tuner did the rest. Using a 265' windom, tuning for 14.275 mhz, tuned to a 1.1.in about 5 seconds. Tuned all over the bands with the highest match at 1.5. I have only run a little over 600 watts through it at present, handles it as advertised. The only thing is a little noise when tuning, but if you balance that out against finding your glasses, then finding your crib sheet for the tuner and then beginning to tune. I will take a little noise for 5 to 8 secounds while it tunes anyday.

This is not technical by any means. It is what I have found during the first 24 hrs..

73,
Jim N1BO