Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: MFJ-927

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : MFJ-927
Reviews: 10MSRP: $275.00
Description:
200 watt automatically tuning weatherproof unit for outdoor use
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00103.5
K7EKD Rating: 2018-06-13
Very reliable tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using the MFJ-927 remote tuner for five years, with a 130 foot inverted vee (long wire) on 160 thru 10 meters, and 100 watts.
It has worked very well and has provided a good match in this challenging situation. I have worked over 180 dx entities with this combination.

I strongly recommend using low power, about 10 watts during the tuning sequence.
N4SRN Rating: 2017-08-14
Ant Farm Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Acquired as part of a DX Engineering 43ft Vertical Antenna Kit, this tuner worked well the first year but started going online and offline year 2. It finally stopped altogether last month so I sent for a SGC SG-235 to replace it. I pulled the old unit and opened the case to find it inhabited by many very tiny ants. The high voltage points were encrusted in a pile of carbonized ants, which probably shorted the system. MFJ had advised against sealing the case with silicone caulk to allow minimal air exchange, so only the tiniest ants could invade, even though I had insecticide granules spread regularly at the antenna base. It might still work, so I'll give it a 4 based on inability to effectively seal it against insect ingress.
AK6ZZ Rating: 2017-08-12
Works extremely well surprised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought a used new in box unit and connected it to my 200' horizontal skyloop. Works awesome. I can't believe that it even tunes down to 80m. Really pleased and surprised. I have had some pretty poor experiences with MFJ. This unit works excellently.
KF5HVW Rating: 2015-02-24
Has to be a better unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First one was DOA

Second unit works but is not impressive

I plan to try one of the new LDG-RT-100 Remote Tuners and compare

----------------------
Earlier 1-star review posted by KF5HVW on 2015-02-23

First unit was DOA.

Second unit works, but is very unreliable.

Takes an excessive amount of tuning if it will tune at all.

I plan to junk it.

W6LMP Rating: 2014-12-02
Works Pretty Well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My 927 came as part of a DX Engineering 43' vertical package in October 2009. It worked very well, very quick, and improves receive as well as tuning to an SWR of 1.2 or so on all bands except 160. The first unit lasted until April 2013 when it failed to tune on a couple of the bands. After trying the reset options, I replaced it with another 927 from DX Engineering. This one is still working fine. Well, maybe not totally fine. Both the original and this unit sometimes fail to come back to full receive strength after I release the PTT. Usually hitting and releasing the PTT a 2nd time solves it. If not, I hit the "tune" on my TS480HX and that always fixes it. Overall I like it a lot.
K6CRC Rating: 2014-06-17
dead Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Finally died after being flaky for a year. Last time I sent it in for service, it took several weeks to 'repair", but still didn't work right. I also have to fault DX Engineering for re-selling this P.o.S. product.



----------------------
Earlier 3-star review posted by K6CRC on 2011-12-16

I bought this tuner to use with a vertical wire supported by a 12 meter fiberglass sectional pole. The tuner was part of a DX Engineering system.

The tuner was sent back for repair in warranty, and it took 4 weeks to get it returned.

Manual is disorganized, and you have to read through it a couple of times to understand what is going on when troubleshooting.

It does tune the vertical antenna fairly well. But, it seems to 'lose' the band settings occasionally.

The case sealing seems marginal. I would not put it out in the snow or where there is any significant rain. I mounted my unit upside down on the vertical mounting pipe, and sealed all seams with 3M silicon goop.

Overall, it works well and is relatively inexpensive. Spotty MFJ service and quality, however.
KF5CZG Rating: 2010-05-21
Bad Unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Owned mine for 4 weeks. Bought it at Giga Parts. Yesterday it promptly failed. SWR is infinity. I use it at the base of my vertical and run 30W PSK31. May change my rating depending on how quick they (MFJ) fix it or give me a new one. When it aint broke, it works great. It does need external weather proof buttons for power, ant and tune. Plus some weather proof lights for ant and tune. Also, the cover is black and it gets real HOT from the sun. Jim
KF1C Rating: 2010-04-04
927 initial impression Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It took all of 5 min to hook up. Mounted out near the G5RV (45ft) I have noticed a substantial increase in receive strength on all bands. 10 mhz at least double. I guess its no longer a G5rv but a ladder fed dipole with an automatic variable matching system. The 150' of coax from the shack to the antenna is no longer part of the antenna. Matches all bands.
Mounted the unit face down so the solid plastic is pointed towards the sky keeping out the rain. (look at the dxengineering website, that's the way they mount it on the vertical they sell with the 927 )
First contact CX 579 on 28mhz cw.
so far so good, in a year we'll see. ordered a lightening arrestor so it can hopefully survive out there.
KG4RUL Rating: 2009-10-17
Still going strong Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Since my last review, I have added to my flagpole so it is now 44' tall. Tuner still works better than ever!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KG4RUL on 2008-07-19

I have had NO problems with my 927 tuning a 23' Force 12 Flagpole Antenna with 12 on-ground radials of random lengths. Knowing that this device is NOT "weatherproof" like an SGC tuner, I have protected it with an over turned flower pot with a potted plant on top (part of the 'stealth' mentality you need when dealing with CC&Rs and unfriendly, Johnny-come-lately neighbors).

As far as adding a "window port" and "weatherproof buttons", that would just add to the cost.

Workmanship appears to be good.

This is one of MANY MFJ products that I own/have owned with NO problems AT ALL!!! Must have been a better grade of Chimps that put those particular items together.
K6LLO Rating: 2008-06-29
Can be made to work with modifications Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this for marine use; needed a weatherproof unit. It arrived with a broken case; MFJ kind enought to send a case replacement. The board inside has a lot of features that cannot be used; it is basically the board of another product (suspect 929) which is enabled for automatic tuning option, and packaged in plastic weatherproof box. The box did not mate properly to the boad and metal base; there is a large gap far from weatherproof. This required sealing with silicone. Programming buttons and LEDs about activity are hidden in the box. I inadvertently touched one of the buttons when replacing the case; had to disassemple to make work. Finally after 2 hours of fiddling, it works and is weatherproof; tunes well and rapidly. Shoddy mechanical design, solid electronic design. If they had mounted waterproof buttons on the case and had a window port, it would have been quite good. I have seen this with MFJ before. It appears that they use chimpanzees for final mechanical design and construction. I would have rated it lower, but it does actually work.