MFJ-993b automatic HF antenna tuner review and demo

Received from www.gigaparts.com
Find the manual online at www.mfjenterprises.com
This HF autotuner is almost instant. Built in coax switch, tunes 160m-10m, handles 300 watts max power. Please check out my other videos.

[@MrTommy001]

I just bought this tuner yesterday. I'm going to hook it to my new Yaesu FT-710 and run the signal out to a Vobroples endfeedz 135' long wire. Thanks for your easily understandable video. --------------------------------- Two weeks later: This tuner is amazing! And thanks to your easy-to-understand video, I've got it set up perfectly and my radio gets out "awesomely". I also cheated a bit and did some RTFM'ing. Great contact experience and good audio reports.

[@FenzzSezz]

Thank you for an excellent review. Haven't used my radio or tuner for a couple of years (health issues). Now I am ready to go on air. Thanks again, Bruce (KU1Y)

[@HamRadioConcepts]

The big brother to the MFJ-939 autotuner.. Check out the video.

[@batman4e]

No, you're wrong. It is the big brother of MFJ-929. MFJ-939 has no LCD. MFJ-929 looks similarly to MFJ-993B minus the analogue SWR meter.

[@fatimatavares8324]

batman4e rxkck

[@kellingc]

Good presentation, and good information. Also, thank you for describung what a tuner actually does, in that it allows the radio to be happy with non-resonate antennas.

[@ralph9987]

I missed the review and working of the needles mate, did you do a supplement video so the review would be complete?

[@ve6dn39]

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting video. Better than the manual.

[@kb2zya]

Do you still use the 993b? I have had mine for over 10 year's and loved it.

[@ReverendMav]

Awesome! Good review, many thanks, just ordered one, now can't wait for it to arrive :)73,Paul from the UKM6 ODJ

[@brianlettieri5263]

Thank you for the refresh...you made me realize how much I forgot about this tuner. A problem I have sometimes with my 897D is that I get no output going into the 993b. I have to power cycle everything and then it will work. I have set menu 20 to tuner, and menu 85 to tuner, and I am using the interface cable. But I didn't realize until watching your video that I don't have to use the interface cable......If I choose not to us the cable do I change menu 20 & 85 back to their default settings? Please let me know. TY KI6VPF.

[@sinatralala]

Hi Eric. I was using my 993B today for field day in my shack. I've had it for a while and LOVE it. There was a period of time today that it wouldn't tune some stations or make that beep sound. So I shut the equipment off then turned it back on and now it's working fine. Is it normal for this to sometimes occur? I was told once that it's like a computer and sometimes needs to be rebooted. Other than that it has worked flawlessly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Eric.

[@looneytune-upelectronicsll2241]

Great Intel. Thanks

[@tglenn3121]

Did you have any difficulty setting up the interface box for the tuner and the Yaesu?

[@cattail3]

Just picked one of these tuners up (993, Not 993B). My transceiver does not interface with tuners (FT980), therefore I must be in "manual" mode. You talk alot about how the unit remembers your operating frequencies .... are you talking about the "band" and not down to the KC? For instance, as I work up and down the 20 meter band will this tuner constantly update it's settings to adjust to the various changes in freq and then store each individual place I stop and transmit? Also, would I just have the "auto" button IN and then go to where I want to transmit and transmit or do I have to put down a carrier for a second or so and then do something for the tuner to kick in and adjust? I am a little confused with the manual at this time! Thanks!

[@HamRadioConcepts]

+cattail3 It will sense an SWR higher than about 2:1 and will retune, yes, across the entire band not just each band.. if you go from 14.070 PSK to 14.300 and your SWR changes, it will detect and retune.. ANd runing this is manual mode is fine, it only takes about 2 watts of power into the TX port to make it tune.. HOpe this helps.. 73

[@WJ6FRadio]

Great video! Have you compared the MFJ Tuners to the LDG?

[@LarrysLeatherWork]

Does this tuner require 12v pwr or can you use this tuner without the 12v pwr? I'm thinking of times your running on batteries. Great video thank you.

[@HamRadioConcepts]

+Larrys LeatherWork Yes it does. But not much, a small battery would be just fine, 1 amp current

[@LarrysLeatherWork]

Thanks

[@n1kkri]

Has anyone noticed any difference in how well it will give you a low SWR between running it in the 150w mode vs. 300w? On 80m I get the same 1.6 SWR with 150 or 300w mode.

[@aaronmiller112]

im fixin to buy this tuner and put up a balanced wire between 2 big trees that are about 150 ft apart. should I put up as much wire as I can or the biggest resonant band I can fit between these trees?

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

Is there a way to pass through an Ameritron ALS-600 to use the interface cable on the tuner? I have a Yaesu 991A with the ALS-600 and I also have this tuner with the interface box cable.

[@vortex360]

Just bought one. Oh yeah.

[@gvvq-pi5ml]

Hi there 2 friends of mine have this tuner, one is trying to use it with an IC 7000 and cant get a lead from radio to tuner to fit, does he need that interphase box, the other person has one and it wont tune to anything what ever you do, apart from pressing the manual buttons then it tunes ok.....he uses a Kenwood TS 480, i think its faulty but i dont really know....from Fred in England, g4vvq.

[@paulsscooter]

That was very well done, THANK you Eric.K7PJD

[@murrybfly]

I am WB5BAM my name Murry. I have the yeasu 950 and I think I have lost my am carrier but my built in tuner works. will my mfj 993b still work if I turn power down on ssb then when tuned turn power back up?

[@christophermccartykiwichri682]

Does this improve the signal on the receive side? If not, why not use just the atu built into the radio?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Tuner in the radio only matches up to 3.1:1 whereas this will tune a soda can

[@Mark300win]

Usually power supplies like run at 13.8v so would be a problem if i connect it to this mfj’s 12v jack?

[@genie555m]

The instructions state not more than 18v. That being said, I did try what you asked and connected mine to a switching supply along with my transceiver. Unfortunately, my LCD display on the MFJ quit working a bit after the connection. Both radio and tuner were new out of the box. I don't know if the two items are related. I exchanged the MFJ and purchased a wall wart for the MFJ and its been happy with that. So, yes technically it should be fine with using the same power supply that you use for the radio but ....

[@drteeth7054]

You contradicted yourself. You said that the ATU would automatically tune when RF was sent though it (fully automatic mode) then said semi-automatic mode was used when an interface cable is not used.

[@jbmerritt9721]

How will this work on other radios example RCI-2995dx, Galaxy Saturn, Connex CX4300-300, YAESU FT-757GX2

[@donsatman2273]

Could this be used with a Uniden CB radio?

[@n1kkri]

are there any mods for this tuner to make it tune with only 1 watt of drive? I have one of these, works fine at 10 watts or more. Want to use it with my FT-817.

[@genie555m]

it will tune with 2 watts however not as well as tuning with 10+ Watts.

[@n1kkri]

@@genie555m Thanks for your reply. I found through experimenting it will also tune at 5 watts but 10 seems to be the sweet spot. I found if you tune it up with 2 watts as you increase the power you realize you still have some SWR and require tuning again. As the forward power increases it also raises the reflected power and need a little tweaking to get the SWR down. This is due to the ratio of forward to reflected.

[@djjoep100]

Hi is this tuner better then the LDG-at 600 tuner ?

[@glensworld66]

Have you tried it any on 6 meters?

[@RGB06084]

What frequency is 6 meters knucklehead?

[@k7jbl157]

It works just fine on 6 meters. :-) What doesn't work is the frequency display. When I use it on 6 meter, it shows whatever the last band I used was. Other than that, it's been great on 6 meters.

[@This_Month_In_History]

Is there a way to use this auto tunner with two transceivers at the same time with the same two antennas connectedto the tunner?

[@genie555m]

You would need dedicated circuits. Just buy another tuner

[@kg5pte]

Can you use this tuner with a Yaesu FT 991a ?

[@trooper2221]

now did u say i don't need the interface doo dad u showed? i have a ft897d

[@HamRadioConcepts]

If you just transmit into it at low power cw mode then u don't need an interface. If you want to use the tune function on your radio to activate the tuner then yes

[@trooper2221]

ok, im gonna order the 994 B . so i can run my Ameritron AL 811. I have a LDG 100 watt tuner, that only requires the stereo plug to tune. hey whats the model number of that interface thing?

[@N7ECVQRPLIFE]

What antenna won't that roller tune?

[@414730]

N7ECV QRP LIFE My 969 roller tuner will tune a random wire, (100') flat on on 75,80 meters

[@joycv4728]

Hi, i need it, how can i get it in India.

[@MikesGarageReviews]

Why do you use cw mode to tune with?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Solid continuous wave, easier to tune than using SSB and talking. If you decide to use the interface cable between your radio and this tuner, it does this automatically for you when you press the tune button on the radio, it sets the radio to CW low power and tunes.

[@MikesGarageReviews]

Thank you! I appreciate you telling me that! I have this tuner and still learning a few tricks

[@johndecicco9908]

how would this auto tuner hook up to my kenwood TS520

[@KB5PQL]

Just connect your transceiver to the tuner and set it to auto. I used it on various radios and never used any interface cables. By the way, the Kenwood TS-520 is awesome! I have one and love it! :)

[@estelabanegas6271]

Overlin Alaniz

[@johndecicco9908]

i have my 520 for sale all tuned and new tubes to much radio for me looking to trade for a newer type radio im runnung a icom 718 veary simple i love it if interested my email is johnkk6mwx@gmail. com

[@djjoep100]

hi will it work on my yaesu ftdx 3000d ?

[@mrhondadenis7924]

djjoep100 Yes it’s work with your ftdx-3000 and you need Yaesu interface if you want just using at tune button in front of your ftdx-3000

[@Fleadog100]

How do you get the IC7300 to give out a signal to tune the MFJ-933b?

[@Momfasa]

Hi, were you able to connect it to your IC7300 and get it to send a tune signal to the MFJ-933b? I'm looking into buying this tuner.

[@Fleadog100]

Yes I did. When you go to the swr screen and key the mic it sends power through the tuner to the antenna. Just make sure to turn down the power when you do this. The tuner works great,

[@Momfasa]

John Etzler Nice, thank you!

[@bobfain7073]

Put 7300 in RTTY mode, then key mic....it will tune.

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

You should redo this video, We cant see the analog meter due to reflection!

[@rickeaston3228]

A tuner most definitely makes your antenna resonant. If it didn't how would power transfer from the coax end into the antenna. You people that want to talk theory, GO TO SCHOOL.

[@dak682]

no, it does not it makes it think it is lol

[@ThePaulv12]

What a terrible terrible disappointment. I bought one thinking all the negative comments were malicious whingeing Hams but I found out. Within 5 mins - yes 5 mins the meter globe started flickering. After 2 hours it went out. Within around 20 applications the on/off switch stopped working. This was about 4 or 5 days. I just can't believe it - I just cant! Who would build and sell such equipment?? They must have so much money that they can afford to treat customers like this. They must! On top of this, I ordered an interface cable for my radio. They (MFJ) took my money after placing the order and then sent me an email 24 hours later saying there is a 3 month wait. I asked why they took my money and didn't make mention of the back order status on their website? They asked me if I "still wanted it or what" and offered to give my money back. I said, "That's not what I asked! I asked why did you take my money and not make mention of the back order status?" IMO they are unethical. After finding out I was liable for all freight I opened my tuner up, bridged the power switch contacts permanently and I now power it from my desktop PSU. When dodgying the power switch I noticed the paint on the case was flaked off the in places. The interface cable when it arrived never worked with my radio.

[@mikec9537]

Just wondering what a "meter globe" is? Also what does "dodgying the power switch mean" ?

[@hunt555fish]

ThePaulv12 nnj

[@nickm8101]

I think a meter globe is the lamp. I think he meant bodging, by linking the switch out

[@geod3589]

Buying anything by MFJ is a crap shoot. You may get an item that works perfectly for years, or one that is DOA. You buy it, and hold your breath.

[@fl96inches]

@@geod3589 whatever happened to the mfj *no matter what* guarantee?

[@scoopyall2996]

Why does MFJ make such ugly looking units