MFJ-998 automatic antenna tuner 1500 Watts - Review and Setup

This is the MFJ-998 automatic antenna tuner 1500 Watts - Full Review and Setup. Tested with my Kenwood TS-990 and Heathkit SB-221 1.3kW tube amplifier (pair or 3-500z).
I know, the bands were pretty bad the day I shoot this video, or I forgot to remove my RX antenna from ground ;-)
73
Pascal VA2PV

[@bobn6rlg689]

Pascal, I had watched several other good videos on this tuner but your was by far the most helpful. It gave me the confidence to go buy the unit. I have not yet set it up in my shack. I expect to do that this weekend. Thank you for a VERY thorough review and for the demos on how to use the menus to set up. Please keep up the good work and keep educating us! 73’s, KK6YLW

[@Laboenligne]

Thanks Bob. At first, I experiment similar problems that I found on the web and then found out that it was not set properly for my radio, so I made the correction and it works like a charm. It's been more than a year and this unit is great. I'm very happy my video was helpful. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@SuperJollyJ]

Good video. I have an MFJ-998, too, and there is definitely a learning curve to using it properly.

[@davidray4128]

I have had this tuner for several years. It is great, no issues. Best I have used. Good video.

[@BobBruns]

Thank you for this video. I know it is old one but i have one now for 6 months or so and never did get it setup correctly. I used it manually as a friend of mine has one and that is what he does. I watched your video just now and set the menu up correctly and put it in auto and flawless now. I will have LAN unit/remote setup soon and now i can safely use it and not have to change linear as it is on auto also. Glad i spent the money on it. My ALS-1306 is close to legal limit!. Thank you once again for the tips.

[@UserUser-99]

Pascal, great video. The manual is somewhat hard to figure out, but your vid did the trick. The only thing I don't like about the 998 is the green display. I wish they offered an OLED display to make it easier to read at a distance.

[@LivePDOfficerInterviews]

Wow, nice to have a video like this about this Tuner. Man, you have some very expensive stuff. You have truly been very blessed in life. I could save up the rest of my life and probably not get your Kenwood rig LOL

[@walerygolowenko5106]

The tuner works very well ! With respect de RO7N

[@bentleys5059]

Looking into this tuner. How is it holding up after a couple years use? Thanks and 73.

[@user-zf6yy5ys7w]

EXCELENTE ... GRACIAS ... GOOD VIDEO...

[@giulianoggg2035]

Great video explanation... I just bought one! what is that swr on top of the 998?

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

Hi What is the wiring setup for the amp enable rca lines. Keep in mind that I have my relay cable from the Icom 7300 to my amplifier. I see very little in the manual. Thanku!!! Billy

[@samanthapotter6561]

Nice informative video and review, my dad just ordered an open box 998 from GigaParts - will let you know if it arrives in one piece, 73s. W8BFO

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

Very nice. I have a sb1000 tube amp. What shld my swr max be set for on the tuner, 3.0?? Thanku Billy

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

Nice video A question. When tuning up on my 993, I was told that I can tune with my 7300 set to 100 watts and the radio will automatically cut bk during tuning. But, with the 998, does the same apply, or must I reduce power manually?? Thanku Billy

[@lwnuj503]

Got this tuner Pascal. Flawless..

[@Laboenligne]

Hi Roman, great news. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@lwnuj503]

Got inspired also by your cable management video....went ahead and fixed my wires and cables. Now its clean and tidy. Thank you for taking time making those videos. I'm also a Kenwood fan. 73!

[@Laboenligne]

Hi Roman, these type of comments are my paycheck, I do this for the hobby but video is now part of the hobby. I do videos about my projects, one after the other and I share the steps along the way. If it helps others, I'm happy. Thank you and 73, Pascal VA2PV

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

Hi Another question. I hv the amp enable hooked up to my amp and all are running well! Question: With the amp on(opr), not in standby, can I re-tune the mfj-998, just to touch up the swr, or do I need to switch the amp to standby? I am thinking NO, because the amp enable id hooked up, but I may be wrong. Thanku again, Billy

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

A question. Re: My Heathkit sb-1000 tube amp How can I hook up the amp bypass cables from the amp to the 998? Or is it not possible? If not, can the 998 be configured in a manual mode, so as not to auto tune while the amp is operating? Thanku Billy

[@TingILi]

How is right now? Is it work well?

[@walerygolowenko5106]

Hello Pascal !Too bad that when you connect the tuner ,the transceiver produces only 100 watts.......But with the tuner can be easily adapted to the antenna!!!..

[@sreagle9430]

You didn’t mention what the results were for 160m ?

[@marklowe7431]

Thanks you for this video and compliments on your setup. Very neat and well set up. Cheers.

[@kevinmcdermott3668]

Are there jumpers on all the MFJ Antenna Tuners because i can not find anything on jumpers with my MFJ 994b ATU .

[@jimmiller6311]

Hi Pascal, Thanks for the informative review. I have a question. The MFJ-998 specifications say that it doesn't work on 6 meters, yet some say that it does! Have you ever tried it on 6 meters and if so how well (or not) does it tune? Thanks & 73 - Jim WA2UMP

[@Drekkag]

Awsome tuner. When i had HF, i was going to get the mFJ-993. I only had 100W so a 300W autotuner is all i needed but was curious about a legal limit power. Thanks for showing it. 73, ad0am p.s. I finally got a webcam so now my KZbin videos will be better. Never as good as yours but great for me. I want to meet you someday and shake your hand.

[@Laboenligne]

Hi Adam, Yes, it is an awesome tuner. When you have an amp everything gets more complicated, interference, antenna system, ground, AC power and the tuner! This one was a solution for me, a comfortable signal is important for me as I like to “ragchew” with my friends on 80 meters in the evening. It took me 10 years before I get an amp and I always been an HF fan. Your videos are good, the important thing is the effort of improving. Most people don’t do anything because they are afraid of what others would say, I always focus on positive comments and move forward. After more than 100 videos online I still make mistakes and some people notice even the smallest one, but it’s ok I move forward and I think I’m getting better, hihi. I also appreciate people who tells me that they notice a mistake, it helps me improved and if they take the time to tell me it's because they care. I wish that I had a better English, but this doesn’t stop me from making video ;-). For your video, maybe you can improve the screen orientation, always film sideways as TV and PC are in this way… for a better screen view. The other way is good for Facebook as people watch it most of the time on their mobile device. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@Drekkag]

Laboenligne.ca thank you for watching my videos. I just got a new webcam for the pc and it makes a world of difference. I also have recording software that lets my record my desktop too. This is fun to make videos and learn. 73 ad0am

[@Laboenligne]

Great news! As long that you're having fun, that's the most important part. 73

[@floydsense6133]

Power limit for FT8 mode?

[@johncliff5417]

Hi. That tuner look's dam good. I would think MFJ would have put a basic setup manual with it though. Has you described it is easy enough to get that off the net. It do'es rattle a bit during it's tune up, but do'es it quirk enough. I am surprised at the compactness inside to say that is for up to 1,500 watts. Well thank's for the review. 73 de John- G0WXU

[@Laboenligne]

Hi John, yes it does look good. When we are dealing with a high-power it gets complicated, I guess there is no basic to start from as it all depends of the gears that comes in the loop. I received an email about this video from a wise operator saying, “there is no such thing as plug and play in our hobby as all the manufacturers used their own protocols to interact with their accessories”. Taking that into account, MFJ did an amazing job adapting the protocols for each manufacturer, so I guess it’s hard to keep it basics. Thanks for watching. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@danluzurriaga6035]

@@Laboenligne Yes, MFJ met that challenge amazingly well, much better than they other major tuner company.

[@jimk4vw138]

Nice review, I enjoyed it. TU and 73's Jim, k4vw

[@Tom-W7TMD]

This video is kinda old . Do you still use this tuner? If not what did you not like about it?

[@DonDegidio]

Pascal, Only wish MFJ's auto tuners would include 6M. I built an SB-221 in 1978. Very good amp. 73 WB3BJU

[@Laboenligne]

Hi Donald, I never work on 6M maybe someday, but yes adding this band on the tuner would have been great. For the SB-221, mine is like new as it was built yesterday. My friend Claude VE2BUB (the technician in my documentary, see the link below) tune up this amp for me, at first, I didn’t like the green look, but it works so well that I don’t care, hihi. 73 and thanks for watching. Pascal VA2PV kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmjPkHx_mcx2pZY

[@geod3589]

I've heard some of their tuners will work on 6 meters, but the frequency won't be displayed properly.

[@WILLIAMPERRELLI]

My 993 auto, tunes 6 m just fine

[@walerygolowenko5106]

Great video!!! Thank you and 73!

[@Laboenligne]

Thanks Walery. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@BobBruns]

Has anyone used this with a Yaesu FTDX101MP yet? I guess i will need to make some phone calls to find out what cabling i need to set this unit up correctly.

[@k3unx404]

Well done!

[@KF8OD1]

Great video.

[@Laboenligne]

+KF8OD Thank you! 73

[@Laboenligne]

+KF8OD Thank you. 73

[@raulgonzalez4325]

Hi Pascal, I have an Alinco DX-SR8, linear Ameritron AL-80B, and the Tuner MFJ-998. Where should I connect the amp out and in to? Thanks KP4RGD

[@Laboenligne]

Hi Raul, you connect it after your Amp (between the antenna and the amp). You will need the correct cable for your radio, you can make one or buy it from MFJ, the MFJ-5114A, for more information follow this link www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-5114A Consult your radio (page 92) and tuner manual to complete the setup. Hope this help. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@baronlund9725]

So is this jumper for the IC-7300 suppose to be on or off? I see possible both ways in the manual.

[@pyroman590]

I'm sure you've figured it out by now, mine didn't start working properly until I removed the jumper

[@tonydicenzo]

Was there supposed to be a jumper in the box? why did tou have to make one?

[@Laboenligne]

Didn't find any and it was not installed. It's a very common computer jumper. 73 Pascal VA2PV

[@littlewingpsc27]

Mine came with a jumper attached to only one of the pins.

[@bobn6rlg689]

So short story reading the two replies, one with a jumper in the box and one without, take the cover off and check! My Icom does not want the jumper.

[@jean-eudestremblay9396]

En français svp

[@edwardsavela]

Great video--thanks! Anyone using this with an Icom 7300 and an ALS600, or either? If so please email me. Ed/K8EA