[Antennas] Received my MFJ-993B "matcher" (a mini review)

Sun Jan 21 23:28:51 EST 2007

Thanks you all have helped me decide what auto transmatch to get for my
station, the only question is which model as I am thinking of getting a 600
watt linear to use with the station.  I will be using a multiband vertical
and a triband when we move so SWR wont be a major problem but it is nice to
know if I want or need to I can toss up a wire and tune it, during the next
Hugo

Kirk

Kershaw County, SC  USA

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and go good with
catsup or BBQ Sauce
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick A Thompson Sr" <wa4tuk-rf at comcast.net>
To: "Philip" <ndb_fch-344 at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: "Antennas" <antennas at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 9:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Antennas] Received my MFJ-993B "matcher" (a mini review)

> Glad you have a good result and thanks for the well written review!
> Reading over your write-up it seems I did just about the same procedure
> with my MFJ-933 (no "B" model). It looked well made. I don't have an LDG
> for comparison but I wish anyone willing to deal with the amateur market
> well.
>
> Pat
> wa4tuk
>
> Philip wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > Awhile back I posted a request for information about the MFJ-993B tuner,
> > asking for actual users feedback on the unit.  All I'd used in the past
> > 12+ years of operating was a manual tuner (yes, I know they're REALLY a
> > matcher, not an actual antenna tuner).
> >
> > Earlier this week I ordered one and it arrived early yesterday.  First,
> > I wanted to see how natural it was to use for a "dummy".  So, without
> > reading the manual I went ahead and hooked it up, applied power (making
> > sure center pin was positive ;-) and fired it up with my TS-430 and the
> > Alpha Delta DX-EE 4 band dipole.  Applying about 10 Watts of AM carrier
> > on 40M the critter "clattered" for a moment, then indicated a good
> > match  (<1.2/1). Not changing anything else I switch through the bands,
> > 40, 20, 15 & 10 Meters (some of which DON'T have a good match on that
> > DX-EE antenna).  Each time the unit clattered for a moment, then
> > produced a good match.
> >
> > Then I again stepped through the bands, each time there was a single
> > "click" and the antenna was matched as the memories recalled the
> > settings.  So far, so good.
> >
> > THEN, I gave it the acid test.  I stepped through the 30, 17 and 12
> > Meter WARC bands, frequencies for which the DX-EE antenna is NOT tuned
> > at all.  In each case the "tuner" clattered a moment and then produced a
> > good match. Now, whether or not the antenna will actually radiate
> > effectively on those bands is another question (it is a "shorty" 3
> > element fan dipole with a loading coil on the 20 meter element to allow
> > operation on 40M, covers 40, 20, 15 & 10M).  But at least the radio is
> > happy and I'm somewhat QRV on the WARC bands now 8^)
> >
> > Next step was to select the Butternut HF-2V vertical (75/40M) which is
> > Roof mounted over about 1200 Sq/ft of sheet-metal roof.  This antenna
> > was tuned to be resonant on 3908 and 7240KC.  It covers MOST of 40M with
> > an under 2:1 SWR, but is less than 100KC wide on 75. I cranked the
> > TS-430 down to 3525 (bottom end of my Advance class allowance) and keyed
> > the carrier.  The tuner clattered and got a good match.  I then did the
> > same for 7025KC.  Again, the usual clatter and a good match.
> >
> > The 20 and 15 Meter band Inverted Vees already have a good match across
> > their respective  bands, but I checked them anyway.  The tuner matched
> > them well.  Ditto when I tested them for the 17 and 12 Meter bands.
> >
> > I have NO antennas for 160M, so that band wasn't tested!
> >
> > FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE TUNER:
> > After making sure that everything was working well with the tuner, I
> > called MFJ to ascertain that drilling a hole in either side of the cover
> > for "under-shelf" mounting brackets wouldn't void the warranty (it
> > doesn't) I opened the unit up for inspection and bracket installation.
> > Here is what I observed.
> >
> > 1.  Nice clean circuit board construction.  Internal workmanship "seems"
> > to be of very high quality, not the shoddy assembly you sometimes see
> > with MFJ.
> >
> > 2.  Nice LARGE toroid and open wound coils for the tuning section, not
> > the iddy biddy ones you usually see in the bandpass filter sections of
> > transceivers.
> >
> > 3.  Nice large (sealed) relays for all switching, 19 of them, again not
> > iddy biddy ones.
> >
> > 4.  A nice sized two toroid Balun for balanced lines with 4 banana plug
> > connections (two for the balanced side, one for the center and one for
> > the tuner output).  Not the single toroid Balloon that my 948 has (and
> > which I don't think is TRULY balanced).
> >
> > 5.  COSMETICS.  Good, but NOT great!  The cutout for the LCD window is a
> > little rough around the edges like it was cut with a dull punch, and the
> > silk-screening beneath the LCD window with the MFJ Intellituner logo and
> > SWR/PWR bargraph marking is slightly crooked, sloping up slightly from
> > left to right.  But this is nit-picking and doesn't affect operation at
> > all!  I can live with it ;-)
> >
> > WHY I CHOSE THE 993B:
> > There were only two tuners that I was considering, the LDG AT200 and
> > this one.  This one was 20.00 more than the LDG, but I LIKED the fact
> > that it has BOTH an analog cross needle meter AND a digital LCD
> > display.  The meter is especially useful for cutting "new" antennas and
> > I then don't need an additional power/SWR meter.  The LDG has ONLY an
> > LED bargraph.  The MFJ also has the internal Balun, with LDG you buy
> > that extra. The LDG has a 2 year warranty Vs the 1 year MFJ warranty.
> >
> > Would I buy it again?  Only time will tell for sure, but at this time
> > I'd have to say an emphatic YES!
> >
> > NOW, WHERE'S THAT OLD WET NOODLE I TOSSED ASIDE WHEN IT WOULDN'T LOAD UP
> > ;-)
> >
> > 73 de Phil,  KO6BB
> > DX begins at the noise floor!
> >
> > THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
> > MY RADIO-LOGS:       http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/Logs/
> > QSL GALLERY: http://photobucket.com/albums/f306/KO6BB/
> > Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
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> >
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