I truly love that you explain this very complicated subject in the most basic way… I have no previous history in anything remotely related to radios or electricity and electronics … so this is a complicated subject for me to absorb and comprehend starting from zero knowledge and your videos are truly easy to comprehend… I WANT to have emergeny communications if the SHTF and you are helping me achieve that… thank you
Terri T - Thank you for the support and feedback. As always - feel free to send me PMs if you need any assistance setting up your comms plan. I hope your licensing pursuit is progressing well and look forward to hearing you on-the-air soon! Respectfully - CommsPrepper
Outstanding video. The best description and use of a tuner that I have seen You translate from geek to english flawlessly. I have been told I speak geekeneese but with a radio accent. Keep up the great videos.
Excellent, systematic description of antenna tuners. I've looked at a 4 other videos on antenna tuners, but they were never adequate. I don't need to look further now. Thanks for uploading.
I have been struggling with confidence using my mfj 948 delux and after seeing your videos explained a lot of what was need to ge my antenna tuned as I had not been sure how I should use it. again thanks for yor help
Thanks for posting. I'm a newer Tech and will be taking the General exam this month anticipating getting into HF. I guess a tuner needs to be factored in as a necessary accessory to the shack. One question. Are these needed for 2M/440 antennas? 73, KM4UQU
Wow...7 years since this was posted. I'm going to chime in here. These tuners are designed to work on HF frequencies. VHF/UHF antenna tuners are available. I suggest that if you use a portable antenna on 2M/70cm, you should build a roll up J-pole that is resonant on the frequency you expect to use rather than trying to use something random. These pack away in small spaces, and the selection of bands is pretty limited. With HF, there are many bands to use. An HF tuner allows using an antenna with poor characteristics for the selected frequency band. Jim N4FAF
i liked the two Antenna interfaces output Coax1/Coax2 as you may use "One" of them as permanent 50 Ohm External Dummy Load (as a Trusted Perfect 50 Ohm Reference Antenna ) Or you may add a two 100 Ohm Resistors (in parallel configuration) and Solder it to Coax2 interface from inside use it as internal 50 Ohm Dummy Load This arrangement is very useful to examine your SWR/Power Scale and make sure your SWR meter Not dusty/Rusty or stuck for any unexpected reason
Thanks for your video. I have a question about the back panel setting: Do I have to connect the jumper connection if I use the longwire antenna or windom antenna.
When I set the MODE to RTTY to make the Match I can achieve a 1:1 match with the radio putting out half power of 50 watts. Is this the place where I leave the antenna match? When I put the radio on full power of 100 watts the setting doesn't change in the RTTY Mode, but if I change to LSB or USB I get nothing on the MJF939. What is happening?
Hey man, thanks for your input. I learned alot. yet I have a question that I can not seem to get answered. I have a Yaesu ft-8800 and ft - 2900. What antenna tuner ( auto tuner if possible ) will work with these unit? Thanks !
You don't need one. Those radios are VHF/UHF and you only need dual-band antennas. They make VHF/UHF tuners but I don't know anyone who has one. Just get the right mobile/base antenna.
If you buy a ATU for HF i.e 160M - 10M (or 6M) It will only cover those bands. You must buy a ATU that is made for VHF and UHF i.e 2M and 70cm (440MHz).
The answer is yes you can and one reason I can think of where you may want to is if tour CB antenna is not in the ideal location and external walls or other interference is causing your reflected power.
Commsprepper you will find that a mobile antenna with a flat match on test bench will never exhibit that same SWR match any where else.the concept of a "pre tuned" antenna is about as good as a one size fits all pair of pants.
I have a Wilson 5000 mag mount and a Srtyker "export" 10/11 meter radio. Can I use this tuner to lower the SWR at 10 meters - 11 meters is 1.2:1 ant the middle of the band ? And, what does the red button do?
CB is HF so you can use this tuner to fine tune a CB antenna. Red button is for the meter light (if you provide 12 volts to power in jack on the rear).
Commsprepper - thank you very much. I just tried it on 11 meters and made more contacts than I ever had - one of them was twenty miles away, and I am in a relatively low spot ! I was able to tune the 10 meter band as well; unfortunately, there's little to no propagation!
hi i have a mfj 949e delux versa tuner which i bought second hand the previouse owner fitted a new face plate and hasnt fitted the transmitter antenna or the inductor knobs in the correct position could you send me a close up internal picture with the transmitter and antenna set to 0 and the inductor set to a thanks im quite new to amateur radio 73s lez 2e0lke
I recently bought a very clean 35 year old Heathkit antenna tuner. I had to reset the counter on the inductor. Take the case off, and get the roller back where it is at the START of the coil, and NO coil is in line at all. Set the numbers for ZERO at that position. On mine I had to loosen up a right angle gear & roll the numbers to 0000, then carefully tighten up a small set screw. With plastic gears you can usually force them to strip past each other. I had a 3KW MFJ arc barefoot with a 200 watt transmitter, and decided to never buy another MFJ tuner. my 2060A is 100x better tuner than the MFJ ever can or will be. They have a nice oversized Balun, silver buses, silver plated copper coil, & nice wide gaps in the caps. My linear amp is the idiot proof last variant Denny Carry made with the Peter Dahl transformers, fold back protection, and QSK relays. I used a $2000 Bird meter with it that shows me VSWR, forward power (PEP), reflected power (PEP), same power for Carrier Wave, Modulation percentage, VSWR PEP, CW, and Average, Delta, minimum & maximum. I can tune the clothes line to 160 meters with the 2060A. I am off to pick up an old EF Johnson Match Box, and antenna/transmitter selector relay box, & TV filter today, so I will probably be cleaning that one up, and setting the counter to 0000 on it tonight. The capacitor knobs may or may not rotate 360 degrees, and the marking should be at 0 just before the plates are starting to mesh together. I cleaned the scorch marks off my MFJ and dumped it at a ham fest. Arcing at 200 watts meant there was no way I was ever going to try it at 1500 watts, with a $3000 linear amp. LDG makes a killer auto tuner, for most modern rigs, from the big 3, Kenwood, Icom & Yeasu. I also have some old Heathkit & homebrew tube transceivers, and just picked up a modified prewar US Army transmitter, & receiver package that was upgraded to FM & SSB capability so it will run 100 watts AM, & 260 watts SSB from 160 meters to 10 meters, with a preselector in the receiver, and an added VFO, BFO, and Q multiplier. The tubes in it are worth about $6,000, so I am torn between keeping it original, and selling the tubes to buy more gear. Someone dropped the radio & broke one of the tubes, so I am using Chinese Shuguangs in it, pending buying another RCA VT4C. Take you tuner apart, and get the counter unlinked from the coil roller, and set it to zero, and that is all there is too it. I may do a video of how they can get knocked out of whack, and how to easily bounce them back to zero, but it only applies to the older better tuners.
I truly love that you explain this very complicated subject in the most basic way… I have no previous history in anything remotely related to radios or electricity and electronics … so this is a complicated subject for me to absorb and comprehend starting from zero knowledge and your videos are truly easy to comprehend… I WANT to have emergeny communications if the SHTF and you are helping me achieve that… thank you
Terri T - Thank you for the support and feedback. As always - feel free to send me PMs if you need any assistance setting up your comms plan. I hope your licensing pursuit is progressing well and look forward to hearing you on-the-air soon! Respectfully - CommsPrepper
Way way late to th eparty but boy that was good stuff even in 2023. Thanks man! It helped me a lot.
This should be required viewing for anyone starting to use one of these for the first time, this little video is just perfect - thankyou!
Thanks. Happy you like the video. CommsPrepper.
Outstanding. This is my second watch of this video.
Thank you for this video which explains, well, and in simple terms, the use of an ATU
Outstanding video. The best description and use of a tuner that I have seen You translate from geek to english flawlessly. I have been told I speak geekeneese but with a radio accent. Keep up the great videos.
+Da Gunny Thank you.
Thanks for the comments and support. Respectfully - CommsPrepper
Thanks for sharing your knowledge in a simple way to understand.
Thanks for the feedback and subscribing.
Excellent, systematic description of antenna tuners. I've looked at a 4 other videos on antenna tuners, but they were never adequate. I don't need to look further now. Thanks for uploading.
Phillip - Thanks for taking the time to watch an comment. I happy you found this video useful. Respectfully - CommsPrepper
Well done. Really well done. Great presenter, thank you.
Thank you kindly!
Thanks for breaking this down for all of us. Excellent job.
I have been struggling with confidence using my mfj 948 delux and after seeing your videos explained a lot of what was need to ge my antenna tuned as I had not been sure how I should use it. again thanks for yor help
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Antenna Tuners are the Gearbox/Transmission between the Transmitter - Antenna !
I like that analogy. I will use that in the future.
..... Antenna tuners are to a radio what zoom lenses are to a camera! 😊
nice clear video.cant wait to see pt2.
i have the same tuner.
73,KB3YJO
very nice info you concentrate n in little space
Thank you my friend 😃 All the best 73's Leighton
Thanks for the comment and channel support.
Thanks for posting. I'm a newer Tech and will be taking the General exam this month anticipating getting into HF. I guess a tuner needs to be factored in as a necessary accessory to the shack. One question. Are these needed for 2M/440 antennas? 73, KM4UQU
Wow...7 years since this was posted. I'm going to chime in here. These tuners are designed to work on HF frequencies. VHF/UHF antenna tuners are available. I suggest that if you use a portable antenna on 2M/70cm, you should build a roll up J-pole that is resonant on the frequency you expect to use rather than trying to use something random. These pack away in small spaces, and the selection of bands is pretty limited. With HF, there are many bands to use. An HF tuner allows using an antenna with poor characteristics for the selected frequency band. Jim N4FAF
i liked the two Antenna interfaces output Coax1/Coax2 as you may use "One" of them as permanent 50 Ohm External Dummy Load (as a Trusted Perfect 50 Ohm Reference Antenna )
Or you may add a two 100 Ohm Resistors (in parallel configuration) and Solder it to Coax2 interface from inside use it as internal 50 Ohm Dummy Load
This arrangement is very useful to examine your SWR/Power Scale and make sure your SWR meter Not dusty/Rusty or stuck for any unexpected reason
Comma, great video!
Thanks.
Thank you for you very good explanation. tnx+73 de Manfred, DC2FK, North Germany
Thanks.
Thank you. most helpful.
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment. Respectfully - Hank / CommsPrepper
Great overview! Thx! Does this tuner support long wire antennas?
Yes it does.
Yes it does, on the back it tells you to place a jumper.
Another super job!
Thanks
Great tutorial. Thanks!!
Kimberly Kemp Glad it helped. Thanks for taking the time to comment. CommsPrepper
Excellent!
Great video. I do have one question. Does the 12V power to the back of the unit power anything except the light in the meter?
Just the light.
Thanks for your video. I have a question about the back panel setting: Do I have to connect the jumper connection if I use the longwire antenna or windom antenna.
Jumper is used for balanced lines like ladder line.
Very good video - 73 from Brazil de PX2Q2328
Thanks
When I set the MODE to RTTY to make the Match I can achieve a 1:1 match with the radio putting out half power of 50 watts. Is this the place where I leave the antenna match? When I put the radio on full power of 100 watts the setting doesn't change in the RTTY Mode, but if I change to LSB or USB I get nothing on the MJF939. What is happening?
Do they have an antenna Turner for 2meter and 440 all in one
Yes. MFJ does make 2m and 440 tuners. Try Google
Hey man, thanks for your input. I learned alot. yet I have a question that I can not seem to get answered. I have a Yaesu ft-8800 and ft - 2900. What antenna tuner ( auto tuner if possible ) will work with these unit? Thanks !
You don't need one. Those radios are VHF/UHF and you only need dual-band antennas. They make VHF/UHF tuners but I don't know anyone who has one. Just get the right mobile/base antenna.
Once again , Thanks. I am learning as I go and it aint easy. I do have a Arrow Jpole and a diamond for the jeep so I should be good. Thanks again !
is this tuner can be use for 2 m/440 or only for HF?
HF only. All the specs cab be found at MFJ's website under their manuals section.
thanks. great video by the way!!
If you buy a ATU for HF i.e 160M - 10M (or 6M) It will only cover those bands. You must buy a ATU that is made for VHF and UHF i.e 2M and 70cm (440MHz).
Can I use one of the MFJ Tuners on an 11 Meters Galaxy 998VHP radio mostly on AM?
+Steve Holsten If you question is will the HF MFJ tuners work on CB radio antennas then yes. However, why? CB antennas can be purchased pre-tuned.
The answer is yes you can and one reason I can think of where you may want to is if tour CB antenna is not in the ideal location and external walls or other interference is causing your reflected power.
Commsprepper you will find that a mobile antenna with a flat match on test bench will never exhibit that same SWR match any where else.the concept of a "pre tuned" antenna is about as good as a one size fits all pair of pants.
I have a Wilson 5000 mag mount and a Srtyker "export" 10/11 meter radio. Can I use this tuner to lower the SWR at 10 meters - 11 meters is 1.2:1 ant the middle of the band ? And, what does the red button do?
CB is HF so you can use this tuner to fine tune a CB antenna. Red button is for the meter light (if you provide 12 volts to power in jack on the rear).
Commsprepper - thank you very much. I just tried it on 11 meters and made more contacts than I ever had - one of them was twenty miles away, and I am in a relatively low spot ! I was able to tune the 10 meter band as well; unfortunately, there's little to no propagation!
hi i have a mfj 949e delux versa tuner which i bought second hand the previouse owner fitted a new face plate and hasnt fitted the transmitter antenna or the inductor knobs in the correct position could you send me a close up internal picture with the transmitter and antenna set to 0 and the inductor set to a thanks im quite new to amateur radio 73s lez 2e0lke
I recently bought a very clean 35 year old Heathkit antenna tuner. I had to reset the counter on the inductor. Take the case off, and get the roller back where it is at the START of the coil, and NO coil is in line at all. Set the numbers for ZERO at that position. On mine I had to loosen up a right angle gear & roll the numbers to 0000, then carefully tighten up a small set screw. With plastic gears you can usually force them to strip past each other. I had a 3KW MFJ arc barefoot with a 200 watt transmitter, and decided to never buy another MFJ tuner. my 2060A is 100x better tuner than the MFJ ever can or will be. They have a nice oversized Balun, silver buses, silver plated copper coil, & nice wide gaps in the caps. My linear amp is the idiot proof last variant Denny Carry made with the Peter Dahl transformers, fold back protection, and QSK relays. I used a $2000 Bird meter with it that shows me VSWR, forward power (PEP), reflected power (PEP), same power for Carrier Wave, Modulation percentage, VSWR PEP, CW, and Average, Delta, minimum & maximum. I can tune the clothes line to 160 meters with the 2060A. I am off to pick up an old EF Johnson Match Box, and antenna/transmitter selector relay box, & TV filter today, so I will probably be cleaning that one up, and setting the counter to 0000 on it tonight. The capacitor knobs may or may not rotate 360 degrees, and the marking should be at 0 just before the plates are starting to mesh together. I cleaned the scorch marks off my MFJ and dumped it at a ham fest. Arcing at 200 watts meant there was no way I was ever going to try it at 1500 watts, with a $3000 linear amp. LDG makes a killer auto tuner, for most modern rigs, from the big 3, Kenwood, Icom & Yeasu. I also have some old Heathkit & homebrew tube transceivers, and just picked up a modified prewar US Army transmitter, & receiver package that was upgraded to FM & SSB capability so it will run 100 watts AM, & 260 watts SSB from 160 meters to 10 meters, with a preselector in the receiver, and an added VFO, BFO, and Q multiplier. The tubes in it are worth about $6,000, so I am torn between keeping it original, and selling the tubes to buy more gear. Someone dropped the radio & broke one of the tubes, so I am using Chinese Shuguangs in it, pending buying another RCA VT4C. Take you tuner apart, and get the counter unlinked from the coil roller, and set it to zero, and that is all there is too it. I may do a video of how they can get knocked out of whack, and how to easily bounce them back to zero, but it only applies to the older better tuners.
Hi Lez. Check out at the top of the page on here. There is a picture of the MFJ 949e DELUXE VERSA TUNER II. Hope that helps. 73 de John - G0WXU
would the MFJ 908 mobile antenna l-matcher work with my Galaxy 959 and stryker sr-a10-mm antenna in my truck. thank you.
Yes but why? CB antennas should be tuned already for their operating frequencies.
E-mail?
?
volume very low
Sorry. it's one of my older videos and I was still learning.