Another ham equipment company to seriously consider is The Main Trading
Company in Texas. They are a small, Mom and Pop, operation, but they are
good people, and they have worked with several of our list members.
Recently, I think Tom made a good deal with them. Their prices are very
competitive. I think they will meet, or beat, any competitor for the same
make/model item.

Ron, K8HSY
 


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2015 7:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Question about Auto Antenna Tuners

Matt,

Although you can buy direct from MFJ, I don't think too many people do 
that.     They charge full retail price plus shipping.  Most of the 
dealers offer a discounted price and free or discounted shipping.   I 
usually deal with  HRO since I can get  items next day from the store in
Delaware, plus free shipping  on orders over $100.

Others to check: Universal Radio, R and L,  Giga parts, DX Engineering, 
AES, to name a few.    We are getting close to Dayton and sometimes 
dealers offer  a Dayton discount on some items.  Don't know who may be
offering what, but it will pay to shop around for best price and best
shipping combo.

  Having said all that, I did get my tuner from R and L in 2008.  I was 
concerned about MFJ QC, and this unit was a demo.    I figured any 
problems would have been worked out on this one, it came with full 
warranty and a steep price discount.    I wouldn't usually have done a 
demo unit, but it all has worked out fine.


73, Steve KW3A

On 5/5/2015 8:17 AM, Matthew Chao wrote:
> Hi, Steve.  Where did you buy your tuner:  from HRO or MFJ directly?  
> If you bought from MFJ, how was the purchasing experience; put another 
> way, how helpful were they?  And what about tech. support after 
> installation?  Thanks.--Matt, N1IBB.
>
> At 08:22 PM 5/4/2015 -0400, you wrote:
>> Yes the 993 will do this.   I think all the MFJ auto tuners  can
>> interface  with the Kenwood's, including the 998 that I use.  I think 
>> the only LDG auto tuner that interfaces with Kenwood is  the one Richard
>> mentioned the other day, rated at 125 watts or so.    Some  on the list
>> use other higher  powerLDG autotuners that don't interface  with the 
>> Kenwood's in the same way, but can still be used with an extra button 
>> press or two.
>>
>> 73, Steve  KW3A
>>
>> On 5/4/2015 7:55 PM, Matthew Chao wrote:
>>> Wow!  That's pretty slick.  Which MFJ model is this, the 993B?--Matt.
>>>
>>> At 06:04 PM 5/4/2015 -0400, you wrote:
>>>> Matt,
>>>>
>>>> If you go this route, be sure to get the optional Kenwood cable.    It
>>>> connects between the tuner and the 6 pin molex on the rear of the 480.
>>>>      When connected, the internal tuner is disabled, and when you 
>>>> press the tune button on the radio, the  radio drops to low power 
>>>> cw and the external tuner tunes.  When a match is found the radio 
>>>> returns to the original mode and power levels.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> While some low power tuners can draw  it's needed 12 vdc from the 
>>>> molex connection to the radio, I think this one has too much 
>>>> current draw and you will need an optional  1 amp wall wart, or 
>>>> power the tuner from the station's  main power supply.
>>>>
>>>> Good luck, Steve KW3A
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 5/4/2015 5:38 PM, Matthew Chao wrote:
>>>>> Hi, Tom.  Going with MFJ based on your info is a deal maker.  
>>>>> Probably the 993B, since I'm not running anything over 100 watts 
>>>>> for now or in the near future.--Matt, N1IBB.
>>>>>
>>>>> At 08:53 PM 5/3/2015 -0400, you wrote:
>>>>>> Matt:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To add to what Ron has said, I just recently purchased an MFJ
>>>> 998 high-power
>>>>>> auto-tuner, and like it very much.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> By high power, I mean it will work with up to 1500 watts,
>> which is what I
>>>>>> needed since I use an ALS600 amplifier here.  Actually the amp 
>>>>>> puts out roughly 500 watts, so it is well within the acceptable
>> operating range for
>>>>>> the tuner.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A few of us on the list use the MFJ 998, and, although it isn't 
>>>>>> totally accessible since the menus don't talk, there are enough 
>>>>>> beeps and other indicators to allow the basic functions to be quite
manageable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think the only thing I needed sighted assistance for was when I 
>>>>>> had to tell the tuner to recognize my TS590 via the Kenwood
interface.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As for price, I bought mine from Ham Radio Outlet this past
>>>> March for $569.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you will only be operating 100 watts with your TS480, I
>> know there are
>>>>>> cheaper models by MFJ and LDG to meet that requirement.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One other thing you might want to think about is that, as far as 
>>>>>> I understand, LDG tuners can't directly be interfaced with
>> Kenwood rigs like
>>>>>> the TS480 and TS590.  The MFJ models do interface well with
>> Kenwood rigs,
>>>>>> via the 5114K interface cable, and this was one of the main
>> selling points
>>>>>> for the MFJ over the LDG, as far as I was concerned.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>>>>> On Behalf Of Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2015 1:10 PM
>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Question about Auto Antenna Tuners
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Palstar is an excellent external automatic antenna tuner, but 
>>>>>> it is quite pricy for many people. As less expensive 
>>>>>> alternatives,
>> both MFJ and
>>>>>> LDG also sell excellent external automatic antenna tuners that 
>>>>>> are very accessible. At least two of us have LDG tuners and Tom 
>>>>>> has one
>> of the MFJ
>>>>>> tuners, and as far as I know, we all like our tuners quite well.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>