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.
> >
> >
> >