Good luck Dave. I doubt I will smell anything burning from this distance.
You may already know this, but you will need to provide 12 volts to the
tuner. While there is 12 vdc available on the 6 pin molex connector
on the back of the radio, there isn't enough current to run this tuner.
Smaller tuners can take the power from the radio, but not the 998.
I think it needs a full amp. I power mine from the station's supply,
but you can use a different supply, proper size wall wart, or whatever.
In the box with the tuner you will get a power cable with the plug at
one end to go to the tuner and bare wires on the other end to connect to
the 12 vdc.
If I remember right, the tuner is default set up for Kenwood, so no
jumper change needed inside. Also, when all is set up right, be sure
the tuner is always turned on first, before the radio. This way the
radio will recognize the tuner.
If you haven't listened to this already, there is a audio version of
the manual on the active elements website.
http://active-elements.org/
73, good luck, Steve KW3A
On 12/15/2014 5:15 PM, Dave Basden wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>
> Well, I ordered the MFJ998 this morning along with the Kenwood
> cable. I'll cross my fingers that it was put together correctly.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, W7OQ
>
> At 05:27 AM 12/9/2014, you wrote:
>> Hi Dave,
>>
>> I am using the notorious MFJ-998. Had mine six and a half years with no
>> issues or problems. Even back then, there were reports of QC
>> problems, so I did something I would usually never do. I bought a demo
>> unit from a dealer. I figured if it was going to fail, it would have
>> failed in use at the dealers. It came with a very steep discount on
>> price, but also had the full factory warranty. I took a gamble and
>> for once in my life it paid off.
>>
>> With the optional cable, it interfaces to the 6 pin molex on the radio.
>> Hitting the tune button on the radio puts the radio into a low power
>> CW carrier, tunes the tuner, then returns the radio to original mode/power.
>>
>> Recently,with the Hex, and 30 meter GP, I only need it on 160-40 meters.
>> The tuner won't load my dipole above 1.880, but no problem since
>> all the action is lower. Probably need some antenna adjustment.
>>
>> It's rated at 1.5 kw, but I've only put 1 k into it. I think some on
>> the list may be using the MFJ-993 (300 watts) and the MFJ-994 (600
>> watts) with similar interface to the radio.
>>
>> The LDG 1000 is nice, but is limited to 1kw on SSB and 750 watts CW.
>> It does cover 6 meters (the MFJ doesn't), but doesn't interface with the
>> radio. You could set a pf key to do TX Tune: hit the pf key,the
>> radio goes to cw low power, then hit the tune on the tuner to do the
>> tune, then hit the pf key again to exit TX tune and revert to original
>> mode/power.
>>
>> There is also a work around to disable the internal tuner with a
>> resistor in the molex jack so you wouldn't have to use the pf key.
>>
>> If you've been a very good boy, maybe Santa would bring you a Palstar
>> Auto. Instead of relays like the MFJ and LDG, the Palstar uses motors
>> to turn real variable caps and a roller inductor. It's around $1,500
>> and has menus and a display. Not sure how accessible it is. I don't
>> really remember if I needed any sighted help getting the MFJ-998 up and
>> working, but I've been on my own for the last 5 years and haven't
>> needed to monkey with it.
>>
>>
>> Hope this long winded discourse was of some help.
>> You still have a few weeks to get your chimney swept out. You don't
>> want soot on your new toy.
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12/9/2014 12:27 AM, Dave Basden wrote:
>>> Hi Steve,
>>>
>>> I'm thinking of asking Santa for an automatic tuner. I see that the MFJ
>>> 998 interfaces with Kenwood rigs, but the reviews on the MFJ 998 on Eham
>>> suggest a real quality control problem. What are you using and how easy
>>> is it to use with the TS-590?
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Dave, W7OQ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
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