IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner TM Model MFJ-993B INSTRUCTION MANUAL CAUTION: Read All Instructions Before Operating Equipment MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. 300 Industrial Park Road Starkville, MS 39759 USA Tel: 662-323-5869 Fax: 662-323-6551 VERSION 1A COPYRIGHT C 200 5 MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Contents THE BASICS Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1 Features............................................................................................................................................ 2 Specifications...............................................................................................................
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Auto/Semi ......................................................................................................................... 14 StickyTune ........................................................................................................................ 14 Setup Mode Menus ........................................................................................................................ 15 Power Level Menu..................
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual FIGURES Figure 1. Installation Block Diagram.............................................................................................. 3 Figure 2. MFJ-993B Front Panel .................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3. Mode Button Flow Chart and Button Action .................................................................. 6 Figure 4. MFJ-993B Back Panel.....................
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual THIS PAGE IS LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY iv © 2003-2005 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual The Basics Introduction The MFJ-993B IntelliTunerTM lets you rapidly tune any antenna automatically: balanced, unbalanced, or single-wire. The MFJ-993B is a comprehensive automatic antenna tuning center with SWR/wattmeter, antenna switch for two antennas, and a 4:1 current balun for balanced lines.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Features • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Automatically matches antennas with impedances of 6 to 1600 ohms or 6 to 3200 ohms Handles 300 watts (match 6 to 1600 ohms) or 150 watts (match 6 to 3200 ohms) Tune in less than 15 seconds, usually less than 5 seconds Over 20,000 non-volatile memories for tuner settings Four memory banks per antenna with over 2500 memories per bank Highly efficient switching L-network matching circuit 1.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Fast Start WARNING ● ● ● ● ● ● Never operate the tuner with its cover removed. Contact with the components inside the tuner while transmitting will result in painful RF burns. Locate the tuner so that the rear terminals are not accessible during operation. The single wire and balanced line connection may have high voltage while transmitting. Disconnect all antennas from the tuner during lightning storms.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Front Panel 60 40 20 50 0 10 10 200 300 1 MODEL MFJ-993B 0 1.5 2 1. 0 400-3083 8 10 30 5 14.100MHz 1.1 FWD=100 REF=0.5 3.0 2.0 5.0 ANT SWR Hi x1 Lo x.1 SWR 1 1.2 PWR 0 25 1.5 2 50 75 3 100 300 MODE Z C-UP L-UP AUTO C-DN L-DN TUNE LCD MFJ IntelliTunerTM AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER POWER VOL BYPASS Dual Power Level 300/150 Watts Figure 2. MFJ-993B Front Panel.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner • Instruction Manual L-UP and L-DN Buttons: Used to manually increase or decrease the inductance of the L-network matching circuit. The inductance range is 0 to 24.86 μH (microhenries). The upper limit of inductance, dependent on frequency, is used to limit the maximum voltage and current across the tuner’s components. This limit can be removed in the LC Limit setup menu, but is not recommended.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual MODE BUTTON FLOW CHART MAIN MODES 14.100MHz 1.1 FWD=100 REF=0.5 SETUP MODES Digital Wattmeter POWER LEVEL MODE TARGET SWR For 2 sec. 14.100MHz MODE 14.100MHz 0.00uH 0pF 1.1 100 Power Bar Meter 1.1 100 SWR Bar Meter 1,0 100 L-Network AUTO TUNE SWR METER RANGE PEAK HOLD MODE MODE For 2 sec. or Idle for 8 sec.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Back Panel * TRANSMITTER MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. STARKVILLE, MS USA BALANCED LINE POWER 12VDC 1A + ANTENNA 1 ANTENNA 2 WIRE REMOTE PORT GROUND RADIO INTERFACE * Install Jumper When Using BALANCED LINE Antenna ! Do not connect WIRE and ANTENNA 1 at same time! Figure 4. MFJ-993B Back Panel. • Power: This jack accepts a standard 2.1 × 5.5 mm coaxial plug with positive center and negative sleeve.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual WARNING: Make sure the +13.8 volts connection on the radio’s tuner port is capable of supplying at least 1 amp of current, since the MFJ-993B uses up to 1 amp. The MFJ-5124A interface cable provides power and control between an Alinco radio and the MFJ automatic tuner. Supported Alinco radios are DX-70, DX-77, and any Alinco radio that supports the Alinco EDX-2 tuner. Pin 1 (Ground) connects to the Sleeves of both 3.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual • Balanced Line: Two binding posts for connecting balanced line antennas. To use balanced line antenna, install a jumper as shown to the WIRE binding post. • Wire: Binding post for connecting single wire antennas. Notice the WIRE binding post is internally connected to the ANTENNA 1 connector. Note: • To use the WIRE binding post, make sure to remove the antenna, if any, from the ANTENNA 1 connector.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner • Instruction Manual For a balanced feedline (open wire, twinlead, or twin-axial lines), place a jumper wire as indicated on the back panel and connect the balanced feedline to the BALANCED LINE binding posts. This antenna becomes ANTENNA 1. See “Antenna System Hints” on page 21. 4. A GROUND post is provided for an RF ground connection. See “Grounding Hints” on page 21. 5. Connect a 12 to 15 VDC power source to the input jack labeled POWER.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual The Menus Main Mode Menus The main mode menus show various tuner settings and status. There are four main mode menus arranged in a “wrap-around” structure. When powered on, tuner operation starts with the main menu that was last used. Within each main menu, press the [MODE] button briefly to view the next main menu. Press and hold the [MODE] button for two seconds to enter the setup mode (see below).
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner PWR 0 25 50 Instruction Manual 75 100 300 Figure 8. Power Bar Meter (High Range). PWR 0 25 50 75 100 300 Divide scale by 10 Figure 9. Power Bar Meter (Low Range). SWR Bar Meter Menu Shows the frequency, SWR, forward power, and SWR bar meter. A SWR scale is printed just below the display on the front panel. The 13-block (36-segment) SWR bar meter indicates SWR of 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6-1.7, 1.8-2.0, 2.1-2.5, 2.6-3.0, 3.1-5.0, 5.1-15.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner 1 2 3 4 Instruction Manual 5 1 Frequency 2 Indicators: Antenna, IntelliTune 3 Indicators: Memory, Power Level, LC Limit, Range 4 Indicators: Auto/Semi, StickyTune 8 5 SWR 9 6 Forward power in watts 7 Reflected power in watts 8 Forward power bar meter 9 Reflected power bar meter 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 10 SWR bar meter 10 11 12 6 2 3 4 5 11 Antenna symbol (antenna side of L-network) 12 Inductance value 13 Capacitance v
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner • Instruction Manual LC Limit: When LC Limit is OFF, a bar appears on the upper-right corner of the Memory indicator (23). Meter Range: When Auto Range is ON, a two-dot vertical bar segment appears on the lower right corner of the Memory indicator (24), another dot appears on top of this bar segment when the meter range is high, and no dot when the meter range is low (25).
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Setup Mode Menus The setup mode menus allow you to set up how the MFJ-993B works and behaves. There are 11 setup mode menus arranged in a “wrap-around” structure. To access these setup menus, press and hold the [MODE] button for two seconds. The setup menu that will display is the one that was last used. When finished, press the [MODE] button for two seconds to go back to the main mode for normal operation.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Shortcut: Press both [TUNE] and [L-UP] buttons simultaneously to cycle the auto tune SWR among 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. Refer to Table 2 for meter code. Meter Range Menu Allows you to select the meter scale range. In the 30 watts (low) range, the forward full scale is 30 watts and the reflected full scale is 6 watts (divide the meter reading by 10).
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual for Antenna 1 and Antenna 2 (settings for balanced line or single-wire antenna are stored as Antenna 1). This provides memory for up to eight different antennas. Refer to Figures 11 and 12 for the on-screen Memory indicator. Defaults are memory banks 1A and 2A ON. Shortcut: Press both [TUNE] and [C-DN] buttons simultaneously to turn on the antenna memory and to cycle the memory banks A, B, C and D. Refer to Table 2 for meter code.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual LC Limit Menu The upper limits of inductance (L) and capacitance (C) are factory-limited according to frequency and maximum power rating; i.e., higher frequencies need less inductance and less capacitance when the Lnetwork is properly tuned. Pressing [C-UP] and/or [L-UP] allows capacitance and inductance to be increased only to these limits.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Meter Codes and Audible Beeps In addition to displaying power and SWR, the meter also indicates tuner status. The meter needles bounce, or rise to one point and stay, to provide information. In this mode the meters do not indicate power levels. For example, when you press [C-DN] and [L-DN] simultaneously to place the tuner in bypass mode, the reflected needle bounces to the 20 watts mark until you release the buttons.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual If more than 300 watts (or more than150 watts when 150 watts power level is selected) is applied to the tuner, the tuner will go into bypass mode, flash OVERLOAD three times and send “QRT” (dah-dah-di-dah di-dah-dit dah) on CW. If the tuning process is activated under these conditions, the tuner will not start the tuning. It will indicate the appropriate bounce code on the meter and display a warning message on the LCD.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Grounding Hints To minimize RFI, single wire feedlines (such as used with Windom or longwire antennas) should be kept away from other wiring. Radiation will be minimized if the single wire feeder runs parallel and reasonably close to the wire that connects the tuner to the outdoor ground. The antenna feed wire should be adequately insulated to prevent arcing or accidental contact.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual wavelength feedline converts the low antenna impedance to a very high impedance at the tuner. A similar problem occurs if the antenna has an extremely high impedance and the transmission line is a multiple of a half-wavelength. The half-wavelength line repeats the very high antenna impedance at the tuner. Incorrect feedline and antenna lengths can make an otherwise perfect antenna system very difficult or impossible to tune.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Appendices POWER-ON OPERATIONS (Press and hold buttons while turning on the power.) Press and hold C-UP + POWER to get the firmware version number. Press and hold L-UP + POWER to start the self test. Press and hold C-DN + POWER to test the relays. Press and hold L-DN + POWER to test the power-down circuitry. Press and hold C-UP + C-DN + POWER to calibrate the wattmeter.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner • • • • † IntelliTune SWR Beep Beep Refresh on off on off Instruction Manual † These settings are stored separately for antennas 1 and 2. Note: Resetting to factory defaults does not erase the antenna memories. To reset the tuner to these defaults: 1. Turn off the power to the tuner. 2. Press and hold both the [TUNE] and [L-DN] buttons while turning the power on. 3.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Note: Instruction Manual Performing the self-test will reset the unit to its factory default settings. Here is the self-test procedure: 1. Turn off the power to the tuner, and press all buttons to the out position. 2. Unplug the radio interface cable, if one is connected, from the tuner. 3. If testing the MFJ-993RC Remote Control, connect it to the Remote Port and make sure both [ANT] and [AUTO] buttons on the tuner are pressed to the in position. 4.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Note: Instruction Manual The tuner must be reset to factory defaults before performing this test. Here is the test procedure: 1. Make sure power to the tuner is off. 2. If the tuner has been reset to factory defaults, skip to step 6; otherwise continue with step 3. 3. Press and hold both the [TUNE] and [L-DN] buttons while turning the power on. 4. Release both buttons when DEFAULTS RESET appears on the display. 5. Turn the power off. 6.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Wattmeter Calibration To calibrate the meter needles, you will need a Phillips screwdriver and a tuning tool or small flat blade screwdriver. WARNING: Never operate the MFJ-993B with its cover removed; dangerous voltages and currents can be present during operation. Never exceed tuner specifications. Note: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual 6. A message CAL CAP AND FWD will display and both meter needles will bounce. Key the transmitter to output 100 watts and adjust trimmer capacitor C91 for minimum reflected power. Notice the reflected meter movement is exaggerated for easier calibration. 7. Key the transmitter to 100 watts output and adjust the FWD trimpot R72 until the display shows forward power of FWD=100 watts. The forward meter also should indicate 100 watts. 8.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual In Case of Difficulty If the LCD screen is blank, check adjustment of the contrast control. If no audio is present (with audio enabled) adjust the volume control. If the tuner acts erratic, reset the tuner to factory defaults by pressing both the [TUNE] and [L-DN] buttons while turning the power on. If the tuner fails to tune, please double check all connections and follow the tuning procedures again.
30 Ground Balanced Line Wire Antenna 1 Antenna 2 * 4:1 Current Balun SWR Wattmeter Memory Relay Drivers Frequency Counter SWR Sensor Push Buttons User Interface Contrast LCD Display Microcontroller Impedance Sensor Figure 14. MFJ-993B Circuit Block Diagram. L-Network Capacitors 0-3900 pF Z Inductors 0-24 uH Volume Speaker Radio Interface Remote Port Transmitter MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual © 2003-2005 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Notes © 2003-2005 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
MFJ-993B IntelliTuner Automatic Antenna Tuner Instruction Manual Notes 32 © 2003-2005 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
LIMITED 12 MONTH WARRANTY MFJ Enterprises, Inc. warrants to the original owner of this product, if manufactured by MFJ Enterprises, Inc. and purchased from an authorized dealer or directly from MFJ Enterprises, Inc. to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from date of purchase provided the following terms of this warranty are satisfied. 1. The purchaser must retain the dated proof-of-purchase (bill of sale, canceled check, credit card or money order receipt, etc.
MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC. 300 Industrial Park Road Starkville, MS 39759 MFJ-993B Manual Version 1A Printed In U.S.A.
