At-100pro Autotuner Manual

So I forked over the cash for portable FT-891 setup and I need a tuner that is similar in size that will fit into a medium sized case or bag. I'm not interested in the FC-50 as it seems to only work on 3:1 or less antennas. Am looking at LDG YT-100 or the MFJ 939Y. The LDG doesn't need power as it's powered through the CAT port, but the MFJ does need power and that's ok as I can split off of a 20AH LifePo4 battery setup I have.Do you guys have experience with either the LDG YT-100 or the MFJ 939Y.Also: I am interested in digital modes - what soundcard interface will work good with the FT-891 (too bad the USB doesn't pass the audio - but I knew that when I bought it)Thanks in advance. I've been using an LDG tuner with my FT-847, FT-897, and TS-480SAT, been pleased with them, and they all work up into the 6m band. The couple MFJ tuners I've used lacked anything above 10m.As far as an interface, the simple solution is a Singalink. Built in sound card, uses VOX to key the radio, when the audio starts, it keys the rig, no com port required.

I've built a few interfaces myself, usually kits. Look for the KF5INZ Easy-Digi interface, the guy sells them on ebay. Can get it complete, or as a kit. I've also built a couple kits from FoxDelta, which work well, too. I don't mind having a separate com port for PTT, I have lots of USB/Serial interfaces if I need them.

Or computers with real serial ports, still. I use a generic autotuner (I think the Z100 pro) with the Kenwood, no interface. The PF button is my 'tune' button, basically switches to CW, throws out a 5W carrier, the tuner will tune if the swr is too high.

Then hit the button again to go back to RX. So, most tuners will 'work', whether they talk to the radio or not changes how you use them.

My AT-897 has a tune button that controls the radio, and tells it to key up while the tuner does its thing. The AT-847 (i think that's the model) does something similar with the FT-847, but in a wacky way, as yaesu never published the control protocol for that radio, and LDG had to find a workaround. Disclaimer: totally unabashed fan of MFJ tuners, I've had three (moving up the power ladder, not because they broke!) Currently running an MFJ-993BRT. After the SGC line of tuners, the MFJ tuners are by far the most rugged and reliable tuners you can buy. They will shrug off all kinds of abuse, and, while they won't tune up the proverbial lawn chair like an SGC tuner will, they can tune up a chaise loungeThis is an absolute no-brainer: the MFJ-939 is the hands down, no shit, best non-QRO tuner on the market right now, bar none.- It's the ONLY tuner on the market that makes an actual complex impedance measurement and snaps in the the right match, or damn close to it, on the first try. You don't have to sit there and listen to clickety clackety for 30 seconds.- MFJ tuners have the best power handling across the board, and the 939 will handle 200W key-down all day long. This means if you a) make a mistake, b) want to push things a little on digital, c) want to run some AM, d) have a really tough impedance to match, you are going to be OK, with some safety margin.

Ldg Tuners

Compare that to the LDG which can only handle 30W key down. My unscientific, unsubstantiated observations are that more LDG tuners suffer internal component failures because of lack of power handling than any other kind of tuner.- The 939 has twice the impedance matching range of the LDG.- I suspect, but can't prove, since LDG doesn't publish schematics, that the LDG has fewer L and C combinations available than the MFJ.I can't wait for MFJ to come out with a QRO version of the 939, I'll be first in line.HOWEVER.fair warning: you've heard the joke about Mighty Fine Junk, I'm sure. It's all true. Great designs, but very poor production QA. If you buy the 939, and obviously I think you should, BEFORE you put it into service definitely pop the cover and give it your own QA inspection. But once you've dumped out the wire clippings and solder balls, tightened the hardware, and maybe even touched up a few sketchy solder connections, you will love the thing. I'll echo aa777888-2's tuner recommendation (though after the fact since one is on the way.)I liked my SGC but they priced themselves out of the market when I went QRO.

The MFJ that replaced ithas worked without issues, even though it's sitting outside next to the antenna without additional protection.I definitely notice the smaller tuning range - it's a challenge for me to do 80M now when it wasn't for theSGC - but it doesn't appear it will easily break in spite of me sending a few hundred watts its way. View Quote+1. I always prefer manual tuners. They are smaller, more versatile and easy to operate. Less 'chit' to go wrong too.An MFJ travel tuner is very small, light and has a good tuning range, plus it has an output balun that allows it to be connected to either a 50 Ohn cable or ladder line (or single long wire antenna).

It requires no power to run either.You are right about the duty cycle. A rule of thumb is to double the tuner rating so it can handle long transmissions at full power. For example, for a legal limit amp, I get a tuner rated for 3 kW, even for SSB Voice only.With that said, some day I will probably order an MFJ automatic tuner for my field radio (IC-7300), simply because I plan to use it during Field Day and other similar activities. Surprisingly, many hams have no clue on how to use a manual tuner. They may happen to operate my radio and I don't want them to blow the finals when I'm not around.

This is what happened to my FT-1000 MP. They smoked the internal tuner in the radio. The radio still works but the tuner is done.I will only buy an MFJ auto tuner because it's very versatile and will work with many other radios. I also like having a built in SWR/POWER meter in the tuner. I've used the AT-897 with a Yaesu FT-897 I owned then. This is the neat one that bolts to the sideof the radio.

Worked like a charm.Later, when I swapped out to Icom IC-718's, I used the LDG IT-100's. When I upgraded to IcomIC-7200's, I still used the same LDG IT-100's.With my Ten-Tec Jupiter, with amplifers, I use the LDG AT-1000 (1000 w rating), still, with goodresults.And I have several manual tuners, too, which I don't use. I have two Daiwa CNW-419's, and anAmeritron ATR-15 (1500 watt rating).

All good manual tuners.I can highly recommend the LDG automatic tuners. If the LDG's won't tune a particular antennaand frequency, then neither will the manual tuners.For your needs, I'd go with any of the LDG YT-100, LDG Z-100Plus, LDG Z-11Pro2, LDG AT-100 Pro2.(Oops! You'd think the YT-100 would work for that radio. But apparently not.). I bought a little MFJ-902B travel tuner and once you have the settings written down for each band, you can get it close enough so that tuning for a given frequency only involves one knob and only takes a second. It's faster than a full tune with most auto tuners.

Obviously if you are operating portable your antenna setup will be different every time so the setting won't carry over from one location to the next. And much of the gross tuning can be done by ear listening to the noise level without even transmitting.

View QuoteI did a firmware update on my FT-891 at work as they have a power supply there and did a quick receive test (without the tuner - I just got it yesterday)My own power supply shows up in the next few days so I can wire up the whole thing and test the tuner. So no, I haven't tested it yet.MFJ responded and said that that the outside scratch should not be there, but that they do not treat the insides of their cases and that's normalI'm going to test it,run it for a bit and then decide what I'm going to do. Started the portable station build.Maxpedition Falcon II bagABS plastic cut into a tapered shape to match the bag's inside profile and rounded the edges for smooth fit.Rough layout of the battery, tuner and radio.20AH and only weighs 5.4 lbs with battery management with 40A continuous current drawWaiting on a distribution power block for the Powerpoles and a watt meter to finish wiring.Deciding on how exactly to mount the battery and tuner to the ABS sheet.I will probably use some 3M Dual Lock and maybe I can make a couple of side pieces of ABS to hold the radio to the tuner. PS.The MFJ-939 gets power from my icom cat cable and needs to external power. That might be radio dependant though.For digital modes, if your laptop has a sound card, it supposedly can be used cable direct to the radio. The 891 has a VOX setting through the accessory port with the right cable and will key on the introduction of a data signal from what I have read.

I have not tried it yet though. If I can find the link again, I will post it. Supposedly no other hardware required between the laptop sound card output input and the radio. Just audio cables to the accessory port, but it looks like you have to semi make your own cable. Originally Posted By aa777888-2:@K9-Bob: did you consider any of the technical differences between the two tuners, or only cosmetic? The MFJ blows the LDG away in terms of raw tuner capability.

Yes, they are a quality control crapshoot, but MFJ will make any QA failure right if you ask them.build quality trumps technical differencesMFJ has more drunk monkeys and angry beavers building, than century armsLDG has excellent customer service also.When a lightning strike blew up my LDG balun, they sent me a new one for no charge. I didn't even ask, I only sent them pics because it looked interesting.aa777888. I think you are drinking the wrong flavor of Koolaide. View QuoteI'll see your, and raise you I don't care how well it's built if it doesn't do the job. Go ahead and put some 100W RTTY though your LDG and see how long its build quality lasts.The MFJ tuner designs are outstanding, and in the case of the 939, better than anyone's. Yes, QA is lacking, but since you can't buy a better design at any price, to me, anyway, it seems like it's worth a little sweat equity to make it tip top.Now, that said, not everything MFJ makes is good. I would never buy a balun from them, for example.

Their switches, bias T's and loads are also OK. Can't speak to anything else.

LDG AT-100Pro II AutotunerSelling my LDG AT-100Pro II Autotuner with Icom cable. It works perfectly, and is in great condition. I'm the original owner(non smoking home).Tuner covers all frequencies from 1.8 to 54 MHz, has two antenna inputs/switch, works with: 1 to 125 watts.

Antenna/Bypass indicators. Over 2,000 memories for each antenna, automatically storing tuning configurations. Frequency sensing circuitry lets the AT-100 Pro II “know” your operating band and frequency. Whenever you transmit on or near a frequency you have used before, the AT-100Pro II can retune from memory almost instantly. Easy-to-read LED bar graphs show Power and SWR.Included: LDG AT-100Pro II, Icom Cable, Power-Pole cable & manual.Price: $150.00 includes shipping- shipped within CONUS. Paypal only.-Dave, WB7QMRpm. LDG AT-100Pro II AutotunerSelling my LDG AT-100Pro II Autotuner with Icom cable.

It works perfectly, and is in great condition. I'm the original owner(non smoking home).Tuner covers all frequencies from 1.8 to 54 MHz, has two antenna inputs/switch, works with: 1 to 125 watts. Antenna/Bypass indicators. Over 2,000 memories for each antenna, automatically storing tuning configurations.

Frequency sensing circuitry lets the AT-100 Pro II “know” your operating band and frequency. Whenever you transmit on or near a frequency you have used before, the AT-100Pro II can retune from memory almost instantly. Easy-to-read LED bar graphs show Power and SWR.Included: LDG AT-100Pro II, Icom Cable, Power-Pole cable & manual.Price: $150.00 includes shipping- shipped within CONUS. Paypal only.-Dave, WB7QMRpm. LDG AT-100Pro II AutotunerSelling my LDG AT-100Pro II Autotuner with Icom cable. It works perfectly, and is in great condition. I'm the original owner(non smoking home).Tuner covers all frequencies from 1.8 to 54 MHz, has two antenna inputs/switch, works with: 1 to 125 watts.

Antenna/Bypass indicators. Over 2,000 memories for each antenna, automatically storing tuning configurations.

Frequency sensing circuitry lets the AT-100 Pro II “know” your operating band and frequency. Whenever you transmit on or near a frequency you have used before, the AT-100Pro II can retune from memory almost instantly. Easy-to-read LED bar graphs show Power and SWR.Included: LDG AT-100Pro II, Icom Cable, Power-Pole cable & manual.Price: $150.00 includes shipping- shipped within CONUS. Paypal only.-Dave, WB7QMRpm.