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MFJ-926B HF Automatic Remote Antenna Tuner 

Instruction Manual 

 2010 MFJ Enterprises, Inc. 

12

 

To reset the tuner to these defaults: 

1. 

Turn off the power to the tuner. 

2. 

Press and hold 

only 

the [ANT] button while turning the power on.  Both LEDs will blink until the 

button is released. 

3. 

Within four seconds of releasing [ANT], press the [TUNE] button once. 

4. 

After releasing [TUNE] for four seconds, Flash three times and resume normal operation. 

 

WARNING:

 

If the MFJ-926B is not behaving normally or acting erratic, try resetting the tuner 
to factory defaults. 

 

Delete Entire Antenna Memory 

 
To delete the entire antenna memory: 

1.  Turn off the power to the tuner. 
2.  Press  and  hold 

both

  the  [TUNE]  and  [ANT]  buttons  while  turning  the  power  on.    It  takes 

approximately three seconds to delete the memory bank. 

3.  Flash three times and release the buttons to resume normal operation.  Remember that the antenna 

memory will be lost! 

 
 

Total Reset 

 
To erase antenna memories and reset to factory defaults: 

1.  Turn off the power to the tuner. 
2.  Press and hold 

only

 the [ANT] button while turning the power on.  Both LEDs will blink until the 

button is released. 

3.  Within four seconds of releasing [ANT], press the [TUNE] button three times. 
4.  After releasing [TUNE] for four seconds, both antenna memories are deleted and factory defaults 

are reset.  The total reset takes approximately six seconds. 

5.  Flash three times and resume normal operation.   

 

Self Test 

 
A self-test routine will check the functions of the MFJ-926B.  This routine checks the LEDs, the internal 
buttons, the internal memory, and the power-down circuitry.  During the self-test, you may stop the test 
by turning off the unit; however, this should NOT be done during the memory test or the memory could 
be corrupted.  The self-test can be completed in approximately 10 seconds. 
 

Note: 

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. 
2.  Press and hold 

only

 the [TUNE] button while turning the power on. 

3.  The  test  begins  by  blinking  the  firmware  version  number  via  the  two  front  panel  LEDs.    The 

green LED blinks first, followed by the red LED.  The version number X.Y is represented by the 
number of times the green LED blinks for X and the number of times the red LED blinks for Y.  
For  example,  green  LED  blinks  one  time  and  red  LED  blinks  two  times  represent  firmware 
version number 1.2.  This also tests the two LEDs. 

Summary of Contents for MFJ-926B

Page 1: ...TION 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 C OPYR IGHT 2010 M FJ ENTERPR ISES IN C C Model MFJ 926B VERSION 1A ...

Page 2: ... Button 5 Connections 5 Transmitter 5 Antenna 5 Ground 5 Wire 5 Installation 6 MISCELLANEOUS Antenna Memory 7 IntelliTuneTM Algorithm 7 LC Limits 7 Morse Code and Flashes 8 Foldback Circuit 8 Grounding Hints 9 Antenna System Hints 9 Location 9 Matching Problems 9 APPENDICES Resetting the Tuner 11 Factory Defaults 11 Delete Entire Antenna Memory 12 Delete Antenna Memory Bank 12 Total Reset 12 Self ...

Page 3: ... iii SWR Bridge Calibration 15 In Case of Difficulty 16 Technical Assistance 17 List of Accessories 17 Limited Warranty 19 FIGURES Figure 1 Installation Block Diagram 3 Figure 2 Power On Operations 11 TABLES Table 1 Memory Resolution 7 Table 2 Tuner Flashes 8 Table 3 Failure Messages 13 ...

Page 4: ...ers the frequency and tuner settings safely stored in non volatile memory The next time you operate on that frequency or close to it the MFJ 926B tuner settings are instantly restored and you re ready to operate in milliseconds When you key your transmitter MFJ s InstantRecallTM checks its memory to see if you have operated on that frequency before If so tuning is instantaneous and you re ready to...

Page 5: ...ange 6 to 1600 ohms SWR matching range up to 8 1 for 50 ohms and up to 32 1 for 50 ohms Minimum power for tuning 2 watts Maximum power while tuning 100 watts with foldback 20 watts without foldback RF power limit 200 watts SSB CW Frequency range 1 8 to 30 MHz continuous coverage Capacitance range 0 to 3961 pF nominal 256 values Inductance range 0 to 24 86 µH nominal 256 values Relay rating 10 amp ...

Page 6: ...FJ 4117 Bias Tee This is your DC voltage input connector 3 Connect the RF DC OUT IN coaxial connector on the MFJ 4117 Bias Tee to the TRANSMITTER connector on the MFJ 926B Intellituner using 50 ohm coaxial cable The MFJ 926B Intellituner will recover the RF and DC signals 4 Connect your coax fed antenna to the ANTENNA connector using a 50 ohm coaxial cable or connect your random wire to the WIRE b...

Page 7: ...e SWR is already below the target SWR of 1 5 pressing TUNE will fine tune the match for a lower SWR if possible When the automatic tuning is completed a series of flashes indicates the tuned SWR where one flash indicates an SWR of 1 5 or less two flashes indicate an SWR of 1 6 to 2 0 three flashes indicate an SWR of 2 1 to 2 5 and four flashes indicate an SWR of 2 6 to 3 0 For SWR above 3 0 SWR di...

Page 8: ...is in bypass mode and RF from the transmitter goes directly to the antenna with no matching Connections Transmitter SO 239 connector for coax cable from transmitter or transceiver A MFJ 4117 bias tee is connected in line between the transmitter output and this connector This provides 12 volts DC on the coax to power the tuner The MFJ 4117 is included with the MFJ 926B Antenna SO 239 connector for ...

Page 9: ...on the MFJ 4117 Bias Tee using a 50 ohm coaxial cable See Figure 1 This is the RF signal input connector 4 Connect a 12 15 VDC voltage source capable of supplying at least 750 milli amps to the DC IN OUT jack on the MFJ 4117 Bias Tee This is your DC voltage input connector 5 Connect the RF DC OUT IN coaxial connector on the MFJ 4117 Bias Tee to the TRANSMITTER connector on the MFJ 926B Intellitune...

Page 10: ...8168 18 15 21000 21450 21 12 24890 24990 25 10 28000 29700 28 Table 1 Memory Resolution The memory resolution for non amateur frequency bands between 160 and 10 meters is approximately 0 2 percent of the lower frequency of each band There are over 2500 memory locations IntelliTuneTM Algorithm When the tuner cannot find an appropriate setting in its memory it begins its calculation function It meas...

Page 11: ...cates By Two Flashes By Pressing Antenna 1 2 ANT 1 second Memory Bank Bank A 1 Flash Bank B 2 Flashes Bank C 3 Flashes Bank D 4 Flashes Off 5 Flashes ANT 1 second Bypass Toggle Bypass Mode L 0 and C 0 Restore Last L C Setting TUNE 0 5 sec Tuned SWR SWR 1 5 1 Flash SWR 2 0 2 Flashes SWR 2 5 3 Flashes SWR 3 0 4 Flashes SWR 3 0 SWR TUNE for 0 5 to 2 seconds StickyTune On Off TUNE 2 seconds Tuning Mod...

Page 12: ...often inadequate for RF grounding Ground rods by themselves are almost useless for dependable RF grounding RF grounds work much better when spread out over a large area especially when they employ multiple connections directly to the equipment ground point Metal water pipes heating ducts and fences may work especially if they are connected together with multiple wires but the best RF grounds are r...

Page 13: ...mponent arcing and heating The following suggestions will reduce the difficulty in matching an antenna with a tuner Never center feed a half wave multi band antenna with a high impedance feedline that is close to an odd multiple of a quarter wave long Never center feed a full wave antenna with a feedline close to a multiple of a half wave long If this tuner will not tune a multi band antenna add o...

Page 14: ...quency counter ANT TUNE Press and hold then press 7 times to calibrate the SWR bridge POWER ANT TUNE Press and hold to delete current antenna memory POWER ANT TUNE For the operations not pressing or pressing it more than seven times will cancel the operation after idling four seconds beep two times and then resume normal operation POWER ANT TUNE Figure 2 Power On Operations Resetting the Tuner Eac...

Page 15: ...on is released 3 Within four seconds of releasing ANT press the TUNE button three times 4 After releasing TUNE for four seconds both antenna memories are deleted and factory defaults are reset The total reset takes approximately six seconds 5 Flash three times and resume normal operation Self Test A self test routine will check the functions of the MFJ 926B This routine checks the LEDs the interna...

Page 16: ...age Indicates ANT FAIL ANT button is shorted or improperly connected TUNE FAIL TUNE button is shorted or improperly connected MEMORY FAIL Non volatile memory circuitry is improperly connected WAKEUP FAIL Microprocessor wakeup circuitry problem PD FAIL Power down circuitry problem Table 3 Failure Messages Power Down Circuit Test When the 12 VDC power to the tuner is turned off the tuner saves all s...

Page 17: ...l the ANT button is released 7 Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to test all 19 relays in the order of relay K1 to K19 8 After releasing ANT on the 19th relay Flash three times and resume normal operation Frequency Counter Calibration To calibrate the frequency counter you will need a transmitter a 50 ohm dummy load two 50 ohm SO 239 coax cables a Phillips screwdriver and a tuning tool or small flat blade scre...

Page 18: ...e check all connections and follow the tuning procedures again If the tuner arcs at the rated power levels please double check all connections and follow the tuning procedures again Ensure you are not exceeding the tuner s rated power handling capability Note If the tuner arcs when operating on the 160 meter band it may be necessary to reduce transmitter output power If you are still unsuccessful ...

Page 19: ...ly MFJ 4117 BiasTee DC power injector with on off switch included with the MFJ 926B MFJ 5803 3 feet long RG 58 A U 50 ohm coax cable with a PL 259 connector on each end MFJ 5806 6 feet long RG 58 A U 50 ohm coax cable with a PL 259 connector on each end MFJ 5818 18 feet long RG 58 A U 50 ohm coax cable with a PL 259 connector on each end NOTES ...

Page 20: ...ng 4 This warranty is NOT void for owners who attempt to repair defective units Technical consultation is available by calling 662 323 5869 5 This warranty does not apply to kits sold by or manufactured by MFJ Enterprises Inc 6 Wired and tested PC board products are covered by this warranty provided only the wired and tested PC board product is returned Wired and tested PC boards installed in the ...

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