MFJ-9420 Installation Manual
20-Meter SSB Travel Radio
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR MFJ-9420 STATION:
While spanning the globe with a small portable rig like the MFJ-9420 may SOUND difficult, it really is not. High
power and big antennas have never been a requirement for worldwide radio communication and still are not. Despite
the vast distances involved, hams consistently reach every corner of the planet running far less power than your MFJ-
9420. How do they do it? Here are some proven tips guaranteed to work:
GROOM YOUR ANTENNA
Inspect and clean all traps and contacting surfaces. Replace corroded hardware, dirty connectors, and aging coax.
Retune for minimum SWR in the phone band.
Raise wire dipoles high and in the clear 40 to 60 feet is far better than 10 or 20. Carefully prune for minimum SWR.
If you have only one high support, install an inverted V or sloper.
Multiband verticals (1/4 wave types) require at least 4 good 14 MHz radials add them if needed. Clean up corrosion
and adjust your top section for minimum SWR in the phone band.
Avoid "compromise" antennas. When it comes to pure operating enjoyment, every dB you gain at the antenna pays
big dividends!
USE PROVEN DX OPERATING TECHNIQUES
Be a good listener and search out and answer CQs, or call stations that have just completed QSOs (a practice called
tailgating).
Never hesitate to call a weak station because it may be QRP or using a marginal antenna. You may be much louder
than you think!
Be realistic about diving into huge 20-Meter pileups. Once a choice DX station hits the packet clusters and the big
guns move in, calling may be a waste of time until the smoke clears.
Tune slowly and listen carefully. If one exotic station is coming through, there may be others you can work nearby.
Pay attention to DX forecasts and gray line propagation. When the band is hot, power differences become much less
significant. Operating just before the band goes out at night may yield strong signal reports from exotic locations
with little QRM.
Do not be shy about calling. The MFJ-9420 has very potent audio and on air tests indicate its signal is competitive
with higher-powered radios. If your antenna is good, most stations will not even know you are running low power!
TROUBLESHOOTING
IN CASE OF TROUBLE, CHECK IT OUT FIRST – THEN CALL US AT 800-647-TECH (800-647-8324): Your
MFJ-9420 is fully backed for 1 year by MFJ's "NO MATTER WHAT GUARANTEE". After that, MFJ Customer
Service Technicians will be there to help you keep your rig in top shape for as long as you own it. However, before
you call us, please check through this list just to make sure the problem is not something simple you can fix yourself!
1. RADIO DOES NOT POWER UP
Is power plug okay, broken supply wire?
Is supply or battery functional?
Is reverse polarity fuse open?
2. NO SIGNALS RECEIVED
Is antenna disconnected or broken?
Is TUNE switch stuck on?
Is the band dead?
