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MFJ-948 Versa Tuner II

 

MFJ-948 Versa Tuner II 

Instruction Manual 

 

General Information 

 
The MFJ-948 is a 300 watt RF output power antenna tuner that will match any transmitter 
or transceiver to virtually any antenna.  Peak or average forward and reflected power and 
SWR can be read on the illuminated cross-needle meter. 
 
The MFJ-948 uses a "T" matching network and covers all bands between 160 and 10 
meters.  This network will tune dipoles, inverted-vees, verticals, mobile whips, beams, 
random wires, and many other antennas.  The MFJ-948 has rear panel connectors for 
coaxial, single wire or two wire feedlines.  A built-in 4:1 balun allows the use of balanced 
open wire, twinlead, or twin-axial feedlines. 
 
An internal eight position antenna-selector switch selects an external 50 ohm dummy load, 
two separate coaxial line outputs, or a single wire line-balanced line output.  All of these 
functions can be selected in tuned (with tuner's "T" network in line) or bypassed (no tuning 
circuit) configurations. 
 

Peak Reading SWR/Wattmeter 

 
The illuminated cross-needle meter measures the peak or average FORWARD power, 
REFLECTED power, and SWR.  The wattmeter is active in all the ANTENNA 
SELECTOR positions.  To use the wattmeter without the tuning circuit select one of the 
ANTENNA SELECTOR positions under BYPASS. 
 
The meter's full scale forward and reflected power range is controlled by the left METER 
switch that selects 300W or 30W.  If your transmitter runs more than 30 watts of output 
power, set this switch to 300W (in position).  If your transmitter has less than 30 watts of 
output, set this switch to the 30W switch position (out). 
 
Peak envelope power (PEP) is measured when the PEAK or AVERAGE METER push 
button (right-hand side) in placed in the PEAK (in) position.  Peak power and average 
power values are equal with steady unmodulated carriers, FSK, or FM.  The PEP power is 
twice the average power with SSB two tone test modulation, and may be any amount larger 
than the average power with SSB voice signals. 
 
Forward power is displayed on the left-hand FORWARD meter scale.  This scale is 
calibrated from 0 to 300 watts and is read directly in the 300 watt position.  Each picket 
(scale mark) represents 25 watts between 300 and 100 watts, 10 watts between 100 and 10 
watts, and has a single 5 watt picket below 10. 
 

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Summary of Contents for MFJ-948

Page 1: ...he peak or average FORWARD power REFLECTED power and SWR The wattmeter is active in all the ANTENNA SELECTOR positions To use the wattmeter without the tuning circuit select one of the ANTENNA SELECTOR positions under BYPASS The meter s full scale forward and reflected power range is controlled by the left METER switch that selects 300W or 30W If your transmitter runs more than 30 watts of output ...

Page 2: ...m eleven red SWR curves that range from 1 1 to infinity SWR is measured by observing the point where the forward and reflected power needles cross The SWR is indicated by the red curve closest to the needle crossing point No cumbersome or time consuming SWR sensitivity adjustments are required with this meter The wattmeter has an internal lamp that backlights the meter scale The lamp circuit requi...

Page 3: ...h high RF voltages These voltages may cause serious RF burns These high RF voltages may also damage anything contacting or within a half inch of the terminals 2 Install the MFJ 948 between the transmitter and antenna as shown in the diagram above Use a 50 ohm coaxial cable to connect the transmitter or transceiver to the SO 239 UHF female labeled TRANSMITTER on the back of the tuner 3 Coaxial feed...

Page 4: ...tance in position A and minimum inductance in position L Less inductance is needed as the frequency is increased If too little inductance is used the tuner may not match the load properly If too much inductance is used the tuner will be touchy and power handling will be compromised The chart in the tuning instructions shows typical INDUCTANCE switch settings for each amateur band NOTE If your tran...

Page 5: ...nd ANTENNA MATCHING controls and the INDUCTOR SELECTOR switch in the bottom Tuning Chart position for the operating frequency Tuning Chart Freq MHz Transmitter Inductor Antenna 1 8 4 1 2 A 4 1 2 1 8 1 B 1 2 0 5 1 2 A 5 1 2 2 0 3 B 3 3 5 9 B 9 3 5 6 C 6 3 5 4 D 4 3 75 7 C 7 3 75 5 D 5 3 75 3 E 3 4 0 7 C 7 4 0 6 D 6 4 0 4 E 4 7 15 8 F 8 7 15 6 G 6 10 1 9 G 9 10 1 8 H 8 14 2 9 1 2 H 9 1 2 18 1 9 1 2 ...

Page 6: ... maximum power available 7 After a low SWR is obtained the transmitter power may be increased to any value up to 300 watts carrier or 300 watts PEP Your VERSA TUNER II will reduce the SWR of most antenna systems to 1 1 In some cases a perfect 1 1 SWR may not be obtainable If this is the case the length of the antenna or the feedline can be changed slightly until a low SWR can be obtained See the a...

Page 7: ... especially if they are all connected together with jumper wires but the best RF grounds are radial systems or multi wire counterpoises that provide large low resistance surfaces for RF energy Ground rods by themselves are almost useless for dependable RF grounding RF and lightning travels on the surface of conductors Braided or woven conductors have high surface resistance to lightning and RF Gro...

Page 8: ...ll wave high impedance antenna 100 to 140 foot The half wave line repeats the high antenna impedance at the tuner The antenna system looks like several thousand ohms at the tuner on 40 meters The following suggestions will reduce the difficulty in matching an antenna with a tuner 1 Never center feed a half wave multi band antenna with a high impedance feedline that is close to an odd multiple of a...

Page 9: ...stance If you have any problem with this unit first check the appropriate section of this manual If the manual does not reference your problem or your problem is not solved by reading the manual you may call MFJ Technical Service at 601 323 0549 or the MFJ Factory at 601 323 5869 You will be best helped if you have your unit manual and all information on your station handy so you can answer any qu...

Page 10: ...MFJ 948 Versa Tuner II 10 Schematic Downloaded from www g7syw com www g7syw com ...

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