interfacing MFJ-998 tuner to flex 3000

John

I have just purchased a MFJ-998 TUNER and wonder if anyone has patched it to a F3K via a cable. Is it possible ?

Tim - W4TME

It isn't possible to directly connect it to the radio hardware.

David Kutiej

Tim, the 998 can  be hooked up to a Yaesu Radio with four (4) different cables, since the FX3 uses Yaesu plugs is it not possible to hook it up using a Yaesu cable?

Tim - W4TME

There is nothing to hook those cables to on the FLEX-3000 hardware that will  understand the control signals.

John

I believe this chip MCP2221 will do the trick, but it requires a lot of design work to get it all going and a developer board. Is there anyone in the US who has an account with this chip maker and can get me a pcb. We can discuss payment

David Kutiej

Hello John. Please let me know if something comes up on this chip/board, I'll be 1st in line to purchase.   THX.......David / KLE7JHA

Tim - W4TME

I think this previous Community post might be of interest to you.
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/interface_mfj998_aututuner_with_flex_6500

David Kutiej

Thank you Tim, is there an auto-tuner out there that can be used?
David / KE7JHA

John

I would have thought that a usb port or a cat/data port would be a standard on any rig, but obviously Flex had other ideas on the I2C port. The development board would be a great start BUT not sure if they would let me open an account for a one off order.

Tim - W4TME

Not directly connected to the FLEX hardware. It has to be connected to PC and controled by a third-party software package.

David Kutiej

Thank you guys. Who da thought it'd be so **** such a gizmo enhanced radio like the F3K

John

thats what new technology does, it wreaks havoc some times.

DH2ID

John, I am using my Flex-3000 for EMCOMM with PACTOR and SSB and have found that mostly the internal tuner is working with homemade dipoles,
delta loops, G5RV and Kelemen antennas. It also works with our club
OptiBeam:
https://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/optibeammain.htm

For fast antenna deployment, such as throwing a wire into a tree or hanging it
out the window I use an ICOM AH4 autotuner:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1071
This tuner does not need to be connected to the Flex, but tunes automatically, if modified a bit. .Be careful to provide a good earth, though.

The SGC autotuners also work this way:
http://www.sgcworld.com/
I had a SG-230 on my 37ft Colin Archer ketch, which provided good earth through
it's steel hull and the salt water surrounding it, but was prone to "switch"
sometimes, sending HF into my key, which in turn burned a nice hole into my
thumb :-/ ouchhh...

I have also used the Super Antennas MP-1 portable antenna
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1378
which worked quite well in restriced conditions, with no external tuner needed.

73, Alex DH2ID