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interfacing MFJ-998 tuner to flex 3000

John
John Member ✭✭
edited June 2018 in FLEX Series (Legacy) Radios
I have just purchased a MFJ-998 TUNER and wonder if anyone has patched it to a F3K via a cable. Is it possible ?

Answers

  • Tim - W4TME
    Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited March 2017
    It isn't possible to directly connect it to the radio hardware.
  • David Kutiej
    David Kutiej Member
    edited June 2018
    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
    Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited December 2016
    There is nothing to hook those cables to on the FLEX-3000 hardware that will  understand the control signals.
  • John
    John Member ✭✭
    edited December 2016
    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
    David Kutiej Member
    edited March 2017
    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
    Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited December 2016
    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
    David Kutiej Member
    edited March 2017
    Thank you Tim, is there an auto-tuner out there that can be used?
    David / KE7JHA
  • John
    John Member ✭✭
    edited June 2018
    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
    Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited December 2016
    Not directly connected to the FLEX hardware. It has to be connected to PC and controled by a third-party software package.
  • David Kutiej
    David Kutiej Member
    edited August 2016
    Thank you guys. Who da thought it'd be so **** such a gizmo enhanced radio like the F3K
  • John
    John Member ✭✭
    edited June 2018
    thats what new technology does, it wreaks havoc some times.
  • DH2ID
    DH2ID Member ✭✭✭
    edited March 2017
    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

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