MFJ MFJ-931 - User Manual

MFJ-931 Instruction Manual Artificial RF Ground
MFJ ARTIFICIAL GROUND
IMPORTANT: Please read entire manual before attempting to operate this
equipment. This unit does not provide a DC electric ground. A
separate wire will need to be run from the transmitter to an
electric ground if it is not already available.
Thank you for purchasing the MFJ-931 ARTIFICIAL GROUND. The MFJ-931 creates an
artificial ground with a random length of wire thrown on the floor. This produces a tuned
counterpoise. Also, the MFJ-931 will electrically place a far away RF ground directly at our rig.
INSTALLATION AND OPERATION
Creating Artificial Ground
Connect your transmitter of antenna tuner to the binding post labeled "To Transmitter or
Antenna Tuner Chassis Ground" on the back of the MFJ-931.
Note: This wire needs to be as short as possible, preferably with the ground posts as close as
possible i.e., the units side by side or one on top of the other.
Attach the length of random wire to the red binding post labeled "To Counterpoise Wire or
Ground Connection Wire" on back of the MFJ-931. Be sure not to reverse these wires. The
random wire should be a quarter-wave length or less at the operating frequency. Be sure to
throw the random wire along the floor and to tape up the open end of the wire to avoid RF
burn.
To obtain maximum RF ground current for a low impedance RF ground, alternately adjust the
two controls on the front panel labeled "INDUCTANCE" and "CAPACITANCE". Turn the
INDUCTANCE control first until the highest amount of current can be registered on the built-in
AMMETER. Then adjust the CAPACITANCE control to increase the amount of RF current.
Try several inductance setting for best results. What if the needle goes off the scale or doesn't
move at all? Then the sensitivity of the Ammeter needs to be adjusted. Turn the SENSITIVITY
control until the needle is in the middle of the scale. Then readjust the INDUCTANCE control
for the highest amount of RF current and use the CAPACITANCE control to achieve
maximum RF current. If the needle is still off scale or zero, readjust the SENSITIVITY control
and repeat the tuning process

Summary

Installation and Operation

Creating Artificial Ground

Connect transmitter/tuner to chassis ground and attach random wire to counterpoise post for tuning.

Electrically Placing RF Ground Near Radio

Connect transmitter/tuner to chassis ground post and counterpoise wire to ground connection.

Operation and Troubleshooting

Failure to Obtain Ground Reading

Addresses no ground current, antenna behavior, and meter sensitivity adjustments.

Using a Counterpoise

Explains how a counterpoise wire increases signal strength by redirecting radiated energy.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

RFI Suppression and Causes

Discusses RFI reduction via grounding, front-end overload, shielding, and filtering.

Technical Assistance

Contacting Support

Provides phone, fax, and email contacts for technical support.

MFJ MFJ-931 Specifications

General

Brand	MFJ
Model	MFJ-931
Category	Tuner
Language	English