MFJ MFJ-5124K User manual

MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC.
300 Industrial Park Road
Starkville, MS 39759 USA
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Model MFJ-5124K/Y
COPYRIGHT 200 MFJ ENTERPRISES, INC.5-2006
VERSION 0D
Radio Interface
CAUTION: Read All Instructions Before Operating Equipment !
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc. i
Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................... 1
Front Panel.................................................................................................... 1
To Tuner................................................................................................ 1
Power..................................................................................................... 1
To Radio................................................................................................ 1
Jumper Settings............................................................................................. 2
Kenwood Radio Interface.................................................................................... 3
Connections.................................................................................................. 3
Operation...................................................................................................... 4
Yaesu Radio TUNER Interface............................................................................ 5
Connections for FT-100................................................................................ 5
Operation for FT-100.................................................................................... 6
Connections for FT-857 or FT-897............................................................... 6
Operation for FT-857 or FT-897................................................................... 7
Yaesu Radio CAT Interface................................................................................. 8
Connections for FT-100................................................................................ 8
Connections for FT-857 or FT-897............................................................... 9
Connections for FT-847.............................................................................. 10
Operation for Yaesu CAT Interface............................................................ 10
Firmware Version Number................................................................................ 11
Technical Assistance.......................................................................................... 11
Connector Pinout ............................................................................................... 12
Schematic........................................................................................................... 13
MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
ii ©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
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MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc. 1
Introduction
The MFJ-5124 Radio Interface main unit contains all the electronics that allows
users of AT-300 compatible Kenwood transceivers, FC-30 compatible Yaesu
transceivers, and certain Yaesu transceivers with supported CAT system to
connect to the MFJ-991, MFJ-993 and MFJ-994 IntelliTuner™ Automatic
Antenna Tuners. With this interface, DC power to the radio interface and the
tuner is supplied by the radio, except FT-847 CAT. Using the appropriate cable
and selecting the interface protocol via internal jumpers allow one-button
automatic tuning operation with various Kenwood and Yaesu transceivers.
Front Panel
MFJ-5124 Radio Interface
POWER TO RADIO
TO TUN ER
• To Tuner: The 3.5 mm stereo phone plug connects to the tuner’s RADIO
INTERFACE jack, and the 2.1 × 5.5 mm coaxial plug connects to the
tuner’s POWER jack.
• Power: Accepts a standard 2.1 × 5.5 mm coaxial plug with positive center
and negative sleeve. The tuner requires 12 volts DC at up to 1 amp. The
use of a regulated supply is not mandatory but is recommended for best
performance. An optional 12 volts DC 1.5 amp power supply, the MFJ-
1316, is available from MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
Most radios provide +13.8 volts through the radio’s tuner port (Kenwood
AT/ACC or Yaesu CAT/LINEAR) to the TO RADIO jack, so the POWER
jack connection is rarely used. If the radio’s tuner port does not have a
power connection, such as the Yaesu FT-847 CAT connector, then connect
a power supply to this connector. If the radio’s tuner port has a power
connection but cannot supply one amp of current, then remove the internal
jumper JP3 and connect a power supply to this connector. Check your
radio’s operating manual.
WARNING: Do not apply voltages greater than 18 volts to this
unit, or permanent damage to the unit and the tuner
may result.
• To Radio: Accepts an 8-pin modular plug that connects the radio interface
to a Kenwood AT/ACC or Yaesu CAT/LINEAR connector. Use proper
cable for the various radios.
MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
2 ©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
Jumper Settings
Two jumpers, JP1 and JP2, inside the MFJ-5124 are used to select the radio to
interface with. To change these jumper settings:
1. Disconnect the MFJ-5124 from the radio and the tuner.
2. Open the MFJ-5124 case by removing the two screws on the bottom.
3. Configure jumpers JP1 and JP2 according to the following table to
select the radio to interface with.
JP1 JP2 To Interface Using
A A
Kenwood (auto detected tuner) †
such as TS-570S, etc. MFJ-5124K (6-pin molex)
A B
Kenwood (menu enabled tuner)
such as TS-450S, TS-690S, etc. MFJ-5124K (6-pin molex)
A C Firmware Version Number N/A
B A
Yaesu TUNER interface ‡
FT-100, FT-857, FT-897 MFJ-5124Y (8-pin mini DIN)
B B Reserved for future use. N/A
B C Reserved for future use. N/A
C A
Yaesu CAT interface
FT-100 MFJ-5124Y (8-pin mini DIN)
C B
Yaesu CAT interface
FT-857, FT-897 MFJ-5124Y (8-pin mini DIN)
C C
Yaesu CAT interface §
FT-847 MFJ-5124Y2 (DB-9)
† MFJ-5124K factory default.
‡ MFJ-5124Y factory default.
§MFJ-5124Y2 factory default.
4. Close the MFJ-5124 case and secure with the two screws.
5. Refer to the appropriate section in this manual to connect the MFJ-5124
to the radio and the tuner.
Note: The Yaesu TUNER interface allows the use of the radio’s (TUNE)
key to initiate automatic tuning, whereas the Yaesu CAT interface
uses the tuner’s [TUNE] button to start automatic tuning.

MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc. 3
Kenwood Radio Interface
The MFJ-5124K radio interface allows users of AT-300 compatible Kenwood
transceivers to connect to the MFJ-991, MFJ-993 and MFJ-994 IntelliTuner™
Automatic Antenna Tuners. With this interface, DC power is supplied by the
radio and control signals are connected between the radio and the tuner. The
operator can then control the tuner with a single push of the [AT TUNE] button
on the front panel of the radio. Supported Kenwood radios are TS-50S, TS-
450S, TS-480HX, TS-570S, TS-690S, TS-850S, TS-870S, TS-2000, and any
Kenwood radio that supports the Kenwood AT-300 tuner.
Note: The TS-480HX will automatically reduce its TX power to 100 watts
maximum (25 watts AM) when the radio interface is used.
Connections
1. Insert the 3.5 mm stereo phone plug into the tuner’s RADIO
INTERFACE jack.
2. Insert the 2.1 x 5.5 mm coaxial power plug into the tuner’s POWER
jack.
3. Insert the 8-pin modular plug into the MFJ-5124’s TO RADIO jack.
4. Important:Make sure the DC power to the radio has been turned off.
The radio does not fuse the DC power to the tuner, and damage to the
radio can occur if the interface’s power connection comes in contact
with ground.
5. Connect the 6-pin molex connector to the mating 6-pin molex
connector, marked as AT or ACC, on the back of the Kenwood radio.
6. Push the [POWER] button on the tuner to the in position. When the
radio is turned on, the tuner will also power on.
7. Some Kenwood radios automatically check to see if an external
antenna tuner is connected during power on, such as the TS-570S (set
jumper JP2 to the A position). This is the factory default setting. If
both needles on the MFJ tuner keep bouncing (TURN ON RADIO
appears on the MFJ-993) and do not go away, then move jumper JP2 to
the B position.
For other Kenwood radios, the External Antenna Tuner menu in the
radio menu system must be enabled, such as the TS-450S and the TS-
690S (set jumper JP2 to the B position). If the MFJ tuner switches to
bypass mode during power on, then move jumper JP2 to the A position
because the radio is checking for a tuner presence during power on.
MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
4 ©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
Refer to your radio’s operating manual for accessing the menu system
and preparing the AT-300 external antenna tuner operation. Use TS-
450S and TS-690S as an example:
a. Press and hold the [ENT] key while turning the power on.
b. Rotate the M.CH/VFO CH control to select menu number 01
on the display.
c. Press the [UP] or [DOWN] key to change the setting to “ON.”
d. Press the [CLR] key to return to normal operation.
Operation
The operation of the MFJ-5124K radio interface is similar to the operation of the
AT-300 described in the Kenwood radio’s operating manual.
1. Press and hold the [AT TUNE] button on the radio for one second to
initiate automatic tuning process. The radio will automatically switch
to CW mode, transmit a 10-watt carrier, and start the tuning process.
When the tuning process is completed, the radio will stop transmitting,
return to its previous mode and power setting.
2. Press the [AT TUNE] button on the radio quickly to bypass the tuner
(some Kenwood radios, such as the TS-690S, do not have this bypass
function) or to cancel tuning in progress.
Note the [TUNE] button on the tuner will not operate the Kenwood radio
interface.

MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc. 5
Yaesu Radio TUNER Interface
The MFJ-5124Y radio interface allows users of Yaesu FT-100, FT-857, FT-897,
and FC-30 compatible Yaesu transceivers to connect to the MFJ-991, MFJ-993
and MFJ-994 IntelliTuner™ Automatic Antenna Tuners. With this interface,
DC power is supplied by the radio and control signals are connected between the
radio and the tuner. The operator can then control the tuner with a single push
of the (TUNE) key on the front panel of the radio. Supported Yaesu radios are
FT-100, FT-857, FT-897, and any Yaesu radio that supports the Yaesu FC-30.
Connections for FT-100
1. Before connecting the MFJ-5124 to your radio, follow the instructions
in the radio’s manual for installing the FC-20 automatic antenna tuner.
a. Press and hold in the [FUNC] key for ½ second to activate the
Menu mode.
b. Rotate the SELECT knob to recall Menu #61 [TUNER/ATAS],
and then rotate the MAIN DIAL to change the setting to “tunEr.”
c. Press the [FUNC] key momentarily to save the new setting and
exit to normal operation.
d. Turn the FT-100’s power off, then on again, to re-initialize the
radio regarding the tuner status.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Insert the 3.5 mm stereo phone plug into the tuner’s RADIO
INTERFACE jack.
4. Insert the 2.1 x 5.5 mm coaxial power plug into the tuner’s POWER
jack.
5. Insert the 8-pin modular plug into the MFJ-5124’s TO RADIO jack.
6. Important:Make sure the DC power to the radio has been turned off.
The radio does not fuse the DC power to the tuner, and damage to the
radio can occur if the interface’s power connection comes in contact
with ground.
7. Connect the 8-pin mini DIN connector to the mating 8-pin mini DIN
connector at the end of the BAND DATA cable pigtail on the back of
the radio.
8. Push the [POWER] button on the tuner to the in position. When the
radio is turned on, the tuner will also power on.
MFJ-5124K/Y Radio Interface Instruction Manual
6 ©2005-2006 MFJ Enterprises, Inc.
Operation for FT-100
The operation of the MFJ-5124Y radio interface is similar to the operation of the
FC-20 described in the Yaesu radio’s operating manual.
1. Turn on the radio and press the [FUNC] key, as needed, to recall
Operating Function Row 7 [MTR, TUN, PRO, VOX].
2. Press the [B](TUN) key on the radio for ½ second to turn the FC-20
function on; the “TUN” indicator will appear bolded on the radio’s
display.
3. Press and hold in the [B](TUN) key on the radio to initiate automatic
tuning. The radio will automatically transmit a low-power carrier and
start the tuning process. When tuning is completed, the radio will stop
transmitting and you will be ready for operation on this frequency.
Press the [B](TUN) key again to cancel tuning in progress.
Note the [TUNE] button on the tuner will not operate the Yaesu radio’s TUNER
interface.
Connections for FT-857 or FT-897
1. Before connecting the MFJ-5124 to your radio, follow the instructions
in the radio’s manual for installing the FC-30 automatic antenna tuner.
For the following procedure, use the [FUNC] key and the SELECT
knob on the FT-857, or use the [F] key and the MEM/VFO CH knob on
the FT-897.
a. Press and hold in the [FUNC] or [F] key for one second to activate
the Menu mode.
b. Rotate the SELECT or MEM/VFO CH knob to recall Menu Mode
#001 [EXT MENU], and then rotate the DIAL to change the
setting to “ON” to enable the extended Menu Mode.
c. Rotate the SELECT or MEM/VFO CH knob to recall Menu Mode
#020 [CAT/LIN/TUN], and then rotate the DIAL to change the
setting to “TUNER.”
d. Press and hold in the [FUNC] or [F] key for one second to save the
new setting and exit to normal operation.
e. Turn the radio off, then on again. Do not connect the MFJ-5124Y
before changing the Menu Mode #020 [CAT/LIN/TUN].
f. Press and hold in the [FUNC] or [F] key for one second to activate
the Menu mode.