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| Reviews Summary for MFJ-207 HF SWR Analyzer |
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Reviews: 13
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Average rating: 3.8/5
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MSRP: $79.95
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Description: 10-160 Meter HF SWR Analyzer. If you are the HF type, this compact MFJ-207 HF SWR Analyzer™ will help you build antennas that will make working DX almost routine. Just plug in your coax to find the SWR of any HF antenna on any ham band from 10-160 Meters. Has jack for external frequency counter.
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More info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-207
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KA6MLE
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 31, 2009 15:49
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Works fine - Nice price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased this analyzer for $90- new. Additionally I purchased a used Frequency Counter off of Ebay for $40- (shipping included). So buying both together was much less than purchasing an analyzer with both built in. Works just fine in that combo.
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N7LYT
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2007 15:52
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Simple and Rugged
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've only had this for a few months, but I've used it almost daily. The first thing I did was pull the power on LED and route it inside to illuminate the SWR meter. I also changed the frequency adjust knob from a 1/2 inch to a 1 inch knob. It covers up some of the frequency scale but the trade off of having more control is worth it. I use it with a FT-857D and a Buddistick and it has significantly reduced my tuning time. I also like that it takes a 9V.
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GEIIM
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 28, 2007 09:22
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A cheap alternative that works if you're willing to work a bit
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Let's face it - it's a $100 tool in the land of $250+ tools on the cheap end and $2000+ on the high end, so it's not going to do all the work for you but if you're like me you don't mess with antennas too regularly so you only need to use it from time to time and you don't want to have to go back and forth from rig to antenna to adjust the antenna. So this device is a compromise that if used right saves you tons of time and hassle. Here's what I've done to make this unit work great for me.
1. Glue/tape a needle to the bottom of the tuning knob so that you can get a finer view of your adjustments
2. Tape a post-it note over the scale.
3. Use your radio to find the points you want to to tune your antenna to on the 207. I needed to tune to 14.070 so I found that on the 207 and marked the post-it note so that the needle was right on that mark when on frequency.
4. Now I can go to the antenna and work on it and know when the antenna is tuned without having the run back and forth.
So a few minutes of work up front saves me hours for less than $100. And if you're working on a multi-band antenna, mark up all the freqs you want to tune too and you save yourself even more time.
As for quality, mine works fine. It's a solid metal case of good heft. I checked the internals and all joints looked good. I'm sure that there's been some problems here and there but then my Icom needed to go back for no xmit power repair after only 1 week so it happens to the best of them.
Never had a problem with MFJ products myself though some have complained about it. Seems to me that the most complaints come from those who buy cheap. Kind of like the ones who buy discount air-fare then complain about the crowded flights and poor service but ridicule those who would pay for first class. Let's face it, most hams home-brew, some for the learning experience and fun and some because they figure it's a way to save a buck and then complain about the results because they're not willing to invest the time it takes.
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N5UV
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 25, 2006 08:38
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Okay analyzer for the price
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I normally give 5s for anything that does it's job well. This analyzer, for the price you pay, is actually very good at what it does...which is basically get you in the ballpark of where your antenna should be tuning up. Don't try to compare it to a digital read-out version, because there is no comparison.
Only problem I had with this is that the solder connection is a bit weak for the center lead of the coax connector. I use my analyzer to check for my coax connector solder jobs by running a newly soldered coax jumper to a dummy load, then "sweeping" across the bands with the analyzer to see if there's a short somewhere. Well, one day I was doing that and kinda jiggling the coax and noticed that every coax jumper I had worked on that day was having intermitent problems with shorting. So, I resolder EVERYTHING again, took 2 hours to complete, then sweeped the coax and found that it STILL had the same problems. So I checked the box for potentional shorts, and sure enough...my constant jiggling of the coax connectors BROKE the solder connection to that center lead inside the analyzer. So I slapped some solder on, re-checked them, and everything was fine.
So, I give this a 4 only because the analyzer wasn't as heavy duty as a I thought...but to be fair, I was jerking the connectors around a lot, which I'm sure this analyzer wasn't really built to handle. But I'd rather only pay $70 bucks for something that I use maybe 4 times a year max, and just deal with the occasional QC issues than pay 3 times as much for something else...besides, we're hams, we should know how to at least fix some of the stuff we buy!
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VE3WGO
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 13, 2003 16:31
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Great for Antenna Setup
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned the MFJ-207 for a couple of years, and was using it again during my latest dipole installation (including a new W9INN MPD-5c, which I'll write a review for, soon). The '207 unit is a great idea, and lets me tune the antennas right there on-site, without going in and out of the house to check SWR every time I make an adjustment. I glued a wire pointer to the frequency knob and put a few favourite frequency marks on the dial after calibrating with my receiver.
I also have the MFJ-208 VHF analyser, which covers 2 meters+. I tweaked the coil and tuning cap a bit to get more bandspread on that one and made a new overlay dial scale, so now it tunes from 140 to 152 MHz. I have never had any problems with either of these units. I treat them carefully, and they have been reliable.
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CT1FKC
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2003 10:16
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good investment
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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For the price it´s great. it seems to be so exact as MFJ-259 and cost much much less.
it doesn't read frequency, but I have a frequency meter, so I could save my money in something that is only used 3-4 times a year.
it works as described.
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W6TH
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Rating: 2/5
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Dec 17, 2002 12:24
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Overpriced.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The unit is overpriced. Very poor soldering, board is full with the solder flux, calibration is terrible. Further more, no circuit diagram for future repairs if a problem occurs. The unit does work and gets you in the ball park, if you check the frequency on a receiver/transceiver. I like the MFJ RF NOISE BRIDGE MFJ-202 much better as you get more reliable information and not just a impedance check.
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YO5QCD
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 7, 2002 07:49
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Some (maybe) useful info on using MFJ-207
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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One of my friends have offered me this device as a gift, as he has purchased a 259.
It works very fine. My HF antennas have fast and fair "tuned up". The measurements also served to figure out how the antenna "reacts" when the mounting position is changed, a fact extremely difficult to estimate in the crowded environment of a town.
I've solved the known (and figured out on this board) problems as follows:
1. I've changed the freq. dial knob with a demultiplier (re-used from an old mil. device). However, this helped only to dial easier and more precise, as the scale is only informative.
2.I've added a frequency meter (a cheap, home made one, using a PIC (16c84) and a few components from the junk box).
3. As the usual 9V batteries do not keep for long the voltage @200mA needed for normal operation, I've added a wallet power supply (with 7812), also homemade from the junk box...
All the added stuff fitted in a box dimensioned to "complete" the right side of the meter. Moreover, there was enough space inside the box to mount an old 10V accu pack (another leftover, from my UHF handy...) enough to use the meter on the roof for a half an hour.
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KE6VG
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 27, 2002 22:28
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Works great for what it is
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased mine used for $35 - It made tuning my parallel dipoles soooo much easier. 5 bands on one feedline. 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10 meters. I was able to find out where my dips were in seconds. I just used my receiver to find out where I was. It would be almost impossible to use the the MFJ-207 without either a frequency counter or a receiver to zero beat to. And yes, the tuning is touchy. It's a great little piece of equipment for the price. Now to add a couple more dipoles for the rest of the WARC bands.
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KG6HUF
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 4, 2002 15:25
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You get what you pay for.
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I am not to happy with the MFJ-207 SWR Analizer. It is to hard to read the frequency dial for fine tuning. Sometimes it seems like the battery is dying! Then I test the battery and it's fine. Very confusing for me. I would be happy if it would come with the counter for just a little bit more money.
From what I see you get what you pay for.
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