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write your own review of the MFJ 94-Series.
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GM3HNN
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 26, 2012 06:41
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Long Live QRP!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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At first glance, it looks like a 1970's old CB!!, but on operation, superb!! I only work QRP, and have worked the world with these things..I use the CW version + the 9420, always good reports, and yes, the build could be a bit tighter, but for the money and the fun, its just superb! Great fun outdoors, through a wire antenna over a tree, and away you go!, I also use the 971 ATU, just to get it perfect, recently worked far side of Russia from the beach at Brighton, showing around 5watts! so cant be bad, every ham should have one of these, well done MFJ
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W5LV
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 2, 2012 08:49
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GREAT QRP RIG
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered a MFJ-9475 from HRO on 11-3-2011. This radio was back ordered and I finally received it on 1-23-2012. When I hooked it up and turned it on the receiver would not copy a LSB signal. I could not get the radio to receive. The transmitter was putting out 12 watts. I called MFJ and they told me to bring the rig to Starkville and they would fix or replace it. They checked it out and replaced the radio. Really a nice rig. Great audio. No drift after warm up. I use it on a 75 meter net. I bought a 4 amp power supply to power the rig. Also use a MFJ tuner and a 75 meter dipole antenna. What a fun radio to have and use. Way to go MFJ.
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W0ACE
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 16, 2011 19:22
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Replacement radio works perfect!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Ordered a MFJ-9420 transceiver, matching MFJ-971 tuner, and MFJ-4114 power supply from AES. Upon working my first station I was told of a BAD squeal on transmit. I listened on another rig and sure enough! I sent it back to AES the next day and they replaced it with another. It works fine business. I have worked several DX stations with only 10 watts using a homebrew inverted vee dipole 15' high. Has great receive audio, 1/4" headphone jack. I love my little station now! Will post a follow up review after further use, planning some portable. 73's w0ace
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KATEKEBO
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 16, 2011 09:47
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Review 1 - Good radio, but manufacturing quality is an issue
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is the first of my two consecutive reviews of the same radio (MFJ-9420). Instead of writing just one review mixing the two aspects (radio and manufacturer), I decided that I will write two reviews to fairly reflect my impressions with both.
I love this radio. It’s very simple to use and performs very well for its price and specifications. It does exactly what I expected from it. It is also very easy to align and maintain using simple tools (a DMM, a wattmeter, a dummy load and another digitally synthesized transceiver as frequency reference). Older, ‘through-hole” assembly technique radios are easier to repair and seem to hold alignment better than newer, SMT-components radios.
The only watch-out is that a novice ham may find the radio a little bit more challenging because of the alignment requirements. On the other hand, it offers an excellent opportunity to learn SSB xcvr basics.
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KD7RDZI2
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 13, 2011 15:41
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Prepotent QRP
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I could not resist to get one MFJ-9406 in mint conditions at a hamfest. Transmitting into a dummy load I listened to my Drake R8 with VHF converter to check my modulation. It was great, really punchy for dx, with the cheapest dynamic microphone on earth. I regulated the internal trimpot for ALC. That was it. I see 8 watts on an average wattmeter on my speak peaks. Speech processor is very well designed. It drifts a bit on warm-up. Using my allegedly low efficient HF antenna, a T2FD by B&W, I went on air. SWR was at 2:1. Again I could see 6 to 8 watts on my agerage wattmeter on my speak. In the first 15 minutes I had 6 qso! Not to bad. Now I just look forward for dx openings.
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AD5VM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 9, 2011 08:43
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Thanks MFJ
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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WM8E said:
'I thought in fairness to MFJ I should after all these years compliment them on this radio'
I couldn't agree more, for all the quarks with MFJ QC issues, we forget to recognize all the good things they make. The 94 series is a prime example. I own the 9420, 9440 and 9475. All three are the newer models with the small mic and external speaker jack. All are awesome rigs but the 9475 power output fluctuates from four watts at the band edges to about eight watts in the band center. I don't know if this is typical or not.
My 9400 radios are more fun to use than any of my other QRP radios, I think it's because of the spartan nature of the radio itself... Just because a radio has many features and knobs, doesn't make it fun. Imagine a QRP version of an IC-7700. See my point?
Thanks again MFJ.
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WM8E
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 24, 2011 20:47
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nice product
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my 9440 about 8 years. It has been with me to Canada and dozens of camping and biking trips here in WV. It has spent many winters in the unheated conditions of my log cabin and has never failed to do the job. It is out in my garage now hooked up to a dipole and ready to go. I own a bunch of QRP rigs all good but this is my longest running one. A plus is its built in speaker its already assembled and ready to go.I thought in fairness to MFJ I should after all these years compliment them on this radio.
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W3OWL
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 23, 2011 07:22
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Fun QRP Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I must agree, this little thing is a blast to play with. My 9420 is one of the newer models with the fine tuning knob on front, and the headphone jack in rear panel. Receiver is especially good for such a simple rig. Mine operates at the full 10-12 watts SSB, and I have no trouble making contacts all over the globe just using a 10M-40M dipole. The smallish analog VFO dial is pretty touchy, and there is a little drifting until everything warms up. But this is just like the old days, right? That's what makes it fun. The only thing I would really like is a digital frequency read-out.
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KE9PP
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 22, 2011 12:46
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Fun Llittle QRP Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Just had to tell someone about my latest QRP SSB DX contact with my MFJ 9420 radio.
I have my 9420 turned down to 5 Watts output and the antenna is nothing to speak of either, just a 1/2 size G5RV at about 15 feet above ground and one leg of which sits between my house and the neighbor's.
I was listening one evening on 20 Meters around 9PM CDT when I heard the ONLY signal on the band. It was UB0A from Achinsk Russia. I gave him a call and he came right back to me on the first try. He was working DX Stateside and only wanted to exchange basic information so the contact was brief.
When we signed, I eagerly looked him up on QRZ.com and, lo and behold, he is in Asiatic Russia, just North of Mongolia and Kazakhstan!
I LOVE using my MFJ 9420 (and the 9440 I have also)!!!
It simply goes to show what you can accomplish with just 5 watts when conditions are right.
If you haven't tried SSB QRP you might find, just as I do, that EVERY contact gives the same thrill as one's first Novice contact!
It's like shining a hand-held flashlight into the sky and having someone else see it 5,000 miles away!
73,
Bob
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VK5JNL
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 9, 2010 03:27
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They Got it right
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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DO NOT let anyone tell you otherwise. MFJ got it right when they built these little rigs. They are built like an outside dunny, the reception is superb, the transmitted audio is awesome. My first contact with my 9440 was New York City. Not impressed? OK, but I live in rural South Australia! I've worked all over the Pacific region in the last few days (All Asia Contest)on 10 watts. I like it so much I've bought the 20 meter version. Why are you just sitting there? Go and buy one!
Kind regards
Norm VK5GI
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