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write your own review of the MFJ-4245MV.
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N5HSM
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Rating: 2/5
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May 27, 2009 20:55
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Works good - Loud Fan
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Bought new 3 months ago w new rig, Works good but had to locate 10 feet from Rig due to complaints of blower noise in TX audio - looked at 2 others at dealer - same, Fan is loud. I will be looking at other brands
AE5LO
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KC0GLA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2009 16:21
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45 A without the back pain
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this 5+ years now with no problems. I have used this power supply on every radio I own at one time or another. I have not noticed any RF hash from this supply.
Positives separate easy to read amp and volt meters, very lightweight for 45 amps, 3 way binding posts and two accessory connections, lighter socket, removable power cord, and reliable. Negatives I can not think of any right now.
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W2DAP
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 21, 2008 03:48
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Great value
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I agree with the prior post. I have used MFJ products (which includes Ameritron)for decades and am extremely satisfied. My 989C tuner has been in use for just about 20 years and has required minor service occasionally but was well worth the investment. My 259B analyzer has frequently seen very rough service and performs flawlessly;I would call it the single most valuable addition to my shack. I own more than a dozen MFJ products and couldn't be happier with all of them.
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KQ4MK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 20, 2008 23:22
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I love Mighty Fine Junk!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have bought and used many MFJ products over the past 25 years or so, and never had a problem. Maybe I am lucky, but I think MFJ simply makes innovative products that work very well. They might not be polished pearls, but they do tend to be pearls, and MFJ doesn't charge you for extra polish, sculptured corners, or chrome and gold plating that does nothing for product performance.
That said, I have used Astron transformer supplies for many years, and the 4245MV was my first MFJ switching supply. It is fantastic. It is quiet (both in real terms, and in T/R ripple terms), small, light, and well laid out, with a nice variety of power connections available for accessories. Mine is also the newer model than the one pictured. I have driven it lightly, and driven it hard without any error or complaint. It also runs cool compared to a traditional supply under load over time.
I feel bad for people who had problems with their power supplies, but given the wide range of MFJ products I have used and abused in the past, as well as the present performance of my 993B tuner, 4245MV PS, and decades old Morse tutor, I suspect that MFJ has a high enough happy customer ratio to be the envy of the likes of Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, etc.
I try to budget for the best in operational, and reliability value. MFJ is not always the brand of choice, but when it is, I have never been let down. To date, the 4245MV is in that category.
When I need another power supply, MFJ will get the nod. That's why they call it "Mighty Fine Junk". It doesn't have the brightest chrome plating, but it is mighty fine.....
KQ4MK
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KN6LE
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Rating: 1/5
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May 29, 2008 20:46
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MFJunk
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is the second switcher I've had die. First my 25 amper went, then the 45 amper. Took the 45 amper apart and apparently in Taiwan they consider it acceptable to use reject boards. Where there is no trace, they make one with solder. I had a resister, two electrolytes, and the regulator go. Black smoke like a jet engine exhaust coming out of the fan port. I was running a transceiver at 45 watts output at the time.
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ZS5J
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Rating: 2/5
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Mar 16, 2008 23:17
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Mighty fine junk
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I won't be buying any more MFJ equipment - I had a 1.5 kw MFJ roller inducter tuner that literally fell apart - knobs fell off, internal belt kept slipping and couldn't turn the shaft. I had an MFJ SWR analyzer that worked great for a year, then just quit on me. And the paintwork/cabinets of all their products are extremely poorly made. The paint simply flakes or peels off after time.
Yesterday my MFJ-4245 power supply died, without shorting a fuse. I had my ATU in my rig tuning an antenna, when suddenly it simply died, and all fuses are still okay. It had been used very lightly for 6 months. When I hauled it out, the chrome fan protector on the rear was all rusted and corroded, and the paintwork was coming off. You just need to slightly touch it, and the paint scratches. This was only 6 months old !!!!
I have some Icom PS-15 power supplies that I bought in 1983 that are still going strong, and the paintwork still looks new. It pays to spend a little more, and buy from one of the big 3. It will then match your rigs, and last a lifetime.
No more MFJ for me. Come on Martin, you can do better. 73
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KA1SU
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 27, 2008 10:46
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Great MFJ Pwr Sup
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have three MFJ Model 4245 (45 Amp) and I think they're every bit as good as the newer Astrons. I can not hear any noise in the RX of my 756ProIII, 746Pro, Yaesu FT897 ot IC-910. I also have a spectrum analyzer that shows no switching noise above the noise floor.
Good Pwr Sup for the money. Small size and the fans are not as noisy as some of the rigs and computers I have.
I highly recomment this unit.
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NO9E
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 27, 2007 14:29
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Lasts long but not forever
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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See my earlier review. Worked fine for 7 years although I had to slow the fan with a resistor to quiet it. Also, RF spurs were heard on all bands with portable but not stationary antennas. One time, after being turned on but idle for many hours, the voltage dropped to 4V. I sent it to MFJ three months ago and, despite a few calls, still waiting. Perhaps 7 year life is not too bad. An identically looking model is advertised in QST for $99.
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N2EAC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 27, 2007 08:55
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A litte fan noise, but a great value
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Let me start off by saying anything with MFJ is a hit or miss and I certainly have a love/hate relationship with them. But, I've got to say that after using my MFJ-4245 as my station PS for approximately 4 years (using a rig runner to distribute the power), I've had no problem with the unit. It has been reliable and rock sold and NO RF HASH. So the fan is a little noisy, I wear headphones anyway (hi, hi) so the fan noise is irrelevant. I also have the 25 amp version (MFJ-4225) and have had similar results. I'm sorry to hear that other hams have not had the same luck as I have, but I am sure glad that I bought and use it.
73, Ed, N2EAC
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KB5EOK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 21, 2006 11:19
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Great stuff...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I can't help but feel that MFJ gets a bad rap - with no good reason. This PS is FB!!! It weighs 5.5 lbs, and packs the power of a MUCH larger conventional. I wish it had heavy duty terminals on the rear, but I have made the terminals work.
My Astron 20A used to run HOT! I used to keep a small external fan on it to keep it cool. With this MFJ PS, there is no heat problems, and the fan is relatively quiet. If I'm trying to pick up some faint DX signal I will be wearing my headphones anyway.
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